Page 73 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

I leaned my head against the cool cement of the wall of my cell.

The guard who had brought me here had called it a room, but you didn’t get locked in rooms. There was at least a bathroom. That was a luxury for the cell. And I had a table to eat the meals they brought me. Not that the meals were anything worthwhile. But at least it was food.

Adreona hadn’t called upon me since we had arrived here. Wherever here was. She knocked me out after everyone left. I woke up here. In their new headquarters.

At least my shackles had been removed.

But there was still something snuffing out my magic.

I traced my fingers over the new markings on my hand. The delicate snaking vines that wrapped themselves around my marriage marking. The red and gold vines swirled until they became one.

I had no idea when they appeared.

I traced the lines to distract myself from the pain that never ceased from pounding in my chest.

I looked up at the sound of the door opening. Surprised to find Adreona strolling in, holding my dinner plate.

She looked me up and down, a clear look of disgust as she took in my appearance and my choice to sit on the floor.

“When we begin our work you will be required to be presentable,” she sneered before setting the plate on the table and taking a seat in the chair crossing one leg over the other.

“Cheer up, girl. We will have such fun together.”

I didn’t meet her stare, instead tracing the mark on my palm.

She sighed. “We still need a few more days to finish setting up our new headquarters. We will begin work in a few days. That should give you plenty of time to mope about being separated from your mate. I expect you to be in a better mood then.”

I snapped my head up to meet her gaze. “What did you say?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Did you not realize the vampire was your mate?”

My mate . Luka was my mate. How? When?

“What did you assume the mark on your hand was?”

“It’s new. It appeared once I arrived here,” I rasped. My throat was dry as I spoke for the first time in days.

Her perfectly arched brows rose. “How interesting. I imagine the mating bond must have snapped into place sometime the other night. Those kinds of things are triggered by something.”

My mate. The pressure in my chest intensified. Luka was my mate.

And I had been separated from him.

“Anyways. Rest up, Clean yourself. I will call for you in a few days.”

I didn’t register her leaving the cell. Those two words on repeat in my mind.

My mate. Luka was my mate.

All this time. That pull to him. Our bond.

Tears slipped down my cheeks.

How had we gotten here ?

I hadn’t let myself have hope before, but now—Luka was my mate.

I would make it back to him.

I would claw and fight my way back to him only stopping once I made it to him or I turned to stardust. Whichever happened first.

He had fought for me.

Now it was my turn to fight for him.

THE END BOOK 2