The Glass Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #2) - Gena Showalter Page 0,139

magical potion and a spell to keep my uninvited guest hidden from me. At the time, I didn’t know why Mother forced me to endure the ritual every year. She didn’t tell me before I...before she died. Milo is that warlock’s son, and he knows Leonora is a phantom, too. He burned his father’s journals so that I couldn’t re-create the potion or the spell. Now the barrier has fallen, and there are two of us in here, each vying for control.”

A thousand emotions blazed in Saxon’s eyes, each one quickly burning up, leaving only remnants behind. Rage: the weapon. Sorrow, fear, and despair: the wounds. Knowing him, everything he was feeling was self-directed.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t done. Stomach protesting, I whispered, “She cannot be killed. When I die, she’ll slip free of me and continue on. Equally devastating, I don’t know if I can live without her. The more the barrier between us weakened, the stronger I became. But I can’t live with her any longer, either. When I fail to stop her from taking over, innocent people usually die.”

“Then we will find another way to create the barrier,” Saxon said with such force the ground shook, birds taking flight from the stable rafters.

“We can’t let her live.” What was I doing? Pushing for my death?

“We can if it means you live, as well.”

“And risk your life? The lives of your people?”

“We know apple babies. They’ll find a way to strengthen your defenses against the phantom. I just wish I’d put the pieces together sooner.” He thought for a moment. “Would a magical ability of your own help power your heart?”

“I think I have one. I can feel it, so close to the surface. But as much as I’ve always wanted to manifest one, I fear it right now. I sometimes have access to Leonora’s magic. Do we really want to give her access to mine, making her even more powerful?”

Doomed.

The word echoed in my mind, an insidious beast there to rampage my calm, and I shifted.

“You were twice born into a magical family,” Saxon said. “No doubt you have the soul of a witch. Yes, I’d bet you do have a magical ability of your own and Leonora’s overshadowed it.” He caressed my cheek. “This life has unfolded so differently from the others. It will have a different end, as well. We will make sure of it. We will find a way to subdue her. I’m not losing you again.”

I smiled at him, even though I wanted to shout, Subduing her won’t work. But I was too tired to go there again, a yawn already cracking my jaw. My eyelids were heavy and tried to slide shut, but I forced them open.

“Are you worried you’ll sleepwalk?” Saxon asked.

“I call it Leonora-walking now, and I’m pretty much always worried about it.”

“Rest easy tonight. I’ll be on guard duty.” He brought a lock of my hair to his face and rubbed the end over his chin. “Since you aren’t going to freely offer the information, I suppose I’ll have to ask. What did you think of your first time?”

I almost swallowed my tongue. “We’re going to discuss what happened? Out loud?”

Husky chuckle. Melting heart. “Perhaps I require reassurance,” he said. “Words this time, rather than piercing screams of pleasure.”

Cheeks burning hotter. More than I wanted to bury my face in the hollow of his neck, I wanted to tease the avian right back. So I fluffed my hair. Using my prissiest tone, I told him, “I was magnificent. You were...tolerable. There. Don’t you feel so much better now?”

He snort-laughed. “Your screams and moans suggested otherwise, Asha.”

Weeds! My cheeks flamed anew. “I’ll be quiet next time, okay? Promise!”

“Why? Do you wish to punish me?” When my nose scrunched up in confusion, he chuckled again.

He’d liked my odd noises? And had he called me “love”? I wasn’t sure because I’d been a little too preoccupied with a world-changing eruption of pleasure at the time. I kept hoping he’d say it again.

“You will admit to my superior skill, or I’m afraid I’ll be forced to punish you.” He didn’t wait for my response. He got busy tickling me.

I howled with laughter, batting at his hands. “Stop, stop, stop. I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you.”

He paused, both of his brows cocked. “I’m listening.”

“You were...adequate. We should practice every single day for the rest of our lives.”

I expected laughter and a little more tickling. I got heavy silence.

Saxon stilled with such intensity, he didn’t seem to