I jumped as the dining hall door burst open behind Dommik. In a gust,Rhazien was at his commander’s side, fierce eyes assessing me. His gaze softened when he found no new traces from his commander on my skin.
“All is well here, then?” Rhazien said, straightening his posture.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Dommik bowed to his regent before angling himself toward me. “It’s been a pleasure knowing you, Lady Reyva.”
An hour later, I was waiting in Rhazien’s chambers for the seamstresses to arrive with my final garment for the Offering ceremony. Rhazien was huddled over his desk, wiggling a quill between his fingers, and mumbling to himself.
The duties of a regent truly never rest.
I approached the desk slowly, twiddling my thumbs as I mentally rehearsed what I’d wanted to say to him.
When he looked from his papers, I saw him again. The old him. The Rhazien I thought I could fall in love with.
“I just—” I cleared my throat as the words tripped over my tongue “—wanted to say thank you. For earlier.”
Rhazien leaned back in his chair. “Oh, that. Yes, well, it wasn’t a problem at all.”
“Yes, it was,” I said softly. “It must have bothered you to let me speak to him alone, but you did it anyway, and I appreciate it.”
Rhazien’s lips pursed and rolled. He sucked in a breath and said, “You’re very welcome, my lady.”
When I married Hollis, it had been for the sake of strategic family alliances and asset sharing. It was more of a business decision than a marriage. By the end of his life, I loathed Hollis. I didn’t want my partnership, chosen by me or not, to be like that. If this was a fate I could not escape, I resolved to at least not make the situation worse.
Maybe this small moment of mutual respect could be our common ground. Our fresh start,I thought as I turned to walk away from the desk.
“Reyva. I’m sorry.” His gaze dropped down to his papers as he exhaled. We’d both discovered each other’s infidelity in less than ideal ways, and neither of us had apologized for our actions.
“I’m sorry too,” I whispered, really meaning it.
He ran the feather of his quill through his fingers before laying it on the desk.
“I’m not going to insult you and pretend I don’t need you. You are the key to a monumental step in our history. We will be legends. And this—this moment—this hiccup—these feelings—they will fade. They will not define our story.”
“Ourstory.”
He stood and took three purposeful steps toward me, eyes full of fire and hope. “Yes.”
The blood purred at his honey-glazed words. Was he right? Had I said yes to Dommik to scratch an itch? To satisfy a curiosity? Or was I living the lie now?
“Our story is more than this,” he cooed.
He made it sound so simple. I didn’t think, after burning so hot, my blood would ever be able to forget the way he’d boiled it.
Our story.
Chapter 40
The Long Night
Decadent golden decor dripped from every corner of the Hive, including its sparkling guests. Flames from a firebreather danced across the jewels of the oversized chandeliers in the grand ballroom, making shadows dance through jolly conversations.
Guests gasped and applauded the performers Gorvin had procured. There was a snake handler, two men on stilts, jugglers, and so much more to look at than I’d expected.
Meanwhile, women swooned at Rhazien as if making a last ditch effort at the still uncommitted regent. After today, everything would change, and their window of opportunity to sway him away from me would close. Batting lashes, fluttering fans, and heaving breasts surrounded us. I knew he noticed, but he didn’t falter. He didn’t give them an ounce of attention.
My heart ached at his loyalty. I didn’t deserve it or the public dismissal of their desperate attempts. And he didn’t deserve what I’d done. He didn’t deserve to be forced into a life with someone who couldn’t want him back.
I looked directly at the women and they reluctantly curtsied beneath my gaze. Rhazien could have any one of them.
