A small, matching growl escapes his lips, then he snatches my face. “Are you satisfied?”
My eyes flit over him, down the hard planes of his chest, until I see the obvious outline of his arousal. Hard and yearning. Yearning for me.
Ezryn gives a tight yank on my hair, and I fall against his hard metal frame. “Careful what you say next, Petal.”
But I don’t want to be careful. Not around them. “I could ask you the same question.” My voice comes out husky, dripping with desire.
Kel’s grip tightens on my jaw. Wild thoughts race through my mind as my body trembles. He just did up my laces, but I want to throw off my top, all my clothes, and toss myself naked onto the forest floor until one of these muscled idiots fills my aching—
Keldarion loosens his hold and turns. “You are going to be the death of me.”
Dayton clears his throat. “You know what I’m feeling? Forest orgy. Hear me out, we all get naked and—”
Keldarion storms away, and Ezryn gives a dissatisfied sigh, letting go of my hair and following Keldarion.
I giggle. Did he read my mind or something? I walk over to Dayton. “Sorry, Day, no forest orgies today.”
“It’s alright.” Dayton throws his arms around me and Farron. “There’s always tomorrow.”
40
Rosalina
Thankgoodnessforthecold breeze because my skin is seriously heated from that last encounter. Being pressed between Day and Fare, then Kel’s hands over me, Ezryn pulling my hair… I need to get my head on straight. We have real actual problems here. I can’t constantly be lusting after these princes like Marigold.
I step cautiously through the dense undergrowth, my feet sinking into the earth. The air is thick with the scent of decaying leaves and the distant sound of trickling water. Between twisted trees and tangled roots, a bog gleams in the moonlight.
I stop in place. “There’s something out there.”
A light bounces at the edge of the water—not the shimmer of moonlight, but something floating. It oscillates back and forth, resembling a dancing flame on the wind.
Almost in a trance, I step closer to it, mud squelching beneath my boots as I approach. I peer into the blackness, trying to see through the thick mist.
“Careful.” Kel grips my forearm.
“I’ve read about this,” I say.
Farron nods as he creeps up beside me, then gestures for the others to be quiet.
“Is this a will-o’-wisp?” I whisper, turning to him.
His broad smile is the only answer I need. “It might be. This is only the second time I’ve come across one.”
“A will-o’-what?” Dayton asks.
“A will-o’-wisp,” Farron says. “They’re said to be the wayward hearts of mated souls who never completed their bond.”
“Stars,” Dayton says. “Better break that celibate streak of yours, Kel, or you’re soon going to look a little more… flamey.”
Kel growls, but I ignore them, nearly vibrating with excitement as the little blue flame dances.
“They’re not dangerous,” Farron continues. “Well, unless you’re—”
“Professor Thaddeus Goldstorm,” I finish. “Man, his book was dry. He spent half of it explaining his research credentials. Every single night, he camped out looking for the wisps. His book was pages upon pages of his injuries, from eating the wrong mushrooms, to animal attacks, to getting stuck in his own traps.”
“After a thousand pages, he finally admits he never found one.” Farron laughs, and his eyes sparkle as he looks over at me. “I think we were darn near ready to throw his book in the fire after that.”
“As cute as you two are, being all smart,” Dayton drawls, “are you sure these things aren’t dangerous? Because this one’s got some friends.”
