Page 11 of Unforgiving Queen

“Explain.”

I cracked my eyes open and met his dark gaze. Tension shot down my spine and my muscles stiffened. “We met last summer. It was—” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It’s complicated.”

“All the things and people worth having in life usually are,” he deadpanned, staring at me with a glint in his eyes that I couldn’t read. “Fight for her.”

If only it were that simple.

“It’s over,” I said, my shoulders tense. “Anyhow, her father would never give his blessing.”

It was safest to leave it at that; I couldn’t reveal that I was Romero’s illegitimate son and Reina was my half sister. Not without dragging her into the pits of hell with me, which I had no intention of doing.

The pressure in my chest refused to ease and each breath I pulled in was excruciating.

“Don’t be a stubborn fuck and let what matters most slip through your hands,” Illias stated, flicking a piece of lint off his suit. “You’ll never get that time back.”

It sounded like he spoke from experience.

The worst part was I would fight the whole goddamn world for her… if only things were different.

“You’ll be miserable until you work shit out with her.”

I tilted my head back and shut my eyes again. “Probably,” I agreed. “But right now, I just need Reina to wake up.”

“She’ll be okay.” His voice held conviction I didn’t feel.

Only time would tell if his words would prove true. All I could do was pray that Reina’s family would allow me around until she was out of danger.

* * *

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Two hours and she never stirred. The sound was both comforting and dreadful now because it counted down the seconds until her family showed up. But it was also proof she was still breathing. Fighting for her life.

Holding her hand in mine, I sat in her hospital room and memorized every perfect line of her face. Yes, there were cuts and bruises, but she was still the most perfect woman I had ever laid eyes on.

With each beep of the machine, I was also losing my mind. I was halfway to madness already. My heart and my soul kept trying to claw their way out and stay by Reina’s side, getting battered and bloody in the process.

But it was pointless.

Illias left the moment I provided the doctor with information on Reina’s grandmother. I wondered why he didn’t bother doing it himself. Now, I wasn’t so sure the choice was smart. I had shit to hold over Romero’s head but nothing on the old dragon of a woman.

“I’m sorry I hurt you,” I whispered, my voice soft. She was my pull to the light and losing her made the darkness all the worse. “I wish—”

Her eyes remained closed while my heart disintegrated in her hospital room.Piece. By. Fucking. Piece.

This hurt worse than anything else.

“You will get better, cinnamon girl.” My fingers trembled around hers. “And don’t you dare settle. You’re going to thrive, and I’ll end anyone who gets in the way.”Including myself.

Her hand still in mine, I placed it over my heart. “I’ll never be the same,” I murmured softly, my words choking me. “You… you were the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Her silence gave me a preview of the future, robbing me of her voice. Robbing me of everything.

The door swung open, hitting the wall with a loud thud and causing the glass to clatter with the force of it.

The old dragon stood at the doorway, steaming with fury, but only for a flicker of a moment. Once her eyes landed on her granddaughter, she barged in and started yelling.