Page 23

Quinn

The last two weeks have been nothing short of extraordinary, at least between Horek and me. Things had been awkward with Bannik after he caught me coming out of Horek’s rooms after that first night together.In addition to that, the whole city—the whole planet, in fact—were grieving the loss of one of their people.

Slowly, though, things have been getting back to normal. Well, if we don’t count the tension that’s hung in the air while Alik waits to hear whether the rebels refuse to take responsibility for the death of Konek or that Janik is willing to talk. Whispers have been traveling through the city about impending war. I’m still a little uneasy about the fact that we were talking to the leader of the rebels that day in the market. God, Olivia even threatened to knee him in the balls.

“When are you and Horek going to just move in together already? Better yet, when are the two of you going to get married?” Olivia turns onto her stomach on the bed next to me and rests her chin on folded hands. “You guys are practically there. I mean, you’re at his place more than you are here.”

Devon and Lindsey sit on pillows on the floor, eating the lunch the cook prepared for them and stare up at us. It’s clear by their expressions, they’re anxiously waiting on my reply.

“I’m only spending nights there. The rest of the time I’m hanging out with the three of you. At least, when none of you are out on a date,” I point out. “Maybe I should be the one asking you all when you’re finally going to go on more than a single date with a guy? None of you have had a second date. Why is that?”

Olivia pushes up on her elbows. “Stop deflecting and trying to change the subject. This intervention is about you, not us.”

I snort. “I didn’t realize this wasan intervention.”

Liv rolls her eyes and maneuvers around until she’s sitting upright. “Of course it’s an intervention. You and your Commander have been banging every night like it’s going out style. It’s also more than obvious you have feelings for him. At least it is to me.”

“So obvious,” Devon and Lindsey echo, so in unison, it’s a little scary.

“See.” Olivia gestures in their direction. “We all see it. Why can’t you?”

It’s not that I can’t, because I dohave feelings for Horek. I’m just worried they’re not enough. Or maybe that I’m not enough. I still haven’t wrapped my head around the heart’s fire thing. Nor do I know how deeply I should trust in it. I know when we first arrived, Johnna said Bohnari mate for life. Why is that so hard for me to understand?

Olivia clasps my hand. “You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

She smiles softly. “Overthinking.”

I can’t help but chuckle. “Fine. Maybe I am a little.”

“Eh, maybe more than a little.” She bobs her head side to side.

“It’s hard not to. Everything is moving so fast that I don’t have time to think like a normal person.”

“Personally,” Lindsey speaks up, “I think your whirlwind relationship is kind of romantic. As scared as I’d been about coming here, what woman doesn’t want to be swept off her feet by a man who is so clearly obsessed with her? Not in a creepy, stalker way, either. A passionate, I will kill anyone who hurts you kind of obsession. Anyone with eyes can see Horek is entranced with you. No other woman exists for him but you. We know it, and youknow it.”

Devon and Olivia both “awwww” dramatically with their hands on their chests. I throw my pillows at them, which they catch easily despite their laughing.

“All three of you are fired as my friends, and I’m looking for new ones starting today.”

This only makes them laugh harder. Olivia scrambles forward and tackles me onto my back.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

I’m struggling to control my laughter, but I manage to sputter, “Don’t tempt me.”

Lindsey and Devon jump to their feet and join us in a giant pile of bodies.

“Okay, okay, I give up.” As if I would ever find friends as amazing as these.

We carefully disentangle ourselves but remain lying close together on the bed. I swivel my head to each side so I can look over at each of them.“You know I love you guys.”

Olivia hugs me. “We love you, too.”

A knock on the door brings our heads up.

“Are you expecting someone?” Devon asks.

I shake my head and climb out from between them. “The only person who ever comes to see me is Horek, and he’s out on patrol.”

I walk to the door to peer through the view finder. To my surprise, it is Horek standing on the other side. I trigger the mechanism and it slides open.

“Greetings, my heart’s fire.” He steps forward and kisses me gently.

“Hi. Is everything okay?” I know what his job means to him.Only something important would pull him away from his duty.

He strokes my hair off my forehead with a gentle smile that’s been coming a little easier to him since we’ve been together. “Everything is fine, but I have something to show you, if you are able to come with me.”

I exchange glances with my friends, then take the hand Horek extends. We head down the walkway to the lift and step inside.

“Are you sure everything’s fine?” I ask. “This feels a little ominous.”

He pulls me in for a hug and holds me tightly, just the way I love. “Would I tell you an untruth?”

I snuggle in closer. “No, I don’t suppose you would.”

“Then trust me when I promise that nothing is wrong. In fact, I’m quite positive when you see what I have to show you, everything will be perfect. At least, that’s my hope.” He kisses the crown of my head.

My heart flips at this sign of affection. Horek’s never shy with PDA, a fact I’ve discovered I’m extremely happy about. I didn’t think I’d be comfortable with it, but it comes so easily with him. Maybe that’s one more sign things are exactly how they’re supposed to be.

