The Queen: A Wicked Novella by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Author:Jennifer L. Armentrout [Armentrout, Jennifer L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jennifer L. Armentrout, Wicked, romance, fantasy, 1001 Dark Nights
Publisher: 1001 Dark Nights Press
Published: 2020-07-13T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“Me?” I squeaked. I couldn’t have heard him right. There was no way.

Caden nodded. “You. I’ve chosen you.”

I stared at him for what felt like an eternity, heart racing, and stomach feeling as if I were poised at the top of a rollercoaster. “You can’t choose me.”

“Oh, yes, I can,” he replied. “And I have.”

“But the Summer Court, the world—”

“Will be just fine.” He reached out, curling his fingers around my elbows. “Because you are my mortuus, and I’ve given you the Summer Kiss.”

“What does that have to do with it?” Tears blurred his face.

“Because you’re not entirely human any longer.” He rose slowly as if trying not to startle me. “You’re not fae, either. You have a piece of my soul inside you. That places you above any fae my Court could offer me. The Summer fae would not weaken, nor would the human world. I would not be dethroned.” His thumbs slid along my elbows. “I would be whole.”

Confusion swamped me as a tiny kernel of something more powerful than hope formed. Some fae knew I was Caden’s mortuus—Tanner and Luce. I imagined Fabian knew, as did Tink. I didn’t think any of them would be particularly dishonest with me. “Is this something well known? That your mortuus, no matter if they are fae or human, can be your Queen?”

“It’s not just the mortuus. It’s also the Summer Kiss,” he explained, his gaze questioning. “Why?”

“I…” I’d told no one about the Summer Kiss. Luce didn’t even know that. Neither did Tanner. Had Caden told Fabian? If so, he must’ve kept it from Tink because Tink would’ve told me. The tiny kernel grew, unfurling like a blossoming flower. “Are you…are you for real?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Caden dragged his hands up my arms.

My brain sort of shorted out. I could have him and the future I wanted so badly and not risk the entire world? We could be together. Our child would have a mother and father who loved each other. My legs started to tremble, and I jerked back from his hold. “Why didn’t you tell me this when you told me you ended your engagement with Tatiana!”

“Looking back, I realize I should have, but I figured you’d been through enough, and it seemed like a good idea to wait before I told you I planned to make you my wife. I figured after you had some time to heal, we’d talk,” he explained. “I didn’t expect anyone to go to you.”

My breath came in short, quick pants. What he was saying sounded reasonable. He’d been thinking of what I could handle given that I’d just been held—wait. “You…you want to marry me?”

His lips twitched. “To make you my Queen, I would have to marry you.”

“Is this a proposal?”

He grinned then, somehow looking boyish. “I had planned on doing something romantic.”

Feeling like I might faint, I pressed my palm to the center of my chest. “You’re not lying to me now, right?”

“I would not lie about this.” He lifted his hands, cupping my cheeks.

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