I knew he would lead me to you. He stopped outside my cave while you were gone. He left squirrels.
I glance at Zadyn, stunned.
“What?” he asks, giving me a perplexed look.
I throw my arms around his neck, catching him off guard and taking him down to his back. He laughs breathlessly, holding me against his chest.
What was that for?His chocolate eyes gleam up at me.
You checked on Furi for me. You fed her, made sure she was safe.
Of course, I knew that’s the first thing you would do.
My heart melts.
She followed you to me. She found us because of you.
He breaks into a smile, his thumbs smoothing over my back.
Happy to help.
We stare at each other for a moment, exchanging silent gratitude. I open my head to him and he does the same.
In that quiet conversation, more is said than either of us could ever put into words.
26
JACE
Idrop into the hot sand, my heart throbbing in my ears.
It’s been a long time since I’ve pushed myself like this. The heat doesn’t make for the best running conditions, but I was in dire need of a distraction.
Laughter has my head snapping toward the tent up the beach.
She’s awake.
But I make no move to go to her.
I don’t know if it’s shame I feel or regret, but hearing her screams yesterday, watching her thrash against Zadyn as her flesh melted off—it’s fucked with me.
Badly.
I can’t go near her. I can’t look at her face. I can’t even breathe without feeling so many things all at once.
I don’t do emotions. I don’t do tears. I don’t do…love. And yet the love I feel for this little witch is so big I feel like I’m walking around with a ticking time bomb in my chest, ready to burst at any given moment.
I know I’m not entitled to her, and I know I don’t deserve her, but we belong to each other. It isn’t a feeling, it’s a fact. Like saying the skyis blue or the grass is green or Kylian is going to fucking die at my hands.
I hear Kai’s voice coming from inside the tent and another round of laughter breaks out.
I’ve never lumped him in with the rest of his vermin kin. Even when we were boys, it was clear that he was the black sheep—the outcast.
I was probably seventeen or eighteen years old when Kai and a newly crowned Kylian arrived at the castle for Ilspeth and Derek’s wedding. Kai was a few years younger than me, Kylian a few years older. Derek suggested Kai join me for training. I wasn’t his biggest fan because of who his family was, but I was cordial.
Kylian spotted us and insisted on sparring with his brother. It quickly became clear that by sparring he meant beating him unconscious until he had three broken ribs, a bruised tailbone, and needed five stitches on his head.
I intervened on Kai’s behalf once I realized that this was no brotherly competition. This was a cocky young king drunk on his own power.
