Page 101 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

“God, why didn’t I think of that?” he replies in an overly dramatic voice before leveling a flat stare at me. “Maybe because I’m a huge fucking dragon, and if I shift in here, this whole bloody ceiling is going to shatter and crash down right on top of us.”

Drawing my eyebrows down, I shoot him a scowl. “Could’ve done without the sass.”

“Youare trying to lecturemeon sass?”

“Alright. Fine. I get it. No shifting into a dragon.”

Silence falls over our gloomy underground forest. Then Draven blows out a breath and nods.

“Alright then,” he says. “We’ll make camp here tonight and wait for the light to return in the morning. Then we can start looking for another way out.”

“Agreed.”

Reaching into one of the pouches on his belt, he pulls out something that clinks metallically. “Here, take this.”

And like an absolute idiot, I trust the bastard and reach out my hand.

He snaps one side of a pair of handcuffs shut around my wrist. I jerk back, but it’s already too late. Another click sounds as Draven locks the other manacle around his own wrist, handcuffing us together.

Drawing my eyebrows down, I hold up my now shackled wrist and glower up at him. “Seriously?”

He smirks. “In case you get any ideas about trying to steal back the ring and run off in the middle of the night.”

I roll my eyes at him. But Ihadactually considered doing exactly that, so I suppose I can’t be too outraged about it.

Without warning, he turns around and strides towards the closest tree. And since we’re now stuck together, I stumble after him. Because he’s both bigger and stronger than me, I can’t do anything except follow him. And mutter under my breath.

“What was that?” he asks over his shoulder.

“Nothing.”

“That’s right.”

I scoff, but it’s interrupted when he abruptly sits down on the ground. He drags me with him, and I practically fall on top of him. Heat sears through me as I end up straddling his lap.

He flashes me a smile full of wicked mischief. “Trying to mount me again, are you?”

My cheeks flush, and I push against his shoulders, trying to scramble off his lap. “Mount you?” I huff. “When have I ever tried to mount you? You’re the one who flipped us around in the air.” Drawing my eyebrows down, I scowl at him. “And how did you even find me in the first place?”

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Most people just saythank youwhen someone saves their life.”

Suspicion curls around my spine as I study his face, which now bears a nonchalant expression. “How did you know that I was in danger? You said that you weren’t watching me.”

“I’ve already told you that as well. You’re very loud.” He raises his eyebrows and gives me a pointed look. “I mean, seriously. Have you ever heard yourself scream?”

Embarrassment sears my cheeks.

Giving him one final shove, I untangle my limbs from his and instead sit down on the ground next to him. I would have preferred to move farther away, but I can’t because of the handcuffs. So I just try to ignore him and lie down on my back.

Thick grass envelops my body, feeling almost like a soft mattress.

Draven lies down as well.

Silence once more falls over us. No winds rustle the trees down here, but we’re still halfway through fall, and without the sun’s warmth, the nights are cold.

Rolling over on my side, I pull my legs up closer to my chest, trying to conserve my body heat. But I have to keep my right arm draped behind me since it’s locked to Draven’s left wrist.

I’m not sure if it’s a dragon shifter thing, but I swear that I can almost feel the heat radiating from his body. It barely reaches my back, which just makes the rest of my body feel even colder.

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