Hive Queen by Sinclair, Grayson (positive books to read .txt) 📕

That thought made me happy for a split second, but it couldn't erase the fear and unease running wild. There was too much unease flowing through me that there was no way I could keep it from her. I was so afraid, and Eris knew it.

She opened our bond, and our emotions mixed. They poured over one another and did nothing to quell each other; if anything, it made things worse. Her misery at my absence only magnified when my terror slipped through. There was no way for me to communicate with her, and her tidal wave of emotions flooded into me, drowning me.

I had to close off our connection, though it pained me to do so. It had to be done. Our emotions would only hurt the other, and it wasn’t what I needed to focus on right now. Throughout all of this, I tried to keep my distress off my face, but Magnus saw right through it. He was looking at me with a quizzical expression on his face. He put down his tea. "Something troubling you, Duran?"

Instead of answering him, I picked up the china cup in front of me and drained the contents. As always, the booze helped to calm my racing heart and mind. As I sat the cup on the table, I spoke. "Uh, I'm fine, just a little headache."

My weak lie did not get past him. "Trouble with your wife?"

"That obvious, huh?"

He laughed. "Only to me. Like you, I've spent ample time with an entomancer; you pick up a few things. While I’m not bonded to Aliria, I understand the concept easily enough."

His words surprised me. "I'd assumed the two of you were bonded."

"Oh, by the stars, no. Not that I'm opposed to the idea, but Aliria, for obvious reasons, refuses to be bonded ever again."

Well, with how things ended with her first bond-mate, I can't say I blame her all that much. She doesn't want to end up like me. The door to the dining hall opened once more, and Aliria strolled in, her pale skin flushed by heat, her hair damp, turning the golden strands into tarnished brass. Her hair was tied back out of her face in a ponytail, and she was garbed in a dark crimson dress that flowed down to her ankles, though her feet were bare. Like mother, like daughter.

Magnus looked from me at the sound of the door opening, "Ah, speak of the devil. We were just talking about you, dear."

Aliria smiled at his words. "All bad things, I hope."

"All right, Magnus, what do you need from me?"

Magnus stopped mid-sip, his teacup frozen halfway to his lips, and confusion lit up his eyes. "I'm sorry?"

"There's obviously something big going down. Now that I know about it, what can I do to help?"

Magnus looked from me to Aliria and back again. His confusion washed away to amusement as he realized my meaning. He chuckled, but it wasn't his usual laugh; there was absolutely no kindness in it. "I think you've misunderstood things. After our meal, I'll give you a teleportation scroll and send you home."

What? I couldn't stop my anger from boiling out. I slammed my fist down on the table, knocking over my empty cup in the process. The table shook at my outburst. "Excuse me?" I yelled, spitting fury across the wood. “After all this, everything you've told me, just to go home?"

"Precisely."

Magnus picked up his cup and continued to drink his tea as if we were discussing nothing more important than the weather, his face betraying no hint of his reasoning.

"Why?" I tried and failed to keep my voice level.

"Do you want the truth?"

"Obviously!" I said through clenched teeth.

Magnus sighed, setting down his cup and looking me square in the eye. There was judgment and darkness in them.

"You're clearly a capable man, I won't deny that. Tough and strong-willed, but you’re also quick to anger, dangerously unpredictable, and your penchant for drink borders on alcoholism. You bring much to the table, but you also leave much to be desired." He paused and took a breath, leaving me in stunned silence. "In short, I have no use for a man like you."

His words stung me, but purely from the audacity of them, they rang hollow in my ears. Magnus clearly didn't understand the kind of person I was. Alcoholism? Ridiculous. I've never had a problem.

His words should have enraged me, almost did, but to give in to my anger would have just proved his point. Instead, I countered his accusations with one of my own. Who is Magnus to levy judgment when he keeps the worst kind of company? “Yet you employ the likes of Darren, or Liam? Yeah, you clearly have discerning tastes, all right."

Magnus looked up, eyes widened. “You've met Liam?"

"I have."

"Liam’s been with me for many years and has proven himself loyal time and time again."

I laughed in his face. "Loyal? Liam was a right bastard. A slaver, like Darren, who preyed on the weak."

Magnus couldn't help but notice my wording, the inflection in my tone betrayed Liam's fate.

"Was?" Magnus asked.

"He got in my way."

"You killed him?" Magnus's tone changed from bored to incredulous, as did his face. He didn't believe me.

I inclined my head. Well, it was a combined effort, but I don’t think he needs the details. Magnus took his eyes off me to stare at his interface. His eyes dropped when he realized I spoke the truth. A flash of sadness, tinged with righteous fury, crossed them before Magnus could compose himself.

"You weren't lying. You must forgive my disbelief; Liam was one of my strongest lieutenants. Few were capable of besting him."

He shook his head, brushing his blond hair from his face