From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Telench my teeth hard. I don’t overlook his word choice. “When,” not “It sounds like a promise. At last, he steps away from me enough for my muscles to relax a little. He doesn’t return to his seat, but walks toward the tent entrance–not without giving me one last look that clearly expresses the promise of consequences if I dare to do anything that puts his people in danger.

1 suggest you rest

rest—you look tired.” He pulls back the tent flap, letting in the cold night air. “You ca

“I’m not going to sleep in your bed,” I say quickly

can lase my bed.”

“Relax, I won’t join you” He winks at nse. “Td suggest you choose your battles wisely. Anyway, if that’s what you want, the floor might be comfortable. The insects deserve to appreciate pretty things once in a while too.”

Without adding anything else, he leaves and lets me alone in the tent. For a few moments I wait for his return, but after a good while it’s clear he has no intention of coming back–at least not soon. I take a few grapes and savor them as they burst on my tongue. I’m hungrier than I thought

When I finish satisfying my hunger, 1 step away from the table, trying to make as little noise as possible. I’m even careful not to let my skirts drag on the floor. Holding my breath–almost expecting someone to scold me like a child touching something they shouldn’t–I approach the table where, without a doubt, strategic decisions are made.

When I look at it, it’s really like I see nothing. I haven’t been trained to understand wars and strategies. Spread over the table is a map of Drystia, with small pieces scattered here and there. I spot the camp where we are and see that around it there are several pieces surrounding it. I glance over my shoulder several times, expecting to be reprimanded. If they caught me, I think they wouldn’t hesitate to label me a spy–although Eleazar is well aware of the things he’s leaving in plain sight by allowing me to stay here, so possibly this map doesn’t reveal anything truly important to them.

I look at the bed and let out a small gasp of surprise when I see clean sheets perfectly arranged. A blanket, thick and heavy–looking, possibly polar bear fur, rests on top. 1 brush my fingers over the softness of the material as I wonder when the messy bed from before turned into this

I sit down carefully, I promise myself I’ll just rest for a moment. I rest my cheek against the blanket to feel its magnificent texture against my face. I keep my gaze fixed on the entrance of the tent, refusing to close my eyes in case those few seconds are used by someone else to harm me. I try again and again to fight the heaviness that gradually closes my eyelids. Everything around me turns blurry, and line by line, the edges of my vision darken until there’s nothing left

Even in my dreams, I’m not at peace.

“Is everyone good or bad? Is there only black and white? What about shades? What about gray?

Don’t go, don’t drift away.

You will break

It cannot be contained

You are in danger.

Sing to death

Sing to life.”

The words don’t let me have a calm dream. They come whispered by a woman whose vocal cords seem to be plucked like guitar strings. Little by little, the words stop coming in waves and are replaced by the caress of fingers in my mind. Between the world of dreams and looming consciousness, I am not strong enough to repel Cassian’s attempts to break into my head.

“Come back,” he whispers into my thoughts. “Without you, there will be no mercy, Elara”

As if I cared about him being merciful, as if he hadn’t dug his claws into me, and I hadn’t allowed myself the stupidity of caressing his most

I don’t know if it’s my mind conjuring nonsense or if what I’m seeing is real Cassian is sitting in front of his desk, and around him, chans takes shape. The curtains are torn, papers scattered, black ink spilled across the rugs. There are shattered furniture pieces and glass fragments sprinkled everywhere. I focus on looking at him, at his hand holding a silver goblet that dangles precariously, staining the floor with blood. His appearance is disheveled, his black hair messy and his ship wrinkled–very unlike him. He’s slouched in his seat, head down, eyes lost staring at who knows what

As if he can sense me in the room, he lifts his face. It’s a dream. It’s impossible for him to see me. The blue of his eyes is dull, almost gray, like

I hold my breath, surprised,

“I was wrong about you.”

I raise my eyebrows upon hearing the whisper of his words, and his eyes widen in surprise too, as if he really is seeing me in front of him. La

Chapter 95

I panic when he bolts up from his chair, making it fall with a loud crash. He takes a step in my direction, my heart races, and then everything vanishes–except for one thing, one last whisper.

“You are my redemption”

I wake up

up from my strange dream with a deep exhale. My heart threatens to burst from my chest, and I need a moment to breathe and calm down. My prace doesn’t last long. A movement makes me tum my head toward Eleazar, who is leaning against one of the posts of the tent. He watches me with curiosity, without hiding it,

“A nightmare?” he asks.

I place my hands over my chest. I feel naked under the intensity of his gaze and by the fact that he’s been watching me sleep.

“Has no one ever told you that watching someone sleep is in bad taste?”

He shrugs.

“I suppose few dare to point out my mistakes or lack of manners.”

“That only leads to arrogant leaders,” I reply.

He smiles and crosses his arms over his chest, with no apparent intention of leaving

“Am I an arrogant leader?”

1 scoff, the answer is too obvious. I give him a quick look from head to toe and notice that he has changed clothes. The candles inside are still lit. and nothing outside seems to indicate that dawn has arrived. I suppose that as soon as the sun threatens to rise, Eleazar will disappear to wherever he goes during the day.

“How long have I been asleep?” I ask, avoiding answering his question.

“Approximately an entire day. His tone is amused, light. “I almost suspected you were dead”

“I was tired,” I admit

“Too tired to take a linle tour of this place?”

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