The Glass Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #2) - Gena Showalter Page 0,140

be breathing. “Are you accepting...”

Withering roses. “Not yet,” I rushed out. I couldn’t tell him I wanted to wait until we’d stopped Leonora for good, but I knew he’d insist, again, that we get happy with subduing her.

“Very well.” He started tickling me again, and I could only howl at a higher volume.

“Are you ready to hear about my review?” he asked silkily.

“Yes! No!” Maybe?

The tickling stopped abruptly. When I sobered, he gifted me with the tenderest smile, sending my pulse into a frenzy.

“You were made for me. You shredded my control, Asha, and gave me more pleasure than I’d even known existed. From now on, nothing separates us. Nothing. Anyone who tries—dies.”

26

Love is patient, love is kind.

Hate will stab you from behind.

Ashleigh

Our stolen days inside the magical dome passed in a blur of happiness. Saxon survived the first, plus several bonus battles in preparation for the final. Yesterday, he’d participated in the second round of semifinals. A dance with Dior. Finalists would be announced tomorrow, the final battle fought.

In between the competitions, we alternated between spending time in bed, combat lessons, studying, playing with the dragons, and bringing my designs to life. The dragons helped, ensuring the fire in the forge never died. So far I’d made Eve’s weapons, a practice crossbow, and a sword for Saxon.

Because of all the books I’d studied at the Temple, I knew what to do as well as when and how to do it; I just lacked practical experience. The bracelet helped with that. When I was unsure about the timing of each stage, a thought would whisper through my mind, urging me to stop or continue. And that wasn’t even the most amazing thing. The bracelet gave me some kind of magical ability to force two unlikely objects to coexist in harmony. Or I gave it to myself? I’d begun to wonder if it was my magic, manifesting at last. I’d even removed the bracelet once to test my theory, and I’d been able to add rose petals—genuine real rose petals—to a boiling pool of metal, without disintegrating the flowers. Each one graced the hilt of Saxon’s sword, creating the outline of a perfect bloom.

I wavered between certainty that I’d done it on my own and certainty that some magical remnants left over from the bracelet were responsible. But if I’d done it on my own, what kind of magic was it, exactly? The ability to meld two objects that didn’t belong together was nice and all, but how much good would it do me in a fight? Would it supply enough power to strengthen my heart without Leonora?

I sighed. Crafting weapons with my hands rather than my imagination had proved to be far more laborious than I’d expected. By the end of any session, my muscles would ache, and I would be drenched in buckets of sweat. But I wouldn’t be burned. As many times as I’d inadvertently stuck my fingers in the flames, I hadn’t blistered. Leonora’s fire magic had protected me. But then, I could now access that magic at will, the cage gone, the barrier between us completely eradicated. I was holding her back all on my own.

She’d regained her strength quickly. Every day she’d mounted a new takeover attempt. I’d had to focus on Saxon to keep her at bay, because I refused to lose a second with him.

When we trained, he demonstrated the patience of a saint with me. When we chatted, he hung on my every word, interested in what I had to say. While I worked, he remained nearby, studying the books Noel had tossed through our secret doorway one morning. He’d pored through the pages, searching for information about subduing phantoms. Our one point of contention.

Neither of us had changed our minds. He wanted her caged repeatedly for the rest of my life. I wanted her gone forever, no cage necessary. In this, I refused to bend.

We didn’t waste a lot of time with arguing, though. In our downtime, we skinny-dipped and teased each other about silly things, and I’d never been so happy.

If you could do anything right now, what would you do? I’d asked the first time.

You. The answer is and will always be you.

The boy had enchanted me. Every day he’d presented me with any feathers that had fallen from his wings. “For a new dress,” he would say. He relaxed and smiled for longer intervals, and I fell deeper in love with him each time. Not just me, but