Because she might die right now, if she didn’t have him.
‘You can kiss me now,’ she said, because she was feeling reckless and brave. Because she’d tasted the wind, touched the sky, and none of that compared to the feeling ofhimso near to her.
‘I don’t know that I should, Minder,’ Arawn said.
She guided his hand to her face. He sucked in a breath as his thumb stroked her cheek, and she swore her heart almost stopped. ‘I don’t know that I care,’ she said.
And they leaned in at the same time.
When their lips touched, her body melted into flames.
He kissed her slowly at first, gently, like he’d truly never done it before, but neither had she. They learned about it together, until her lips parted naturally, and his tongue slid across hers.
‘Ezer,’ he groaned.
Her name on his lips was her undoing.
He pulled her against him until she was on his lap, her legs around his waist, his hands at the small of her back, and suddenly he wasn’t close enough.
She dug her fingers into his back, and he groaned against her, and she knew this was wrong, knew this was forbidden for them to be together, sowhydid it all feel so right?
A soft warning growl sounded out from Six.
‘Well. This is certainly an interesting sight.’
They broke away, Ezer practically falling into the fire as they spun to find Kinlear frowning down at them.
His eyes, positively filled with rage.
‘Kinlear,’ Ezer gasped. ‘You’re awake.’
Six stood behind him, tail twitching in frustration.
Her dark eyes slid to Ezer, head cocked as if to say,really? That couldn’t have waited for another time?
‘And forgive me for interrupting … whatever this interesting little union is,’ Kinlear said. ‘You’re lucky it was me that found you, or the penance you’d both pay …Father isdying,Arawn. You’re soon to be King, and here you are, playing with her heart when you know you’re soon to be Matched.’
‘Enough,’ Arawn growled up at him.
‘It’s the truth and you know it,’ Kinlear snarled. ‘This canneverhappen again.’
He was bent over at his middle now, forehead slick with sweat though he was shivering. A healing rune marked his own hand, and the blood on his head had dried, crusting his curls.
‘That’s our decision to make, not yours.’ Arawn stood up. ‘You need rest. You need to lie back down.’
‘Because you want to be rid of me?’ Kinlear asked. ‘Or because you genuinely care for the state of me?’
Gods.
Ezer backed away from Arawn, suddenly feeling cold.
A bit broken.
Her lips were swollen, and she still tasted him on her tongue.
‘Kinlear,’ Ezer said, smoothing out her cloak. She was mortified. She stood and went to him, reaching out to place her hand on his arm. He was too cold. The runes on his cloak were already fading. ‘You need to lie down again. You took a hard hit when we crashed, and?—’
He pulled his arm away.
