27. The Torment of Waiting #2
The moment we were allowed entry to the chamber, all I could see was Grace. I ran across the room to her, throwing my arms around her as she gasped and clung to me, her shoulders shaking silently with tears.
‘Shhhhh, don’t cry. We’ll figure it out. He’s not going to win this, Grace. I’ll figure this out.’
Someone cleared their throat fiercely, and Donavyn hissed at me. “Voski! The queen!”
It was physically painful to release Grace, but I would only give the queen reason not to help if I offended her, so I whirled, pulling Grace behind me, to join Gil and Ronen in a deep bow. Instinctively, I took a knee and clasped my hand to my chest.
“Please, Your Majesty, forgive me.” I was panting. Not from the run, but from the frantic fear coursing through me, and the rush at seeing Grace, and having her back within reach.
She urged us to stand, but ignored the other two, fixing eyes on me. I began to sweat.
“Yet another Furyknight who knows the forms. Interesting,” she said dryly.
Adrenaline bolted through me, until I remembered, everyone in this room already knew of my Shadowfang work among the noble classes, and I breathed easier.
But before I could find a response, the queen continued.
“Another day we will discuss it, but for now, our time is short. I called you here because I want you to understand that I support your claim to Grace—and it is clear that Grace has no desire to leave you.”
She glanced down at my hand, where I’d twined my fingers with Grace’s the moment I was upright, and my mate now hugged my arm.
“Yes, Your Majesty, I—”
“Hush, there isn’t time. If you’ve moved in Court circles, then you know, status and influence are everything.
It would appear—and I am about to confirm—that this contract is real, and under the royal seal.
Which would confirm that the Lord Breckon does, indeed, have the ear of the king.
If the contract is valid, I won’t be able to force him to leave Grace—”
“Please, Your Majesty, we are mates. This isn’t—”
She held up her hand and I cut off. Grace trembled at my side. My stomach churned.
The queen’s expression was stern. “I understand your unease. But if you are to remain in this chamber when the Lord returns, you must continue to adhere to the forms. Do not give Breckon further reason for irritation or pride.”
I blew out a breath and nodded. “I won’t provoke him,” I said hoarsely. “But please… Your Majesty, I am begging you… don’t let her go.”
She sat back in her chair, her expression tight.
“I have no desire to do so. And you are here as part of my attempt to persuade our visitor to see things from another perspective. However, the only complete assurance that I can offer is that if he insists on taking her, I will bring her back. You have my word that I will return her at the soonest opportunity.”
“Soonest opportunity? After children?” I croaked.
“It could be years,” Grace whispered. Those words slid between my ribs like a blade.
The queen’s expression hardened. “You are both young—will still be young when she has provided—”
I leaned forward. “You’d sentence her to years of that man pawing her, treating her like a chattel, forcing himself on her. How can you condone that?”
Donavyn swore, and Gil and Ronen both hurried to my sides as the queen got to her feet and walked toward me, her expression stern to the point of cold.
As she reached my toes and glared up at me, I pulled Grace behind me. She wrapped her arms around my middle and pressed her face to my back, and it hurt. It fucking ached, because I felt her start to cry, even though she made no sound.
But the queen didn’t even flick her a look. “Donavyn tells me you’re trusted among your peers, and a man of great intelligence. And I observe, someone with experience dancing among the highborn. If you know what’s good for you, you will apply that knowledge.”
“What good do etiquettes and forms do if they leave me without my mate?” I hissed.
Donavyn cursed again. “Do not force me to discipline you further, Voski,” he hissed.
“Further?” the queen raised a brow.
I knew I couldn’t push again. I forced myself to bow and offer her humility. “I will follow. I have followed. I am vowed to follow. But if Grace is harmed—”
“Life harms all of us—including you, I have no doubt. And yet, your path has brought you here, to stand in the presence of a queen and receive her audience for your pleas. Don’t make me regret that decision.”
I swallowed hard. “I won’t.”
Her expression softened a hair and I thought she might be kind, but there was a rap at the door. It creaked open an inch to allow the voice of one of her men.
“Your Majesty, Lord Breckon has returned.”
The queen huffed, flapped a hand at me—which I took to mean I could embrace Grace quickly. I turned and wrapped her in my arms, squeezing her as hard as I dared, while she breathed and clung to me desperately.
“Take your places. We do battle as surely in this room, as you ever have in the skies,” the queen muttered. Grace and I tore ourselves apart, and I stepped aside, to stand just feet from her, Gil and Ronen stepping up to position themselves either side of me.
“Send him in,” the queen called.
I held my breath, reminding myself why I couldn’t simply draw a blade and apply it to his throat, as the arrogant ass strode in, then knelt before the queen with a grand bow.
“Your Majesty,” he said gravely. Smugly. “The papers you requested.”
Then he thrust them toward her and waited for her to take them.
My heart flipped in my chest.