Page 58 of Autumn Queens & Shadows

“Wouldn’t say a lot.”

“Mhm.”

“What’s with the attitude? You can be jealous just yet, my liege, we’re not even married yet.”

“Shut up.”

“As you wish.” I felt his lips on my shoulder and then heard his footsteps retreat after he murmured in my ear, “As you wish.”

Frost suddenly coated the room as I stood there reeling in shock, every fibre in my body concentrating on the spot his lips had just been. It took me a bit of strength to get myself to the bed, each of my steps slow and careful.

“Mother of skies, little bird,” he said, chuckling as he spread himself on the armchair. “There isn’t much you can do with me if I freeze to death.”

“Don’t touch me next time,” I bit out, getting myself under the covers.

“I didn’t touch you.”

“Your mouth did.”

“They call it a kiss. As far as I remember, you enjoyed it the last time I gave you one.”

I held my breath, teeth digging on my bottom lip.

The kiss.

The kiss.

My eyes drew shut at the memory of his lips on mine. The cursed, cursed memory that refused to be buried anywhere.

Just like that, I fell asleep reliving that moment. Over and over. Of the first and last kiss I’ve given to someone.

Chapter sixteen

White Roses

Thora

I’d only ever thought this would have happened either in a distant strange dream or if the world was truly ending.

All of Winter Court was present in the largest throne room in Tenebrose castle now decorated with pink roses, banners, furs and chandeliers. The contrast of the bright colour was stark against the grey of the weather, the dull of the stone walls and dark floors. The balcony I stood on overlooking the massive space was also all decorated the same, and I clutched the heavy curtain fabric I had hid behind somewhat in awe.

I liked to think I'd grown out of my love for the colour even though I used to spend what little of my childhood that I remembered turning everything pink. I’d grown envious of other girls wearing pretty things and being adored. I thought being like them would make my ma and pa adore me, too. I’d cried endlessly because of it, thinking they didn’t want me because I wasn’t like the other little girls. The only colour I often wore was red made of blood splatters from training—sometimes mine, mostly of others.

Snow had used her little smart brain and found rotten cherries in the kitchen bins, boiled them and dipped everything I had in white in it, turning dresses, skirts and shirts all strange colours of pink. I’d never cherished anything more. Not the scraps. Not the torn bow that had turned out with unevenly splotchy patches on it. But the memory of my sister’s big smile and her happiness when she’d thought she’d made me happy. That day I learnt two things. Pretending to be happy made her happy, too. And that wearing pink did not make ma and pa adore me. Snow did though. She’d called me pretty as she’d put them all over my hair, dresses and shoes. I’d spent most of my childhood recreating memories so I didn’t remember much of what truly happened, but that one memory was one I would never forget. Sometimes it tortured me, sometimes it soothed me, and I accepted it both ways.

“Malik,” Elias said, stepping by my side on the small balcony overlooking the throne room that was getting crowded.

When I remained silently confused, he pointed his chin to the decor. “He gave the instructions to the servants and had a florist from Adriata bring the roses.”

My fingers tightened against my tool skirts, clutching the pink fabric. “And my dress?”

He gave me a look. “You really think I’d go for that colour? He had Nia bring it from Adriata.”

It didn’t take me long to spot him in the crowd below. Malik stood at the centre of the hall, relaxed, hands in the pockets of his dark suit that fit his hard body too perfectly, conversing with a few of my court members. At the moment my attention fell on him, he went still as if he could sense it, and slowly turned to look up at where I stood on the balcony above.

Quickly, I pulled the curtain back and retreated, only to collapse with a hard wall—a wall who pulled me onto his arms that smelled of fresh eucalyptus.

“Are we playing hide and seek?” he crooned, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “If so, I’ve found you, little bird.”