I snorted. “First, the Heir of Magic, now a royal of the Kingdom? Irina’s tits, you skipped all of the Ranger ranks and went straight for world domination.”

Declan ignored my jibe and continued walking, though I did catch his shoulders shake with soft laughter.

The hallways were brightly lit.

Servants scurried everywhere we walked. I had hoped we might find a moment’s privacy before reaching whatever destination Declan had in mind, but that was not our fate.

Finally, he stopped before a large wooden door.

A girl of fifteen or sixteen curtsied. “Highness.”

I stifled a laugh.

Declan’s ears flushed.

He elbowed me without looking back.

“Please ensure we are not disturbed? Ranger Byrne and I need to discuss sensitive matters vital to the Crown.”

“Of course, Highness.” The girl curtsied again. When her head lifted, a tiny curl had formed at the corner of her mouth.

Declan entered. The moment the door shut behind me, I released the laugh I’d nearly choked on in the hallway.

“Sensitive matters?”

Delcan spun around, grabbed my wrists, and shoved me into the stone wall beside the door, pinning my arms above my head. His body pressed against mine, knocking the air from my lungs. The fire of a thousand suns burned in his eyes.

When our lips met, I thought he might devour me whole.

We were a blur of lips and tongues and teeth.

“AydenfuckingByrne, I never want to be apart from you again,” he moaned into my ear.

It had been over six months since we’d seen each other last. I feared his longing for me might have diminished.

What a foolish thought that had been.

He released my wrists.

My hands dove into his hair. I yanked his head back, exposing his neck, and sank my teeth into his tender skin.

He gasped, then groaned.

I licked up to his ear and nipped his lobe, teasing at first, then harder.

He winced but didn’t pull back.

His fingers fumbled at the clasp that held my cloak. Before the heavy woolen wrap could hit the floor, he was already working the buttons of my jerkin. My undershirt flew over my head and off my arms, baring my chest and torso.

Declan’s mouth attacked my nipple, as his fingers etched the lines of my stomach.

I braced myself against the wall, grateful for its support, and tried to keep stars from flooding my eyes.

“Someone is happy to see me,” he teased as his hand brushed against my tented breeches.

“Open your present and see what I got you.”

Declan grunted, then grabbed my pants with two hands and yanked them down. My cock flew free, slapping against my stomach and standing at full attention before his face.