“Um...” I try to step back, but the door just clatters behind me as I stumble right into it. “I should... nap.” Yep. I need to sleep this off. My brain is flashing red lights, and a siren is sounding somewhere in the distance.
This realization just broke my brain.
Luckily, one of us still has our good senses.
Zilo nods, drops his hand, and takes a firm, rational step back from me.
Good boy.
Smart boy.
His queen would cut his cock off if he had the stupidity to kiss me after cooing at her.
“She likes you,” I whisper under my breath, and it hurts to admit that. I don’t know why it hurts, but I can’t seem to stop the pain from shuddering through my chest, either.
“She likes power and protection. She doesn’t likemespecifically.” He doesn’t meet my eyes. He keeps his focus on the high arches of the steeples above.
But he’s right. Zilo is the epitome of power and protection. He’s pure raw and relentless strength.
“But that doesn’t mean a woman doesn’t want you because of those things. It’s—it’s nice to feel safe in a world full of danger. You—you make a woman feel safe, Zilo.”
And fuck me, here we are again.
He’s gazing down at me once more. Except this time, his focus is along the pout of my lower lip. His tongue slides out and rolls along his own lips, and I’m so fucking broken, I think he just hypnotized me with that single gesture alone.
His hand lifts, and in a swift motion, he opens the door for me.
“Get some sleep, Cersia.” He nods to me.
Like a friend.
A good, good friend indeed.
Except... we don’t know how to be friends.
And judging by this strange turn in emotions, we’ll never know how to be anything more than what we are now to one another.
Which is absolutely nothing.
Four
Rejection
The moon is celebrated differently now.Creatchin says it should be celebrated nightly, not just when it is full. My sister—an enthusiastic wolf shifter—loves this idea.
No one questions that it might be because of the last little freak out our unsteady queen had during the full moon. No one says a Goddessdamn word about the last full moon at all.
And so, here we are sipping wine and dancing beneath a tiny sliver of light that our goddess gives us. It’s... not the same. Why does no one realize this is not the same?!
Nyra sways to the drum beat. The queen’s daughter sways near her and within seconds the two are smiling and having an annoyingly good time together.
Goddess. When did I turn into Zilo’s sour mood ass?
I shake my head at myself and try to let the beat of the drums calm my soul. I feel the music pulse within my chest, and it is nice.
This is... it’s... nice ish.
Nyra peers at me from the few yards that separate us, and she waves her hand energetically, invitingly:Red Rover, Red Rover, send Cersia right over.
