Page 226 of Feralheart

“Do it with me, then?”

“Alright.”

We lay down on the bank, turning to face each other.

His hand found mine in the grass, his palm rough with calluses earned from years of training with weapons and holding reins.

We laced our fingers together.

He shifted closer. The contact sent warmth flooding through the bond, his awareness of me sharpening into something that made my breath snag in my throat.

“If the trial kills me, I need you to know something.” He stroked his knuckles across my cheek. “This isn’t desperation or trial madness or⁠—”

“I know it isn’t.”

“You don’t. I’ve spent my entire life being what people needed me to be. But with you, I don’t know how to pretend, and I don’t want to.”

I kissed him, latching onto his tunic and rolling onto my back, pulling him on top of me. The bond between us sang. His mouth opened, and I tasted his desperation. He felt good lying on top of me. Right.

The bond flared, feeding our need back to each other. I was drowning in the certainty that tomorrow might rip us apart.

Through the bond, Selira’s happiness purred.

Took long enough, she said.

Not now, I thought back, unable to suppress the flutter of embarrassment mixed with⁠—

Fen lifted his head enough to murmur against my mouth. “What is it?”

“Selira. She…talks to me in my mind.”

His eyes widened. “Truly?”

“Truly. It’s both amazing and… Well right now, it’s embarrassing. She’s just…there. I don’t know how to block her out. Reece or Lyndie either, though at least they’re asleep.” I sent out my sense, verifying this was still true.

“Selira was talking to you while we were kissing?”

My face overheated. “Unfortunately, yes.”

His laugh came soft, intimate. “What was she saying?”

“That we’re idiots for not giving in to this long ago.”

“She’s not wrong.”

“She isn’t.” I swallowed. “You need to know that for me, this isn’t about your crown or status. It’s always been just you.”

“I knew that.” His gaze searched mine. “Try something for me. Picture a big hole in your mind and slide Selira into it, then cover her up.”

“She might not like that.”

“Try it anyway. You can let her out later. There may be times when you don’t want her listening in.”

“Like now.”

“Especially now.”

“Alright.” I envisioned a large hole and when Selira wasn’t “looking”, I slid her over and into the opening, covering it with something that blocked her out. Grass or… Stone. Yes, stone.