Unlikely Queen (Crystal Castle 1)

Grim appears. I smile and offer him my hand. He takes it and removes me straight away.

Chapter Thirty-One

“You brought me back,” I say, holding on to his hand and looking around. The sun is setting and the dark sky is emerging.

“I did. I had to tell you in person.”

“What?”

“That this can be no more.”

His words hit me like a sledgehammer. He sits and pulls me down to him as he lies back. My head lies on his chest, and his hands, so much bigger than mine, stroke my hair. I stay there thinking of what could be… what also can’t be. But not once did I stop this, stop us. Even when I know I should have.

Rolling over so I can look up at him, his eyes are fixed on the night sky, watching as it sparkles. I lay my chin on his chest and offer Grim a smile as I stare at him. Trying so hard not to think of those words he just uttered.

He really is the most beautiful man I have ever seen.

“Do you think we are destined?” I ask, hoping his answer has changed.

He seems to think on my question, as if he isn’t sure how to correctly answer it.

“You know we are not. The prophecy…” He lets the words hang, and I do know.

I’ve never felt as strongly connected to anyone in my life as I do to him.

So how can we both be so wrong for one another?

“We don’t have a lot of time.” He pulls me up his body and kisses my lips, stealing them like a thief in the night.

I let him.

I pull back from his intoxicating lips and rise to my feet. He follows me and stands directly in front of me, leaning in and stealing another kiss.

His touch brands my very soul. I can feel it all the way down to the depths of my bones. It’s like a fire licking at its victim and being drenched in ice water at the same time. His lips touch mine, so anyone and everyone can see or feel it.

I am his.

In this moment and forever, I belong to him.

It feels like a daze. I shouldn’t know what he’s doing, but somehow, I know every single detail. It’s like a puzzle in my head, working it out, putting it together piece by piece.

A sweep of his tongue, and the fire smolders.

A bite of my lip, and the fire burns brighter.

My insides are shaking, not understanding but wanting as much as he can give to quench my insatiable need for him.

He pulls back, and in an instant, everything changes. I’m not blind. I can see clearly. His eyes shine brightly into mine, silver and steady. It feels like a drug is clearing from my system, cleansing me of him. I crave his intoxication once more—a hit—that one single touch or a single look can give.

“You feel it, don’t you?” My eyes close at the sound of his voice, and I shiver as it takes on an edge. “Now I need you to run… run as if your life depends on it. Because if you don’t, I will find you, and I will take you.”

Is it a malicious promise or a delicious threat? What I do know is that it’s one I delight in.

“The prophecy?” I ask, and he nods in answer, wings expanding out in all their glory.

And I find myself craving him once more.

“If it comes true…” he continues by way of warning, “…our worlds will intertwine. You will have more power than anyone could ever dream of, and no one will be able to stop you.”

“You won’t touch me again?”

I miss it already—his touch, his taste.

“I won’t be able to.” His lips meet my cheek, then the same words whisper once more in my ear. “Run, little fighter. Run.”

PROPHECY

A girl as powerful as ever will be born. No one will be able to rival her power, for hers is pure.

She will be tested. She will kill the queen and bring forth a new world—one where boundaries will be a thing of the past.

It will come at a great cost.

With as much destruction as it will bring, it will also give hope.

And her reign will be no more.