Shadow Queen (Crowns Book 2) by Nicola Tyche

Author:Nicola Tyche [Tyche, Nicola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Columbia River Publishing
Published: 2023-07-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter thirty

Norah lay awake in the blissful light of morning, staring out the window. Mikael was sprawled sideways across the bed, his head on her hip. It was a rare moment, relaxing together in the calm, not rushing to duties or responsibility.

Things had settled since they had returned from the Wild. Even the contempt between Mikael, Soren, and Alexander had seemed to die down somewhat. Somewhat. But she couldn’t shake her guilt. She’d asked a lot from Mikael, and he gave her everything. What had she given him?

“Why haven’t you asked me to return the mountains of Bahoul?” she said, breaking the silence.

Mikael drew in a long breath, clearly not expecting this subject. He rolled to his side, looking up at her.

“You want it, yes?” she asked.

He swallowed. “Surely you know the answer.”

She bit her bottom lip. “I’m sorry I haven’t thought to discuss it with you until now. But… why haven’t you asked me for it?”

He turned his head and looked out the window. “I should have negotiated it with our marriage agreement, but the truth is I wasn’t even thinking of it at the time.” He paused. “Soren pressed me to discuss it with you after. But, as the days passed, the harder it became.” He grew silent for a time before continuing. “I feared the answer, that you wouldn’t give it to me. Not that I’m so desperate to get it back now, but… are you unable to deny me… the way I’m unable to deny you? I… don’t think I want to know.”

Norah reached down and ran her fingers through his hair before resting her hand on his cheek. “It’s yours, husband.”

His eyes grew thick with emotion, and he put his hand over hers, bringing it to his lips and kissing her palm.

They lay naked together in the beautiful quiet.

“There’s something else I’ve been reluctant to press you for,” he said. He ran his hand over the skin of her stomach, swirling his fingertips so that prickles rose on her skin, and then he widened his palm against her flesh again. “A child.”

Norah’s pulse quickened. They certainly hadn’t been trying not to have a child, but they never spoke of it, never made it an intentional effort. And she wasn’t sure how she felt. She wanted children, eventually, but was she ready? She still didn’t feel in control of her own life enough to now be responsible for another. But with a husband who loved her, and whom she loved in return, she started to feel a stirring for something more. A child between them sounded less and less of an obligation, and more of a beautiful life.

Norah put her hand over Mikael’s on her stomach.

He shifted and moved up, rising over her and covering her with his body. “It’s now the most important thing, Salara. I need an heir to settle the nobles. Unrest will build as time goes on. And”—he paused—“it’s what will keep you safe when I’m gone.”

His words rippled through her. When he was dead, he meant.

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