The Glass Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #2) - Gena Showalter Page 0,103

one more agonizing than the last. When a low moan left her and she began to flutter open her lids, I tensed. What color? Please, be green. Please be—green. I exhaled a staggering breath of relief.

“Withering roses,” she burst out, jolting into an upright position. With a groan, she massaged her temples. “Leonora locked me in an endless void on the other side of the barrier, and I couldn’t fight my way free. But at least I remained somewhat aware this time.”

What did she mean, “barrier”? Had she already found a way to suppress the witch, keeping Leonora from taking over any time she wished?

“How do you feel?” I asked, untying the hand that was behind her back. My voice was rough with guilt, the tide I’d managed to hold back while dealing with Leonora surging.

“I’m all right,” she replied softly, rubbing her wrists.

I bowed my head.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “What did I do this time?”

“You did nothing. You never have. I never should have blamed you for what happened in the past. I never should have punished you. I’m so sorry, Ashleigh.” I hated what I’d done. I hated who I’d been. “Tell me what to do to prove my remorse, and I’ll do it.” I would do anything.

“You don’t need to do anything. This situation is insane and complex and twisted. We’re both doing the best we can. But I accept your apology,” she offered easily. She placed her hand atop mine and squeezed, putting action to words. “To be honest, you aren’t the one I blame.”

Who was this girl with the broken heart so ready to forgive?

“What did Leonora do this time?” she asked. “For once, I have a vague idea, but I’m kind of hoping I’m wrong.”

“She kissed me,” I admitted.

“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” Ashleigh drew a line in the dirt and hay that covered the floor. “That must have been...?”

Disgust flared as I recalled it. “Awful.”

“I’m the one who’s sorry, then. I should have fought harder to escape.”

Escape the endless void she’d mentioned? “Never apologize to me. You owe me nothing.” I smoothed a lock of hair behind her ear. “If Leonora subdues you at times, does that mean you are subduing her at all the others? Or does she only surface when she wishes?”

Ashleigh gave her lips a nervous lick before rocking a hand back and forth. “It’s half and half. Sometimes I have to fight her to keep her buried, but most often she is dormant.”

Ashleigh had strength upon strength upon strength, and always had, much of which I hadn’t even known about. “She isn’t you.” I didn’t have a right to ask, but I was going to. The more I knew, the better I could help her. I had to help her. “She’s a different entity entirely. And please don’t worry that I will use this information to harm you. Your protection is paramount to me, and I’m going to prove it.”

Her eyes flared, and she gave a brittle laugh. “Two different entities? Do you comprehend how ridiculous you sound?”

She knew the truth, but she didn’t want to admit it to me. She feared my reaction because I’d given her no reason not to. I bowed my head once more, the weight of everything I’d done, everything I’d said settling on my shoulders.

I needed to speak with Noel. The oracle might have insight into the situation and the people involved that I didn’t.

The dragons must have sensed their mother’s return; they whizzed into the stall, squawking happily. Pagan landed on her right shoulder, Pyre her left and both babies nuzzled her cheek, leaving a streak of soot behind.

In that moment, it felt as if someone had used a mallet on my rib cage, the cracking I’d experienced before just a foretaste. The mallet slammed into my heart next, banging and banging until every inch had been tenderized. The sensation was terrible...wonderful...perfect. It was something you forever remembered because it changed who you were, inside and out.

I’d so badly wanted to be a great king, just once. But how could I lead an army of warriors if I couldn’t protect a girl who’d come to mean everything to me?

Ashleigh laughed. Even now, the magical sound soothed me in a thousand different ways. “Hello, my darlings. Did you enjoy your first night outside the bedroom?”

More squawks. Pyre hopped down and tentatively rubbed against me, the scent of fuel and flame wafting from her.

I looked down to watch her but otherwise remained still, not