Bound by Devotion

Chapter Nine

His hand shifted and he pressed and Eve went limp then he spoke. "Together, we will be leaving for the Shadow court."

Eve knew where this was going and she smiled. Somehow, he had read her mind.

"There will be a period of time where there is no sitting ruler. Would you do me, do us the honor of becoming the Queen until Eve returns?"

Cora's eyes widened and Eve couldn't help the laugh. "Cora, you have done so much for me, for us, for faerie. I know it's added pressure, but I honestly don't know anyone more deserving of bearing the title than you. " She laughed. "Actually, even more than me. I'll be the first to say it."

The thumb that was easing the knot out of her shoulder stopped. His hands shifted, gripping her tight. His breath was way too close when he said in her ear, "You are an amazing queen."

"Yes," Cora said. "Of course."

Eve glanced at Duglas who was silent through all of this. She could feel his displacement and maybe what she was about to ask and offer payment if needed, would help that.

"Duglas?"

He met her eyes.

"I know you can't go into shadow. Would you offer her your protection should she need it?"

Those dark eyes laughed at her and she knew he remembered the same question Gideon asked him so long ago.

He glanced at Cora then back at Eve. "Yes. I will. She is strong." He smiled. "Payment is not required."

Eve laughed, in relief and in memory of a time that while her life was strange, it wasn't the absurd level of crazy it was now.

Kornae's hands tightened and she swallowed the moan. Not now, or ever, was the time.

Eve glanced outside and read the sun's position. It was amazing how quickly she had learned to do that.

Her questions about her friend, Ryon, had to wait. She had to break Kornae's heart.

~~~ 

"Walk with me?" she asked the quiet man at her side.

"If you wish." His eyes were that calm blue that captured her as he waited for her acceptance of his service. The quiet of them hiding anything he might be feeling. A quiet she wished she could break, though not in anger as she so often did.

Ice, empty, or calm. That was all she ever got out of him.

But she needed that calm now, didn't she? Though, it wouldn't last.

They found a bench in the courtyard and since Gabe wasn't with them, the trees minded their business. She ran her hands over her thighs and tried a deep breath. That one didn't work, so she took another. Then another.

"Eve?" His voice pulled her and she took strength from his gaze.

"So, I don't know how to say this. I don't know how to hurt you. Because it will. And I hate myself for laying this on you. Not when you already have so much on you." It only then crossed her mind that as Queen, it was something she could handle by herself. She could do it. It didn't have to be him.

"What is it?" The voice matched the ice that slowly crept into his eyes.

"I made a mistake, my King. I forgot that it's something that I could deal with. And I can. You—,"

"It's a bit late for that now. Tell me what it is."

She jumped to her feet before his hand shot out, grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down. "Let me go, Kornae. I can handle it."