The Alpha Who Rejected His Queen novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: Chosen Twice

We watched the sun come up over the valley from the ridge behind the cabin, wrapped in one gray blanket.

Joran sat with his back against a rock and me against his chest.

Neither of us had said anything for a long time.

"You told me to ask," he said at last.

"I did."

"I've been trying to work out how."

"You've had six years."

"I had a speech." He rubbed his thumb over the silver braid on my wrist. "It was good. It had a part where I explained myself."

"I don't want a speech."

"I know."

He shifted so he could see my face.

He was very pale, and his hands were not steady.

"So I'm asking now," he said. "Whatever the answer is, I'll do it."

"Even if it costs you?"

"Especially then. What do you want, Ilse?"

I looked at the valley.

The silver pack token lay on a flat stone beside us, where he had set it down an hour ago.

I had not touched it.

"You kept it," I had said.

"I couldn't throw it away. I took it off the dais the minute you left. I've worn it every night since."

I had looked at the thin cord rubbed pale by his throat.

I had said nothing then either.

Now I picked the token up and turned it over in my fingers.

"Here's what I want," I said. "I want my own bed in my own room, and a door I can close. I want to wake up when I wake up. I want you to cook, because I've heard you can't, and I want to watch."

"I can learn."

"I want you to knock before you come in."

"I will."

"I want you to tell me when you're afraid, before you do something stupid about it."

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