Page 106 of Feralheart

“Oh.” The word barely made it past her mouth.

“I’m not going to kiss you,” I rasped.

“Good.” Her voice barely made it past a whisper. “Because I’m not going to let you.”

We stood there, not kissing, for what felt like a lifetime.

Then I did step back. Because if I didn’t, I’d break every vow I’d made about keeping distance between crown and commons.

“You’re soaked through. Did you fall in a lake or river? Commons aren’t allowed to wander⁠—”

“I’m aware of what we aren’t allowed to do. I’ve spent my whole life being aware.”

I could stop this right now and walk away. Report her for theft. She’d be disqualified from the Scorching and punished beyond that.

I wouldn’t, because I could feel the same wrongness with her that I did with Aristus.

Her weight shifted, favoring her foot.

My gaze dropped to her boots. “You’re still limping.”

“It’s nothing.”

“It wasn’t nothing last night when you could barely walk across the ballroom.” I straightened, though I hated putting distance between us. “And it won’t be nothing tomorrow when you’re trying to compete in a race.”

I pulled the tin of salve from my pocket. I’d carried it since leaving my rooms, waiting to find the right time to give it to her.

Her eyes followed the movement. “Have you been carrying that around?”

“I have. I told you I had plenty in my rooms.” I set it on the counter beside her. “This is a second vial. I knew you wouldn’t ask for more, not even if you were dying from an infection.” I braced my hands on either side of her hips again, caging her against the counter. “I suspect you’ll need it.”

Her breathing snagged in her throat and a frown formed between her brows. “You gave me one already?”

“Let me see your foot,” I said.

“No.” Exhaustion hung in the shadows under her eyes.

“You can barely stand. Tomorrow you’ll be flying. If your foot gives out⁠—”

“That’s my problem.”

“It becomes my problem when I have to watch it happen.”

“You don’t get to⁠—”

“I have no right to care whether you live or die tomorrow. But I do. So let me help you. Please.”

I’d never said please to anyone, though she couldn’t know that.

Silence stretched between us before her shoulders sagged, the fight draining out of her. “Fine.”

I didn’t give her time to change her mind. I spanned her waist with my hands and lifted her, setting her on the counter with her feet dangling.

She made a small sound of surprise, her fingers flying to my shoulders for balance.

Our faces were level now. Close enough I could count the freckles scattered across the tops of her cheeks and nose.

I stepped back before I did something stupid, like kiss them. Kiss her. “Boot off.”