Blood of Two Crowns (Hallowed Fates #2)

Chapter 23

Chapter

Twenty-Three

KERES

M uch to our surprise, Nakoa had invited Zurie and I to stay in her old rooms. He’d chosen to remain in the palace’s North Wing where his olana kah’hei had taken residence. Zurie seemed a little shaken up by the time we returned to her old rooms. My brow knitted as I watched her distant eyes scan her room, which had remained basically untouched. I rounded her, slipping a comforting hand over her shoulder. “You ok?”

Zurie’s face grew flushed, trembling with emotion. “I’m scared.”

That violent and vengeful thing in me awakened, promising death to any who threatened her. I was still reeling from the fact that this female, the first in over a thousand years—since Soteira—had somehow managed to steal my heart. And in such a short period of time, no less.

My reply was ridiculously gentle. I hardly recognized my own voice.

“Of what, darling?”

Zurie bit a pouty lip as if it could hold back the sob I could see was intent on being set free. “Have you been to Vassileo?”

A tear streaked down her cheek, punctuating the question, and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to snatch it up for myself. I pulled her against me, relishing the way her body instantly relaxed, and I leaned in to kiss it away.

“No, but I have visited other hells. I can’t imagine they’re much different.”

“I’ve been such a lazy, selfish, terrified fool all these years, and now I feel as though it’s all catching up with me. The last time I even stepped foot out of this palace was at least a hundred years ago. More, probably. Much more. I can’t even fucking remember it. And do you know why?”

Her gaze held so much remorse and shame as she stared up at me. “Because I’m a coward. My entire life, my family plotted against one another. Against me. Against everyone. I’d always innately assumed that it would be the same with everyone. On the rare occasion the loneliness had become too much to bear, and I’d throw the occasional feast or ball, there was always an attempt on my life… And now, after all this—a lifetime of fear— I’m going to die in Vassileo. I know it.”

I tucked away a stray piece of Zurie’s ash-blonde hair behind her ear. “Remind me, my love, what happened to them?”

Zurie’s brow pinched, and she looked so fucking beautiful and adorable I could scarcely breathe. “They died?”

I chuckled softly, grazing my nose across her rosy cheeks to take in her scent before pressing a kiss to each one. “You killed them. Not your guards or anyone else. You did. Every last one of them.”

Even outside of what Zurie had told me over the last few weeks, I’d heard numerous stories about her and her ruthlessness over the years. Admittedly, the female had always piqued my interest, but I’d been so focused on Soteira that the thought of actually connecting with her had never even crossed my mind.

Zurie’s eyes frantically searched mine.

“You’re a survivor, my love. And if anyone dares to judge you for the way in which you’ve done so, I will gladly mete out judgement upon them with…”

I leaned in again, grazing my lips across hers as I punctuated each of my words with a tender kiss to her lips and jaw.

“My bare…”

Kiss.

“ Fucking…”

Kiss.

“Hands…”

Kiss.

“As I tear their throats out.”

I drew back to see Zurie’s reaction. Her tears had stopped, and her pupils had blown wide with desire. I greedily filled my breast with the scent of her arousal as a grin curled my lips.

Zurie’s voice was little more than a moan of need. “Fuck, I love you.”