JOANNA
~~
“What happens to me... To us, when your Queen returns?”
The question hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, suddenly making the training hall feel far too large. I had saved the best for last, mostly because I was scared that he wouldn’t care about the rest of my questions if I put this one first.
A part of me was convinced he wouldn’t answer this question, even though that was the answer that would determine if whatever this was between us was worth risking my heart or not.
Or worse, that the answer would be the final blow to a heart I was only just healing.
The silence stretched. King Damien’s gaze dropped to the mat, his jaw tightening until I could see the pulse thrumming in his neck.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted out, the silence already stinging my throat. “I shouldn’t
