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While the anger doesn’t disappear, it shifts and makes room for other things. Complicated things I don’t have names for.

His thumbs rub small circles on the inside of my elbows. The caress, which should have no effect, still coaxes out a response from me.

“I should have told you.” He runs a hand through his hair, messing it up worse than the fight did. “I don’t know when I would have, though. Maybe between the rabid alicorn and the dire wolf. ‘Hey, Esme, sorry I didn’t mention this earlier, but I’m actually from Tirene and besties with the king and queen, who are Champions of the gods, blessed by Rivlan and Ziva themselves. Want some dried fruit?’”

“Wait, are you serious?”

Agnar rubs a hand over his beard. “About being besties? Yeah.”

Okay, that’s…not what I expected. “And about them being blessed by the gods?”

He smirks, and I’m certain he’s about to laugh at me for believing him. “Also, yes. And let me tell you, forget Rivlan and Ziva. The Goddess of the Dark is way nicer.”

Nyc? Nice? The absurdity of it all finally cracks me. A giggle bubbles up before I can stop it. Slightly hysterical, maybe, but real.

When my amusement wanes, I blow out a breath. “No. You’re right. It wouldn’t have changed anything.”

“Wouldn’t it?” He watches me with careful attention. “I mean, you do need dragon eggs…”

If he’s trying to imply something, I’m not getting it. “What does that have to do with you coming from Tirene? You already told me there aren’t any eggs.”

Besides, I’m still trying to wrap my mind around him being friends with the Fire Queen.

I wonder if he could introduce us.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Agnar

Esme peers at me with such trusting eyes. Why is she suddenly acting like I didn’t betray her? I’d rather she rage at me. I want her to call me despicable and storm off, proving I was right all along about being no good.

Instead, her hands reach for another buckle, and her fingers slide across my thigh.

Esme on her knees, her head tilted back to peer up at me, her hair falling loose around her shoulders where it’s escaped her braid. This is exactly where I want her. Where I’ve seen her so many times in my dreams.

All she’s doing is removing my armor. I have no reason to react like this, yet my body hums with desire for her caress.

The greave loosens, and she sets it aside before subjecting my other leg to that same gliding motion.

This time, there’s no mistaking it. Esme’s touch is deliberate and has nothing to do with buckles or straps. She’s exploring my leg.

My half-interested cock becomes fully hard in the space of a breath. I can’t hide that in these leggings, especially not with Esme’s face basically at the same level.

Esme eyes widen slightly before filling with hunger. Her lips glisten as she moistens them with the tip of her tongue.

“Esme.” I grab her wrist when she reaches for me again. “Don’t.”

“I wasn’t—” She tries to pull back, but I don’t allow her.

“You were.” I drag her hand from my body, still trapping her wrist. “Touch me like that again, and I’ll take it as an invitation to fuck you against the nearest wall. Is that what you want?”

Her breath catches. That was the wrong thing to say. I already know that’s exactly what she wants, even after everything I’ve done to her.

She tempts me by offering a crooked grin. “If you insist.”

The easy acceptance nearly breaks me. Esme licks her lips like she’s starving and only my cock will satisfy her. Then she leans forward, ignoring the hold I have on her, and her breath trails over me. My dick twitches, desperately straining against the fabric.

Every rational thought urges me to end this. The best and only course of action is to put distance between us before this goes somewhere we can’t come back from.