My fingers brush his. It’s warmth, and it’s strength, and it’s total security of our future.
But the burnt taste of ash is on my tongue with a flurry of smoke clouding around me.
Because Creatchin is snatching up my wrist before I ever fully feel Zilo’s hand in mine.
“What are you doing, Cersia?” she asks with a tilt of her head.
What. Am. I. Doing.
That is an excellent question.
An excellent lie would only be suitable.
“I wanted to shift in privacy. I thought your followers would revel in the sight of your power if they saw my beast sitting dutifully at your side.” I stare up at her with a blank expression smeared across my face.
I don’t know that I’ve ever said the words “revel” and “dutifully” out loud. Goddess, who the fuck am I right now?
“I knew you were the reward I deserved. Great reward costs great sacrifice. The goddess taught me that last night. And I have been rewarded.” Her inky orbs shine in the intensity of the moonlight, and in the setting of this eerie moment, I don’t know if she’s full of hellish shit or if the goddess truly does speak to this woman.
Or at least, that’s what she believes.
“You are correct, my queen,” I say with an alarming smile.
Fuck, I’m as bad as she is.
Except I’m sane.
I think...
“Shift, Cersia. Shift and show these followers what our queendom’s magnitude looks like.” Her hands are clasped around mine, and I’m very aware of the two men standing on either side of us.
They’re on defense. Subtle, subtle defense.
As am I.
Her thin fingers feel like shackles around my skin as her hold on me tenses. I nod. Her smile widens.
“Step back, my queen,” I say on a smooth breath of a promise.
Scary excitement beams in her gaze. She releases me slowly. She takes one step after another, never turning away from my image as she backs up. Zilo watches her closely, and he moves aside for her to put space between us. But he himself doesn’t leave my side.
“Cersia.” Roman says my name like a whispering warning bell.
He may as well have roared, “Don’t fucking be stupid,” at the back of my head.
I’d never.
Unless... unless I would.
A swarm of emotions flitter through me. Anxiety. Rage. Anger. Fear. It’s all there, and my beast absorbs it all. I feel her inside me like a second heartbeat. She’s a pulse of an existence. A beautiful, magical creature.
I need her now more than ever.
She purrs to life without hesitation. It’s like now that we’ve met, our bond is stronger than ever. She is me, and I am her. And this cunt of a queen has threatened us both.
And our loved ones.
Her sweet purr turns to a growl. My chest hums. My bones vibrate. My body prepares for the pain that rips from the inside out that I know will soon be coming. And I fucking want it.
