He bit the inside of his lip—she could feel the sting. His eyes stayed locked on hers, his expression hard. A fortress, impenetrable. But Elara didn’t need to see his emotions to feel them. He couldn’t hide that from her anymore.
“I didn’t see the point.”
The words hit like a blow she wasn’t ready for. Thathurt.
“And why the hell not?”
“What good would it have done?”
His tone was even—too even. Each word carried what he refused to say. The detachment, the casual dismissal of something that mattered to her, struck a spark in her chest. Heat flared, fierce and sudden, her pulse roaring in her ears.
“How can you be so damn callous? I remember nothing from my past.Nothing. And this whole time—this entire time—we’ve been trying to piece it back together. Trying to break the Binding Sigil so I can help you reach Thane. And you—” Her words caught, choking on the knot in her throat. “You knew. You had something—a piece I could’ve used, that I needed—and you kept it from me. How could you?—”
“Our memories wouldn’t have helped us. Not with what we’re trying to do. If anything, it would’ve complicated things.”
Elara’s fists clenched at her sides. “How the hell do you figure that?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “What we...” He exhaled, almost in defeat, his voice lower now. “I told you, it wouldn’t have done any good.”
“And that was foryouto decide, was it?" Fury crackled through her like lightning. “Like everyone else in my life, thinking they know best, deciding for me, keeping things from me—that wasyourcall, too? You couldn’t give me the basic decency of achoice? Couldn’t trust me with that?”
He shifted, like he was going to step toward her, but then stopped, locking his expression again.
Elara shook her head, incredulous. “I thought you understood—thought you, of all people, would get it. We’ve both had our choices taken from us, and this... this tiny thing, and you couldn’t even give me that?”
His jaw clenched. “No, I couldn’t.”
Something inside her broke. She stepped forward without thinking, her hand moving on instinct. The slap cracked through the room, pain flaring across her palm. His head turned with the blow—but he didn’t react. He didn’t so much as blink.
“Stop being such acoward!”
Elara turned to leave, already searching for the seam between worlds, ready to rift away. But in three swift strides, he was on her, his hand gripping her arm and yanking her back until she collided with him. His fingers were at her throat before she could regain her balance, pulling her closer. She let out a strangled cry—surprised, breathless—just as he kissed her.
It was hard, bruising, all the tension between them erupting in that single moment.
He pulled back just enough, his breath hot against her lips, his voice low and rough.
“You insufferable,maddeningwoman.”
Her stomach dropped, her heart flipping wildly, and she barely managed a squeak before his lips crashed back onto hers, cutting off any sound.
It wasn’t just a kiss—it was aninvasion. A kiss that plundered, as if her fury was something he craved, something he wanted to drag from her throat and consume.
Her breaths came in short, frantic bursts through her nose, her chest heaving as her heart thundered like it might break free. The world blurred around her, narrowing to the demanding press of his mouth against hers. When he shifted, capturing her bottom lip between his own, she exhaled sharply. Her hands curled into his shirt on instinct, and before she could stop herself, she kissed him back.
A low sound rumbled from him, somewhere between a growl and a sigh, as his hand slid up the back of her neck. His fingers threaded into her hair, cradling her head as though letting go was impossible. Her stomach twisted, heat and a strange fluttering spreading through her. The thought flickered in her mind that this was a terrible idea, that she should stop—but gods, she didn’t want to.
His hand slipped from her neck, fingers trailing lightly down her arm, barely brushing her skin before wrapping around her. Her lips parted, and his tongue slid against hers.
A low groan escaped him, the sound rippling through her.
She met his kiss with equal force, curling her tongue around his, following him deeper, tasting him—cinnamon and black tea, fire and smoke—a mix of heat and spice.
Her nails grazed his scalp as he pulled back. “Is this what you want, Elara? Hmm? Should I just take this?”
She could only whimper in response, rising onto her toes to meet him halfway. He didn’t hesitate, his hands gripping her waist as he lifted her. Her legs wrapped instinctively around his hips, and his lips stayed locked on hers as he carried her out of the library and into the drawing room. It was as if he couldn’t bear to break the connection, not even for a second.
His fingers knotted in her hair, tipping her head back, baring the line of her throat. Then his mouth was there—lips and teeth skimming the sensitive curve of her neck.