The lift bell dings, and the door slides open. Sunlight filters in through the one-way glass of the atrium adding some heat to it. As I always do here, I admire all the potted trees that are strategically placed throughout the spacious area. Some of the women asked the guards for vases and they sit scattered around on tables filled with bright and colorful flowers. It’s created such a warm and welcoming sight to come home to.

Horek and I stroll outside with our fingers threaded together. I breathe in the clean air—another thing I always do—and take in this city, and planet, I now call home. Of course, I still miss my mom like mad, but we talk as often as possible.

“You know, I’ve never asked if it gets cold here.” I guess I’ve been too busy with other things.

“We get what the humans call snow on the other side of the mountain range. Temperatures do drop slightly in Preska, but it’s mostly temperate because of the rainforest. It gets cold in other cities, but not enough to bring snow, only rain.”

“Sounds lovely. The temperate weather, I mean.” New St. Louis was freezing in the winter and hotter than the sun in the summer, even if we rarely saw the blazing thing. Not with all the pollution. “I think that’s something I’ll enjoy.”

“I hope that’s not the onlything you’ll enjoy.” Horek grins, and I love how much less severe it makes him look. He’ll never lose it entirely—that’s just not him—but I don’t mind. I like his seriousness. It makes the times he laughs and appears at ease that much more special.

Finally, it hits me that we’re almost at the palace. I furrow my brows. What are we doing here? Guards dip their head in acknowledgement as we pass, and Horek holds open the lift door for me to go in first.

“Did the queen or Alik summon us?”

He glances down at me with a mysterious smirk but doesn’t answer. This is only the third time I’ve been within the palace walls. Queen Veroneek invited all the bride prospects to another banquet late last week so we—they—could dine and dance with the males again. Horek didn’t leave my side the entire time. Thankfully, no explosions or disasters ruined the evening. In fact, a few matches were made that night, and the queen is already planning the mating ceremonies.

We make our way through the palace. I’m as lost as I was the first time we were here. Every corridor resembles the last, and the place is so massive I’d never find my way to any location on my own. At last, we come to a stop in front of a set of double doors. Horek doesn’t bother knocking before opening them.

Inside the large room are two thrones on a raised dais. Standing near them is Queen Veroneek. Alik is nowhere to be seen.

“Ah, there you are. Welcome, my dear Quinn.” The queen strides forward and lightly kisses my cheek.

She’s genuinely kind, but I’m the only one she treats with this level of familiarity. I assume it’s because of my relationship with her nephew. Jesus, at some point, I’ll be the queen’s niece, even if only by marriage. The thought almost makes me break out into hives.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness.”

Queen Veroneek wags her finger at me. “What did I tell you about that? We’re practically family, so there’s no need to stand on such ridiculous formalities.”

My cheeks heat, but I smile at her. “Yes, ma’am.”

She shudders. “I’m not sure that’s any better.”

I press my lips together to stop from laughing.

“Did Horek tell you the reason for your visit today?”

I glance between the two of them. “He didn’t.”

The queen claps her hands and laughs with pure giddiness. “Good. I do so love surprises.”

At least one of us does. She gestures to one of the guards I didn’t notice standing in the corner. He pivots and walks through a side door. My confusion grows the longer we all remain still and…waiting. Several minutes pass before the same door opens again and the guard comes back in. Only, he’s not alone.

My heart freezes in my chest, and I’m scared to blink for fear the woman in front of me is nothing more than a mirage that will disappear the second my eyes close. I stumble a couple steps forward and tentatively reach my arm out. Am I asleep and dreaming? Or am I just imagining this entire scene?

“Mom?”

“Hello, my love.”

Hearing her voice releases me from whatever trance I’m in, and I close the last bit of distance between us. We throw our arms around each other, and I can’t tell which of us is crying harder.

“Mama.”

“Oh, Quinn, baby, I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you more.”

Those are the last words either of us can say until our sobs slow and we’ve soaked each other’s shirts at the shoulder. My tears haven’t quite dried up, but I finally stop bawling and draw back only enough that I can look her in the eyes.

“How?”

She glances over my shoulder before returning her gaze to me. “You have a male who loves you very much.”

I don’t release my hold on my mom, but I pivot a half turn, bringing her with me, and face Horek. “You did this?”

He nods. “With the queen’s help. I know how much you were hurting from missing your mother, and I hated it. If there was something I could do to take your pain away I wanted to do it. So, I spoke with Queen Veroneek and she agreed to send a ship for your mother and bring her here. Permanently if she chooses to stay.”

“Oh my god.” I rush forward and jump into Horek’s arms, wrapping myself so tightly around him it’s almost as if I become a part of him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“You are most welcome.”

I draw my upper body back. The flame burns low in his gaze. “This means everything to me.”

He cradles the side of my face in his warm hand. “I was more than happy to do this for you. I love you, my heart’s fire.”

The truth hits me then. I’ve been ignoring this feeling because I thought it was too soon, but the powerful emotion fills me to overflowing, and there’s no stopping it.

“I love you, too.”