His Rejected Mate Became My Queen

est. Birds sang in indolent concert, and the mist crawled in delicate fingers across the un

om thirst, and my breathing was like dry leaves in a storm. I had survived the night

on't remember the gasps of shock or the rough-but-gentle hands that reached for me. I on

. We need to get her

e to my survival - but then it was ju

is?" a second voice as

id, "but look at her-she's a shi

mth of the stranger involuntarily. My eyes flickered open for a moment - long enough to see the royal insignia st

not regula

the king

leather, metal, and pine filled the air. I was conscious of the tremble of a hors

rushing damp hair from my for

onsciousness, the

hed. The terror lingered-but subdued, as if

in a huge room-high ceilings with carvings, velvet drapes on wide

bed. A

ight scent of lavender. A gray-haired woman with kind eyes s

," she whispered. "No

dry and chappe

ing. "You were found by the royal patro

w seconds to sink i

nd me. "I. I shouldn't be here," I breathed, fe

ep, unfamiliar voice

iffe

tood and dropped into a

Ki

owly, and t

lders. His hair was black as the night, brushed back from a face so heart-stoppingly handsome. But it was his

re near death when my men brought you in," h

my throat

r your name?" h

" I whi

as if the name itself were treasure. "Well, Liana.

ent weaving through every word. "I'm a.

in anger - in something profound.

fools cast aside what they do not understand. I

nce Darius's cruel rejection, someone had spoke

ing hands. "I don't even

"Then let me help y

e midst of firelight, royalty, and a kindness

ve. No

ho

maybe. I had been brou

ided was the beginning f