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Her mouth opened fully, her tongue gliding along mine. She tasted divine—like honey and pine and a gentle midnight breeze. My fingers tangled in her hair, my other hand on her hip, bringing her closer. She clutched at my chest, her fingers climbing up my neck and teasing my jaw. Her heartbeat pounded against mine, just as frantic. Just as desperate.

I tried to pull away, knowing she was wounded and had just been through a traumatic ordeal. But she clutched my face in her hands, dragging me back to her, her mouth claiming mine. Our kisses became feral. Hungry. She groaned into my mouth, and my teeth snagged on her lower lip. She gasped, panting with need. My hand trailed lower until it reached her backside. I cupped it, and she writhed against me, hips pressing directly along my hard arousal.

A growl built in my throat, and I had the wild urge to pin her to the nearest tree and thrust into her so hard she screamed. To make her cry out my name. To make her lose herself completely.

She’s injured, I reminded myself. Now is not the time, Alaric.

But I could scent her arousal as well. It was intoxicating, filling my nose with a sweet aroma I wanted more of.

She broke away from me, breaths heaving as she whispered my name. Her hands still framed my face, toying with my short beard. “I—you—” She closed her eyes, clearly at a loss for words. She licked her lips, and I couldn’t help myself. I leaned in and swiped my tongue along her lower lip. She let out a soft whimper, practically falling against me. My arms tightened around her, keeping her securely against my chest.

“Will you come back with me?” I panted. “Stay with me on the Isle.”

She exhaled a short laugh of disbelief. “Me? A witch? You’re the king. I hardly think that will be appropriate.”

“Without you, I wouldn’t have uncovered the truth about that bunker. Once your involvement in the investigation is revealed, it won’t matter.”

She was shaking her head, and I couldn’t blame her. Exposing her grandmother’s crimes wouldn’t erase centuries of bad blood between our people.

I leaned closer, pressing my forehead to hers. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I want you there with me. Please, Cerise.”

Her hot breath tickled my skin. I longed to lean in and taste more of her, to capture each and every sound she made. But I held still, waiting.

After a moment, she withdrew to look up at me, pressing her palm against my cheek. “I’ll go where you go, Alaric.”

Twenty-Nine

THE WOLF

Cerise’s warm hand in mine was a comfort to me as we re-entered the portal to the Isle. Leaves and twigs crunched under our feet as we walked toward the cobblestone path. I felt simultaneously calm and restless all at once. As if holding her hand brought me a sense of peace… but also, I would lose my mind if I couldn’t have more of her. My fingers ached to thread through her hair, frame her face, touch her arms… I wanted to explore every inch of her and make her mine.

Her pulse was still racing, her breaths uneven as we approached the gate to the castle. I couldn’t tell if she was still shaken from Geraldine’s attack or just breathless from our kiss. Perhaps she was simply nervous about being here again.

I gave her hand a squeeze. ”You're safe here,” I murmured. “Just stay by my side and no one will touch you.”

She arched an eyebrow at me. “You’re the king. I can’t stay with you every second.”

I chuckled at that, but my insides churned with panic at the thought of parting from her. She was right, of course. I would have to meet with the chiefs to smooth things over after my abrupt departure from the coronation. Not to mention countless other tasks where a witch’s presence would be highly inappropriate.

But now that I had her—now that I knew she wanted me—I felt a desperation tugging me closer to her, drawing me in and clenching tightly around me.

She was mine. And I would never let her go.

”I can ward my rooms,” Cerise said, no doubt noticing my unease. “It worked pretty well before.”

She was grinning, but my thoughts snagged on the words my rooms. I had assumed she would stay in my chambers.

But I was the king. And the Mages would be gossiping enough about her presence on the Isle; I could only imagine the chaos and outrage that would occur if she was seen coming in and out of the king’s bedchamber.

No, it was better this way. Despite how my chest blazed with indignation, I told myself this was for the best.

Realizing she was watching me expectantly, I cleared my throat and nodded. ”Right. Yes. That’s a good idea.”

Cerise looked at me in concern. “Are you all right?”

I offered her a warm smile and brushed a kiss along her knuckles. “I’m just fine.”

“Did you find anything useful in Elvira’s journals?”