The Queen's Conquer

Chapter 9 : Peace

Querencia • [kr-en-see-uh]
A place where one feels safe, a place from which one's strength of character is drawn.

🖤

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We barely leave the floor of that living room for the remainder of the day. Samuel eventually gets up at one point to retrieve fresh clothes for us, returning only in loose sweats and bringing me one of his black shirts along with a pair of boxer briefs. Other than that, we spend our time making the rug into our personal bed after shoving the glass coffee table out of the way and throwing as many pillows and blankets into the open space as we possibly can.

Throughout the day, he makes our meals for us, sometimes even allowing me to help when I remind him of how he once made me cook for him when he loathed my existence—and he then proceeds to tell me that I'm wrong before attacking me with a barrage of kisses. But I never leave his side, unable to detach myself from his touch and warmth after our intimate moment.

Now, the floor to ceiling windows are covered by heavy curtains that hide the darkness that lays beyond them as the gas fireplace crackles from across the room, providing us with just enough light for the evening. I lay between Samuel's legs as my head rests against his rising and falling chest, listening intently to his steady heartbeat and enjoying its rhythm. His fingers comb through my hair, soothing me with every stroke. A thick blanket covers our bodies, keeping in as much of our warmth as it can.

"I never knew Max was involved in that attack on your borders," I suddenly exhale. His fingers pause for a moment and I lift my head to look him in the eyes. But Samuel keeps his lips sealed as he rubs my cheek with his thumb, his irises glowing against the fire's light. "I didn't think he would've willingly worked with those rogues. I thought he hated your kind after the Snow Ball—after what you did to him."

I look away to stare into the blaze, but Samuel's fingers turn my head back to face him. "Our kind," he corrects me. "And he was desperate to find you, Anastasia. He was your friend before all of this and he was only worried about what had happened to you, but that's no excuse for the measures he took against the safety of my pack." Samuel pauses for a moment before adding, "He told us almost everything about Mylithia's alliance with the rogues after I came to him asking about your disappearance."

I shake my head though, still not pleased with how bizarre Max's actions have been. "He hates what I've become. When he saw me in that cabin he already knew about the wolf blood in me and even tried poisoning me with a silver spoon." The tears build around my eyes as I stare at one of Samuel's tattooed arms.

"I think that was Liam and Sterling's doing," Samuel chuckles. I shoot him a stern look, forcing him to clear his throat and say, "But I'll talk to them about it. They shouldn't have even thought about using silver on you considering you're their Luna."

I lift myself a little bit more to place a slow kiss against his lips. "Thank you," I say sweetly in between the space of our mouths. Samuel returns his own gentle kiss before sitting up straighter against the stack of pillows behind him.

"There's another thing I want to talk to you about," he begins, readjusting me in his arms. I let him collect his thoughts before continuing. "We need to discuss the details of your marking ceremony."

My body goes stiff at the sound of those words. And I'm sure he can see the fright filling my face, making him squeeze his arms around me.

"Hey," he says soothingly with a palm pressed to my cheek, attempting to ground me and my erratic emotions. "What's wrong?"

I fumble with my fingers, unsure of where to begin. "It's just..." I huff out, frustrated with my reaction. "I don't know the first thing when it comes to being a Luna. I don't know anything, Samuel." He smiles softly with amusement, but the words continue to spill from my lips. "On top of that, I don't know why the hell I need to be marked in the first place or how it even works." He releases a low laugh, kissing my cheek, but I shove his mouth away. "Stop laughing! I'm being serious."