The Rebel's Queen by Tanya Bird

Author:Tanya Bird [Bird, Tanya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tanya Bird

When Cora peeled her eyes open, she was certain someone had poured sand into them as she slept. It took a moment for her vision to clear, and then panic rose inside of her as the hall came into focus. She pushed herself up off the floor, wincing as her head throbbed unbearably. Once it eased, she looked around, her gaze landing on a stern-faced Brom sitting in a chair with his arms crossed. Grey light filtered into the room, washing him in an eerie glow.

‘Good morning.’ His tone matched his expression.

‘Where is Sarey?’ Cora’s mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

‘Asleep.’

She brought a hand to her throbbing head. ‘Asleep where?’

Brom leaned forwards, elbows resting on his knees. ‘In the comfort of her bed, I imagine.’

There was absolutely no way Sarey would leave her on the ground and trudge off to bed. ‘Where is Lief?’ She looked around, expecting to find him standing against one of the walls, but he was not there.

‘I sent him to bed also. He wasn’t particularly happy about it, but I assured them both I would take care of you.’

She looked down at the hard wood beneath her. ‘You left me on the floor?’

‘You left yourself on the floor. You drank until you fell down.’

She pushed herself up to a stand, taking it slow. ‘And at what point exactly did you take care of me?’

‘I stayed awake to make sure you didn’t choke on your own vomit.’

She tilted her head. ‘I never vomit. Iron heart, iron stomach.’

He exhaled through his nose. ‘Lucky you. You got the matching set.’

She lifted a hand, still trying to comprehend what had happened. ‘What sort of man just leaves his wife on the floor?’

His cold eyes never left hers. ‘If you choose to drink like that, to behave like that, I won’t stop you. I also won’t coddle you when you make bad choices, because that’s how we learn. Sometimes we need to wake up on the floor to recognise there’s a problem.’

‘I don’t have a problem. I have an escape.’

He rose from his chair, dragging a hand down his face. He looked exhausted, which actually made her feel guilty. Crazy, given he had left her on the floor in order to prove a point.

‘I don’t have the time or headspace to argue with you.’

Shame pelted her stomach. An apology sat on the end of her tongue, but she was too proud to release it. Instead, she said, ‘If you are done lecturing me, I would like to go freshen up before my journey.’

They stared at one another for the longest time. Eventually, he waved a hand in her direction.

‘Go.’

Her throat closed as he turned away. All that disappointment in his eyes was crushing her. ‘Unless you have changed your mind.’ She tried to keep the hope out of her voice.

‘I haven’t.’

‘Because you want me safe.’

He shook his head. ‘Right now, I just want you out of the way.’ He walked off, his shoulders rounded in defeat.

She opened her mouth, closed it.

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