Reign Queen by L. Gibbs (10 ebook reader txt) 📕

anybody.I think Lessa was the first person we finally let into our group.”He huffed. “Of course, that might have been because Tomo and Ididn’t want Amily tagging along with us everywhere we went.”

“She was my first friend here.”

His hands raised her chin and cupped herface. “And did she provide enough of an honest perspective for youto forgive me?”

That was the question she now had to wrestlewith. “There is more than just what Covey shared. You said therewere many.”

He strode to the curtained windows, pullingthe heavy fabric aside. “Let’s save my other horrific acts foranother night.”

Horrific. She swallowed. “Russal.”

“Let’s talk about us. I’ve been thinking inthat little room.” He grimaced and left the window, the curtainsswinging into place. “My actions came first. Even if Covey hadn’tshown up, I set you aside as if you could provide no value. I leftyou out of the decision regarding what to do about the injuredguards and the attacks in the maze.” He sat down on the bed.

She sat beside him, a breadth of spaceseparating them. “Russal, I need to figure out a few things.” Shestared at her hands in the dim light of the one lamp. One part ofher wanted to reach out to him and wipe the entire night out of hermemory. A gulf hung between them, her own uncertainty just one sideof it. There was much between them yet to deal with. She hadquestions about what she was to Russal, and it appeared he hadthem, too. “I learned something important,” she said. “We don’tknow each other enough, yet we’re king and queen, married, and thenthere’s the Kavin magic.”

“Can we start again?” Russal asked, his voicesoft. “Step back and build on a friendship and our love for eachother. I love you, Kambry, but I need to be a friend for you aswell. We have to rule together.” He stared straight ahead, notlooking at her. “I have an idea. That day long ago when I lostcontrol of Kavin magic? I learned from it.” He turned to face her.“Let’s practice together. I think it will help us build a strongerrelationship.”

So they could cross this gulf. She chewed herlip. If only she knew why she kept believing Covey and letting himbreak through her defenses. Was he the one that had caused Kavin toreplay that day for her, or had she pulled the image with her owncontrol of Kavin magic? Many. Horrific. Would Kavin show herthose if she asked? She trembled at the thought and shoved itaway.

Russal shifted on the bed as if he couldn’tfind a comfortable position. “I have a confession to make. Irealized a few more mistakes I made tonight while I sulked in theother room.”

She looked at him, settling her hands in herlap, though they immediately fidgeted with the sash at her waist.“A confession?” He didn’t wrap anyone up in the shrubbery ordangle them from an oak tree in the garden, did he?

“I also checked on the Laurents. I shouldhave brought you with me for that as well. Lady Laurents made itclear I am an idiot to leave your side. She threw me out and toldme not to return without you.”

Her chest loosened. That wasn’t so horrible.Kambry could just imagine Lady Laurents giving Russal a set down.The woman had a harsh tongue, and she would not hesitate to telleven a king where he went wrong. She needed to go see LadyLaurents, if for nothing else than to get her own dressing down fornot following him against any protest he might give.

“There’s one more thing, and I hesitate totell you. I should have said something as soon as we werealone.”

Going to the Laurents wasn’t awful. He wasprobably being overly critical. He should have taken her with him,but checking on them had been an appropriate action. She wouldlisten to this next “confession” with a calm, forgiving attitude.She closed her eyes. “Russal, what is it?”

“Gordy. He was the guard who was mostinjured. I didn’t want to worry you, but I had no right to keepthat news from you.”

She stood up and took two paces beforecharging to look down at him. “You should have told me right away.”She twisted her hands. “Gordy?” She paced again, wringing herhands. Her Gordy was the one who was unconscious. “You said Barabybelieves he will be fine in time.”

“His daughters are taking care of him, andwith rest, he will recover.”

She paced back and forth the width of thebed. “You should have told me. I need to see him first thingtomorrow. Oh, Russal, why would someone hurt him?”

“They wanted those guards out of the way.Gordy was watching your parents. The second guard observed from aspot near where the Laurents faced their attacker.”

Covey had said he was protecting Kambry fromplans his mother had. Who had instigated the attacks? Covey,Maizalyn? Both of them? “Don’t you ever keep important informationfrom me again, Russal!”

His hands hovered near her own and withdrew.“Never again, Kambry. I promise you, we’re in this together.”

She sat down on the bed again. “Gordy.” Hervoice broke, and she rubbed her forehead. He was her protector andtaught her how to protect herself. “I’m so tired. There isn’t more,is there?”

“No.” The word sounded unfinished.

They sat, both staring forward.

Frustration dogged her thoughts, and shefocused on fears on Gordy. She knew Baraby was a skillful healer.If he said Gordy would recover, then he would.

After a moment, Russal drew her hands to hislips and kissed them. “I won’t ask for forgiveness yet. I’mlearning how to have a queen at my side. I’m going to makemistakes, but I will listen better when you disagree with me. Iwon’t discount your contribution again.” Standing up and pullingher hands toward him, he brought her to her feet. “Good night,Kambry. I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t worry about Gordy or theLaurents. All will be well. I’ll... we’ll take care of themtogether.”

She almost called him back when he releasedher hands and went to the door by the staircase.

“I’ll see you in the morning, dearKambry.”

~~~~~~~

Kambry hadn’t realized Gordy kept a home intown. She sat astride a well-mannered horse, ambling down thecauseway with Russal on a large black