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His mouth brushed against my lips, the taste of me lingering there. I let my tongue trace the bottom edge of his mouth. Overheated, breathless, I rocked against his hips, needing more.

The way Roark loved me—no, cherished me—left my heart feeling like it might pound a hole through my ribs.

His hips moved slowly, making certain each thrust was thorough and brushed against a spot deep inside that locked my head into a beautiful fog. He rolled and glided his cock in and out, nearly removing himself entirely before sliding back in.

“Roark, gods. You’re so deep.” My head fell back, my throat bared, when he gently bit down on my nipple, his hips rolling against mine with perfect friction and pressure. “I want to feel you everywhere.”

I felt delirious, like I could not get enough. Roark seemed to take it as a challenge to break me apart before piecing me together again and again.

He pinched one nipple, rolling it until I could not catch a deep enough breath. He drew the other between his lips and sucked. Hard.

I writhed beneath him with enough frenzy that the cot groaned. For a moment I feared it might break. My breaths were stilted and short. Sweat dampened strands of my hair to my brow.

Roark’s eyes were fierce. Darker desires perfectly united with the heart I loved.

Another wave of heat unfurled from the crown of my head to my curled toes, and I broke apart in his arms.

Roark held me close as he bucked his hips harder and ground himself against me, the sounds of our passion between us, until his cock pulsed and he spent his release with a guttural moan. We held each other, breathing heavily.

Slowly, he rolled onto his shoulder, trying to align us both on the narrow space, and cradled my head against him.

Roark pressed soft kisses to my cheek, his fingers following. I love you. Every piece of you.

I fell asleep easily, safe in the arms of my hunter, my lover, my husband.

Until, healing wound and all, Fadey invaded my dreams.

—

All around were smoky shadows and frost.

There was an absence in the mirror without the scorching gaze of Skul Drek there to draw me in, to consume me. Then again, I wasn’t convinced this was the rotting mirror realm.

“Hello again, Lyra Bien.”

The glow of Fadey’s soul had darkened even more. Tarnished bronze, as if pieces of his soul were beginning to rot away like the decay of the realm of souls. Between us that damn filament remained, frayed and tattered. It dug into his chest and burrowed into the vibrant web of my soul bond.

I wanted to rip it out.

“This isn’t real.” I inspected my palm. The dark, poisonous glow from Ingir’s blood craft was nearly faded, once more a brilliant golden sheen across my soul.

Fadey’s sneer widened at my frantic attempts to unravel the frayed rope between us. “This is very real, Lyra. I vowed we’d speak again.”

A shudder rippled up my arms. I had little desire to know all the gory plans Fadey had. He wanted to use me like a harvest of bones for his own twisted gains. “Your blood spell is gone.” I held up my healing palm. “You can’t follow us any longer.”

“Hmm. Perhaps.”

Fadey took a step to one side. I went the opposite way. We circled each other, two wolves on a hunt.

“The way I see it, you remain unable to find all the bones on your own,” I said. “Perhaps I will let them rest and end you instead.”

He laughed, dark and cruel. “The gods left this power to be found or to poison our land, Lyra. All I’ve ever desired is to restore the kingdoms, the crafts, as the gods always meant them to be. But it will take a brutality you do not have to finish it.”

“Then you do not know what lengths I will go to protect those I love.”

“You cannot stop my fate. You cannot stop that you are part of it.” He strummed the bond between us. “Look with your own eyes; the gods have joined us. Together we will save these kingdoms from destroying one another with war. I will see to it that your sacrifice will earn you a hallowed place in Salur.”

“If I am needed, then perhaps the gods have called me to gather the bones. To protect them from you.”