Page 237 of The Spider Queen

“What is this room used for?”

“Ceremonies. And should a creature of my realm wish for an audience, they come here.” He waved his hand, and a crown appeared on his head.

He waved his hand again, and I instantly felt the weight of a crown on mine. I took it off to look at it. A simple black band of stone shaped like ivy and spiders. Their eyes twinkled like diamonds.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Will you wear it?”

“Now?”

His smile was lopsided. “When we marry.”

“Marry? I thought you didn’t believe in marriage. Not in the normal sense.”

“I’d like to have a celebration, Poppy. Invite the deities and immortals that are friends. Rejoice that the world is safe—for the time being. Announce that the true Guardian of the Bridge has come home, is ready to take up the duties once again, and has found his mate.”

I nodded thoughtfully, turning my head away.

“What is it?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. Whatever it is, it’s written all over your face.” He reached out to gently grasp my chin, forcing my gaze back to his. “Tell me.”

“You were right—when you said I’ve given up things.” I swallowed. “I hadn’t allowed myself to think about them: my parents and my cousin. There wasn’t time to process anything, you know? We just had to keep moving forward. We had this…thisburdenovershadowing everything. Save the world, even though there wasn’t very much hope that we were actually going to succeed. I haven’t had time to feel through anything.”

“Hunter’s death,” he said, his tone solemn, his expression full of understanding.

I nodded again, feeling tears prick my eyes. “I love you. I do, Thane. But I—haven’t yet made peace with all that I left behind.”

He pressed a hand to my chest and felt the thumping of my heart.

“I changed when I went into the ice swamp, and the icicle pierced me. But I changed again when I freed the mage. My heart is once again whole, but it’s been rearranged.” I searched his eyes, trying to explain, trying to make him understand. “When my heart wasn’t at all human, it chose you. It fell in love with you. And this heart, the one in my chest, it still knows that. It just feels other things too.”

“And the celebration…”

“Would be a reminder of all the people I don’t have with me. So can you give me some time?”

“Take all the time you need.”

His eyes looked like molten gold in the torchlight. It was a physical change I hadn’t yet grown accustomed to. “Let’s go to bed,” I suggested.

The gold winked out, replaced by dark glittering black. “I thought you’d never ask.”

Chapter 53

Thane led me to his private bedchamber, an expansive, impressive room. The bed was made for pleasure—covered in black silk sheets and plush red pillows. Like the room I’d woken up in only a few weeks ago—how could it have only been a few weeks—I could see the sky. Stars and moonlight, galaxies and far away nebulas. I craned my neck to stare at it for a moment. Even here, even now, I still felt small. We’d saved the world, for now, and I still didn’t know my place in it.

“I’ll give you the tour of the castle tomorrow,” Thane promised.

I felt him move to stand behind me. I leaned into him, relishing in the heat he radiated. My head fell back against his chest, and I angled my neck. He swept my hair off my shoulder so his fingers could dance across my skin.

“I don’t know what to do now,” I admitted. “We had a purpose, a common goal. We succeeded. Now what?”

His mouth descended to nip at my ear. “I have an idea.”

“I’m serious, Thane,” I said, even as shivers worked their way up my spine. “You’re about to weigh souls for who knows how long. What am I supposed to do? Stay home and knit?”