The Queen's Conquer

Chapter 20 : The Brink of Everything

Conflagrate • [con-fla-great]
Start to burn or burst into flames.

🖤

~+~

When I wake the next morning, it's not of my own choice. Every sensation is obscure at first, but I can't mistake my mate's hot breath over my mark for anything else. When my eyes finally pry themselves open, the curtained windows and glass doors leading out to the terrace reveal darkness still masks the night sky and is now consuming the even-dimmer bedroom. The fire has turned into a pile of slow-burning embers, barely enough to illuminate the already-shadowy room, and the candles have all been blown out.

I groan as a warm hand slides over my bare stomach, realizing my head now fits snugly on a heavenly pillow, facing the correct end of the bed this time. I'm beyond what one would consider tired, practically deflated of any energy.

My half-aware body only has to shift an inch to announce its sore, sad state. Indescribable pain shoots up my spine and through my tender neck. And between my legs...That's a whole other kind of aching.

"Why are you awake?" I finally mumble groggily through a dry mouth, shutting my eyes in hopes of escaping my inflamed body.

"I want to show you something," Samuel says gently, massaging my depleted muscles, "that might help with your pain."

Unconsciously, my body shivers. I pull the satin sheets up over my shoulders to keep in my warmth. But his chest presses closer against my back, instinctively providing me with the heat of his body. I moan quietly at the spreading feeling, exhaling through my exhaustion, "It's the middle of the night, Samuel."

That smirk creeps over his mouth when he kisses the back of my ear gingerly. "I know, I know. But the place I want to take you to looks even better during the sunrise."

"What place?"

"You'll just have to wait and see," he says before scooping me into his arms and sitting me on the end of the disheveled bed. I don't bother complaining, rubbing weary hands down my face as he walks off somewhere to retrieve something. He returns with a black shirt and helps me pull it on before dressing himself in underwear. Then I'm handed a tall glass of water—a relief from my dehydration—and chug it down quickly. Samuel takes my cup back before I'm picked up again and practically dozing off in his strong arms.

The only thing I become aware of is the fact that we exit our room and travel down the quiet halls of the manor. The decor still encases the ancient structure, but the images of my surroundings blur together into one confusing delusion. It's not until we meet the refreshing, crisp outdoors when my senses turn more alert.

I don't question where Samuel's taking us, though, not caring much for the location other than the fact that we'll be there together. He walks barefoot down a different set of stone stairs leading up to the manor, not minding the biting cold or the snowy forest trail he begins his trek on.

Compared to last night's hidden path, this one is more open—less congested by the nearby pines. It's utterly pitch-black out here, even with the faint shine of the crescent moon, but my mate doesn't struggle with making it to the mysterious place he claims will alleviate my throbbing body.

Samuel's calves scratch against the thick brush, the sound luring my eyes open until I'm able to make out steam compiling in great wafts only dozens of feet away against the faint glows of dawn. At the sight, my head perks up from laying against his shoulder, curious as to where all the vapor is coming from. It's not until we near the pockets of water contained in large, black rocks rooted into the ground on an entire cliffside that I realize we're nearing some sort of...