Page 117 of A Thread of Breath and Bone

When she looks away, I tilt her chin back up. “Whatever it is, it’s not stupid.”

“I got jealous today and, gods…” She sighs, pulling away. “I just haven’t felt this way in a while. I was never this insecure at school. Women were always throwing themselves at you, and yeah, I hated it, but I was never insecure. Then today, the king, he was practically trying to play matchmaker in front of me.”

I bite back a smile as I close the distance between us. “You were jealous, Princess?” She tries to push me away as I wrap my hands around her waist. “How jealous?”

She scoffs and buries her face in my chest. “Shut up.”

A hum of amusement leaves me as I wrap my hands around her thighs to lift her. She locks her ankles behind me and pouts as I bring us eye level.

“Don’t,” she warns, but I can’t help the huff of amusement that tumbles out of me. Gods, she’s so damn cute when she’s feisty. “Anders Rykerson,” she says sternly.

That only makes me laugh harder.

I pin her against the wall as she mutters something about never telling me things again. I capture her mouth with mine. “Love,” I mutter against her lips, “I don’t care if the king forced me to spend sun up to sun down with his daughter, I would never be in love with her. I’m in love with you. We’re mated, remember?”

“Not yet,” she grumbles, crossing her arms over her chest as she leans back further into the wall.

She looks so pissy right now, I can’t help but smile.

“You used my full name,” I tease, poking her side.

“I did.” She squirms. “I’m trying to be mad at you right now. I was being vulnerable, and you laughed.” She giggles, “stop,” when I tickle her more.

“I’m sorry, love, I shouldn’t have laughed.”

Her green eyes meet mine. “No, you shouldn’t have.” She wraps her arms around my shoulders again, toying with my hair.

I kiss her, tasting the sweet wine on her tongue before biting her lip and dragging my teeth along it until she moans. Gods that sound. I set her down and take a few steps back. “If you want to go out to the beach, I suggest you go check on Aolyn.”

“And if I stay?” she asks, her voice dropping seductively as she drags her teeth along her lip.

I groan, adjusting myself. My hands grip the edge of the sofa I’ve managed to put between us. “If you stay, Princess, I’m going to show you—you own my mind, body, and soul.”

She stays with her back against the wall, letting her gaze slowly drag over my body, biting that bottom lip once more, then she winks and heads out the door, giggling as she shuts it.

Fuck me.

Chapter 41

Raea

I knock on Aolyn’s door, even though Kamden said she isn’t talking to anyone right now. “A, open up. It’s me.”

I wait a few more moments before the door finally clicks open. She doesn’t say anything—only turns and retreats to her bed. I step inside, taking in the room. The spaces here are still breathtaking. Maybe it’s my Elven heritage connecting with the land, but the way these rooms are carved into the cave makes them feel…safe. Warm. Like nothing can reach us here.

There are a few scattered candles lit throughout the room, and enough light to see that she’s been crying. Wordlessly, I crawl into bed beside her and pull her close. Aolyn doesn’t fight it. She folds into me like she’s been holding herself together by sheer force of will.

“I don’t think you’re a traitor,” I murmur. “I think you were put in an impossible place—and you chose what you could live with.”

Her breath stutters. “I didn’t know Morana was your twin. I never saw her face. She was always cloaked.”

My chest tightens at the memory she’s not saying aloud. Morana’s presence was completely unexpected. Honestly, I still haven’t had time to process it. I thought every time I saw her, it was a dream.

“I believe you,” I say.

Ciara slips in quietly a moment later, all sharp edges yet softness beneath. She takes one look at Aolyn and crawls onto the bed. “What are we panicking about?”

Aolyn hiccups as she says, “The awakening.”