Hive Queen by Sinclair, Grayson (ereader iphone .TXT) 📗

there was beyond me, but I managed to stand after a few tries. The room spun, so I leaned against the magical spy table and tried to focus on Magnus; there were three of him in the room. Was there always three of him? Odd that I never noticed.

My vision swam again, and I blacked out.

***

I awoke to pain. My head pounded with the remnants of the overabundance of alcohol in my system. My hangover made even moving a challenge, but the light currently blinding me made it a necessity. I sat up slowly, pushing myself out of the blistering light, and when I got up, resistance clung; soft and warm hands held me.

"Good morning, love," I called to Eris.

I reached down to unstick her from my side, only to find short auburn hair obscuring her face. Eris doesn't have red hair...wait a second. Oh, no! Tell me I didn't. I slipped the heavy slate comforter off me. Okay, still have my pants on. That's a good sign.

The events of the previous day came crashing into me, and I put the massive existential crisis out of mind for the moment and focused on the naked girl in bed with me.

I poked her gently. “Jasmine?”

A low mumble was her response, and I tried again. She lifted her head. “Yes?”

"What are you doing?"

"Cuddling."

“Why?”

“You asked me to,” she said, pressing herself to my side.

“Why did I ask you to cuddle?”

Jasmine shrugged and nuzzled into me. “I don’t know. I thought you might have been joking, but I wasn’t sure.”

I let out a long sigh and tried not to get upset at the maid. It’s not her fault I'm an idiot. "Okay, well, you do not have to cuddle me again. Best not take anything I say when I’m drunk seriously.”

“Okay.”

“So you can let go of me now.”

She shook her head.

“Why not?”

"Because you're very warm. It's nice."

I tried once more to pull away, but it seemed she was adamant about not letting go of me.

"Jasmine, could you let go of me for just a second?"

"No."

I gave one final attempt to pull myself free, but without putting a considerable effort into it, I wasn't going anywhere. How the hell do I get her off me? I was about to resign myself to be this girl’s pillow for the next few hours, when a delicious thought struck me.

It was mean and childish, but I couldn't help but smile at what I was about to do. I reached over for the pitcher of water on the nightstand by the bed.

"Jasmine, will you please let go of me?"

Another shake of her head, and she clung even tighter.

I gave her ample opportunity. It's on her now. I moved the pitcher over her sleeping form, snuggled so soundly into me. What a rude awakening this is about to be, I thought and dumped the remaining water on top of Jasmine.

The result was better than I could have hoped for. As soon as the cold water touched her skin, she bolted, her eyes open, just in time to be drenched as the rest of the water landed all over her. Jasmine let out a half gargle, half screech of surprise and flung herself as far as she could away from me. The bed was more than accommodating, and she found herself with plenty of room that wasn't now soaked with water.

I stood off the bed and threw on my shirt. While she glared murder at me. I undid my hair and quickly retied it before walking to the door.

“Have a good morning, Jasmine,” I said and hastily left the room.

I found Magnolia a short walk later. She asked me about Jasmine, and I admitted where she was, but I hastily assured her again that nothing had happened between us.

“I was worried when she didn’t return to her room last night, I’m just glad she’s all right.”

Without another word, she led me to the dining hall.

Magnus sat in the same spot as last night, in front of him on the oak table were an array of dishes hardly touched. He sipped from a porcelain cup and picked up a piece of parchment, though his eyes rose as I approached.

"Good morning, Duran, I trust you slept well."

I groaned a non-reply and sat down in the same chair as last night, resisting the urge to lay my head down and sleep. Magnus was cheerfully awake, dressed in a vibrant, butterscotch tunic, looking like a man who’d gotten a full night’s rest.

I didn't get more than three hours, and he was still wide awake with Aliria when I blacked out. That thought brought a question to mind. "Where's Aliria at?"

He picked up his cup and took another sip, ignoring my question for the moment. As he sat his cup down, he spoke.

"She's taking a bath. I'm sure she'll be along shortly." He lifted his cup and gestured towards me. "Would you like some tea? It's my own special blend. I think you'll find it to your liking."

When Magnolia returned, I almost leapt out of my chair. The door opening was a gunshot to my senses; I flinched at the sound and shook the table. Magnus looked up with a grin and drained the rest of his tea.

By the time Magnolia reached the table, I'd calmed my shot nerves. She sat down a large cup of tea with a wink. "I made it special for you."

The smell rising from it was heavenly—a mixture of black tea, lemon, and a sharp, bitter undertone that I recognized well. I took a large gulp. The tea was delicious, but the liquor was what made me sigh in pleasure. The bite of the alcohol soothed my aching head almost instantly, and I drained the cup in