The Glass Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #2) - Gena Showalter Page 0,142

done it again, as if it were a declaration. Because it was. He loved me. My heart fluttered, and I forgot my irritation with him. Maybe I’d give in for just an hour or two. Eager to tease him back, I said, “And what dowry is that, hmm?”

A slow grin spread. “You come with an entire kingdom—a new kingdom for me to explore each and every day.” He cupped my jaw and stroked his thumb over my mouth. “The bridge to paradise.” He cupped my breast next. “The Mountains of Ash.”

My breath caught, a giggle and a moan escaping in unison. Tomorrow. I would make my own declaration of love for him tomorrow, my gift to him before we parted.

Where would he visit next?

With languid satisfaction, he ran his fingertips along the center of my stomach and circled my navel. “The Valley of Temptation.”

As I writhed underneath his touch, rocking my hips, he shifted me to my back and got between my legs. I peered at his beautiful face, at the dark hair in utter disarray, and gave a breathy moan. “Where else?”

“The Ocean of Nirvana.” With a wicked gleam in his eyes, he kissed his way down...

* * *

Voices awoke me. I blinked open my eyes and realized night had arrived, our stall full of shadows. A convoy of memories—hours and hours spent in Saxon’s arms—rolled through my mind, the queendom of Ashleigh, and my cheeks burned. The things we’d done to each other...

I hadn’t known two people could use their mouths in such an intimate way. Hadn’t known I would react so wildly. I’d loved how he’d watched me closely, gauging my every reaction to give me more of what drove me to the brink of insanity. My defenses had crumbled, baring more than my body—baring my soul. The glass heart I wanted to place in his hands.

I eased up, clutching a sheet to my naked chest as my hair tumbled around my shoulders. “Saxon?” I said, twisting to peer at—his pillow. Disappointment rocked me. Where had he gone?

Again, muted voices caught my attention. Voices...plural? Was he speaking to someone? Curious, I hurriedly dressed in a new garment Saxon had left for me—a soft blue gown that clung to my curves. It had open-ended pockets, allowing me to reach through them to grip the weapons strapped to my thighs.

Leonora remained blessedly quiet, yet I sensed her seething anger. She felt betrayed by Saxon and remained alert and aware, ready to pounce on me at a moment’s notice.

I had to admit, subduing her had become easier and easier, my defenses against her strengthening as I did. The amour might have something to do with that. Or the more bonding magic I wielded. Or all three. Or none. I didn’t know, but she was no longer able to assume control as I slept, and that was wonderful. It was.

I still wanted her dead.

Barefoot, I padded outside the stable. I loved the feel of dirt between my toes. As soon as I cleared the stable, the voices got louder. Golden moonlight spilled over the forest, blending with its natural azure glow, the dome down. I’d known it had to happen, yet disappointment flared.

So where was Sax—ah. There. He stood with two others, both of the dragons flanking his sides. And oh, wow. They’d doubled in size again.

One of Saxon’s companions was a blonde beauty I’d never met, who wore a tunic with writing across the chest. That writing... I narrowed my eyes to sharpen my focus. “Hello, My Name Is Queen of Evil. What’s yours?”

The Evil Queen?

The other companion was male and he—my jaw went slack. He was my cousin Roth.

My gaze swung back to the blonde. If Roth was here, and she proudly referred to herself as the Evil Queen, then she must be Everly Morrow. I couldn’t make out what the trio was saying, but the three were obviously friendly, not the enemies Saxon had claimed them to be.

Was this the secret he’d kept? “Um, hi guys?” I called as I marched over.

The dragons looked my way. Their expressions plainly said, We’ve got this handled, Momma, have no fear.

Saxon reached out to motion me over, perfectly at ease. “Asha, meet my secrets. You’ve met King Roth. You also know him as Blaze the fae and the healer fae. My other companion is Everly Morrow. You know her as Eve.”

What! The blonde grinned at me. A split second later, an image flashed over her features—another face. Everly, the sorceress I’d