“I was disappointed, my princess,” he whispered. “I spoke rashly and acted the same.”

“I was not referring to what you said,” she retorted.

His head twitched before he asked, “And to what were you referring?”

“This is not respect, speaking of this over my fallen sisters.”

“I understand that. Though I cannot imagine, if they were breathing, they would want their deaths to stand between two lovers.”

“We were never lovers.”

His head tilted to the side. “I’m sorry. Are you a different Serena than the one who moaned under me as we joined?”

“You fucked me, and you played with me, and apparently, you did both of those at the same time in various ways.”

“Fuck,” he whispered, coming swiftly to understand her meaning.

“Yes,” she agreed.

He shifted as if to get closer, his hand rising as if to touch her, murmuring, “Serena—”

Her fingers curled around her dagger. “I swear to the goddess, Trusted, if you touch me, I’ll take your hand and gladly accept whatever punishment my queen and your king choose to dole on me after doing it. We are done. As you said, we’ve had our end. You didn’t allow me to reply in that time, so I shall do it now.” She paused and finished, “Agreed.”

“You must know,” he said softly, “it started one way and became another.”

“I know only two things. I got what I deserved, and my lesson was learned.”

Chu took a step back, looked to the bodies, then to her.

“I will give you the night,” he decreed. “We’ll talk on the morrow.”

“I will be at my queen’s disposal tomorrow.”

“And I have faith she will be disposed to make you speak with me.”

“You would be wrong,” she retorted. “She was much relieved you’d found yourself rid of me. She was not supportive of her man’s scheme, even if she enjoys its success. Then again, that is my sister. Her first thought is always to heal, not harm.”

“Then she will surely feel differently when she understands what grew between us,” he returned.

“A seed needs fertile soil to grow, Trusted. You are most wise. Don’t be foolish now. I will admit, that seed was planted. But without nurture, in the wasteland of me, it withered to nothing.”

Chu shook his head. “I don’t believe that. And I also do not like to hear you speak of yourself in that manner.”

“And I’ll repeat, don’t be foolish now. You know better.”

“I know today you fought like a sister protecting her sister, and I do not refer to the Nadirii.”

“The earth can do without me. It cannot do without Elena.”

“That is a sister speaking about her sister,” Chu said gently.

“That is a woman who knows her place in this world, and her value to it. You taught me that.”

His entire frame jerked at her words.

“Serena—” he growled.