“The scullery?” I blanched, looking to Geraldine who was wringing her hands together. “What the hell are you talking about? I want him close to me here.”
“Oh, erm, well, I…” Hamish looked at Orion then started to retch violently.
“Oh for the love of the stars, forget it, Hamish. Can you just tell us which room is for Darius?” Tory asked and Geraldine swung around with her eyes popping.
“Why of course, my lady Tory, you only need ask for anything in this place and it shall be yours.”
Geraldine hurried along to the next room and threw the door open, narrowing her gaze at the space inside. “Is this one suitable?” She looked over our heads at Hamish who was biting down on his fist in an attempt to stop himself from throwing up and I could feel my temper fraying as Orion just looked down at his feet like he was just willing to accept this bullshit.
“That’s perfect, Geraldine, thanks,” Tory said, not even bothering to look into the room. “Do you need us to do anything else before we get some rest, or…”
“No, no. Fare morrow, my sweet queens. I shall see you in the morn,” Hamish said hurriedly, glancing at Geraldine before turning away, though as he looked at Orion once more he heaved against his fist again before breaking into a run.
“Problem solved,” Tory said as she waved Orion towards the room which she’d claimed on behalf of Darius before turning and making a move to leave. “I’ll catch you in a bit, Darcy, I just need some time in my own mind.” She stepped past us, glancing back at me and giving me a small smile in goodbye as I frowned, trying to decide if I should be forcing my company on her or just accepting her decision to walk away from me so that she could get her head straight.
“Hang on,” Orion said, moving forward and taking something from his pocket. He held out the beautiful ruby necklace Darius had gifted to my sister and her eyes widened in surprise.
“I reclaimed it for you during the battle,” he said and Tory took it from him possessively, squeezing it tight between her fingers.
“Thank you,” she whispered, the fact that he’d saved it clearly meaning a lot to her.
My lips parted in surprise as she moved forward, giving him a one armed hug and a back pat before releasing him.
“He’s alive, Tory,” Orion swore, pulling his sleeve up to reveal the bare patch of skin on his arm which had once held the Leo symbol for Darius.
I gasped, reaching out to touch that familiar spot which had linked him so irrevocably to his friend.
“If the bond was gone because my Ward had died, I’d still be marked. Even in death, the bond doesn’t die,” he swore and hope filled Tory’s eyes as she nodded.
“Then I guess we just have to wait until he shows up with an explanation,” she said, with a hopeful smile, but I saw it fall again as she backed up and slipped into the royal room.
Geraldine whipped around to look from me to Orion, smoothing down her light brown hair. “Well chestnuts in my nutsack, I am simply over the moon that you two are back together.”
I cleared my throat, not looking at Orion. “We’re not.” Dammit, that didn’t come out right.
“Oh,” Geraldine gasped. “Forgive me for my presumption, my lady. Well perhaps it’s for the best, hey? What will the rebels say of a true queen staying with a Power Shamed Fae – no offence, Orion.”
“None taken,” he gritted out. “Don’t you have somewhere to be, Grus?”
Her eyes flicked from me to him then she nodded several times. “Oh forgive my nippy lips, they’ve run away with me! I shall bid you adieu and see you in the morrow. The butteriest of bagels will await you beyond your slumber, Darcy.” She bowed then jogged off down the corridor and walked into one of the rooms, leaving us alone in the pressing silence.
I drifted towards the room meant for Darius and Orion, feeling my shadow following and as I raised my eyes to meet his gaze, he leaned closer, pressing his hand above my head on the doorframe.
“I’ll see you later, Blue. You can have this room to yourself.” His throat bobbed as his gaze moved to my mouth, his eyes full of the same burning hunger that rippled beneath my own skin.
He went to move away and I fisted my hand in his shirt, knocking the door wider behind me and pulling him inside.
“Are you really planning on staying somewhere else?” I asked, tugging him closer and making him smirk.
“I’ll be wherever you want me to be, beautiful.”
I released him, stepping back as the door swung shut behind him, my heart beating powerfully in my chest like the wings of my Order. I wanted this man with every fibre of my being and I was done wasting time apart. We’d proved how far we’d go for one another in battle, he’d bowed to me, he’d sworn his allegiance in every way a Fae could. But I wanted to show him that we were equals. That when we stood before each other and he saw a queen, I saw a king staring back at me.