Chapter 116

Thank you, Creator, she whispered in her mind. That was truly a stolen moment—a moment where there was no duty. No Cone’s daughter. No master. No slave. Just a woman who loved a man. And a man who was about to be married to another.

Danika closed her eyes against the slash of pain in her heart. “My king?”

“Mm.” His eyes remained closed.

“May I touch your hair?”

“You may.”

She curled her fingers into his jet-black curls and stroked it rhythmically. He seemed to relax against her more, and his breathing came out in a sigh. She was acutely aware of his body beside hers—so acutely aware. The unique scent of his expensive cologne—which she missed these past few weeks—was all she breathed.

King Lucien felt whole again, sitting there with his head on Danika’s small shoulder and his eyes closed. The past few weeks hadn’t been easy. Duty was never easy. He’d done his best not to think of her and to put all memories of her aside to perform his duties as a k