Page 85 of Wild Bond

My body felt hot and achy as his meaning sank in, and I whispered, “I want that, too.”

He smiled and kissed me again. I clutched him to me and returned the kiss with all the desperation and need I was feeling in that moment. We only broke apart when the horn blared, signaling it was time for him to go.

He rested his forehead briefly against mine. “Later,” he murmured, the carnal need in that promise making my entire body thrum. I could see the effort it took for him to withdraw from me and tamp down his own desires. The look in his eyes still smoldered as he said, “I left something for you in your room.”

I blinked at the unexpected statement and sudden excitement and curiosity filled me. “What?”

He just smiled. “I’ll see you soon, little thief.”

I nodded, unable to speak. I had to remind myself that it was only a week. But a week felt like an eternity. When had this man become so vital to my happiness? Pushing that thought aside, I watched the emotionless mask drop into place over his features as he turned and strode for Naasir.

I moved to lean against the side of the stone building as I watched him mount up along with all the other riders.

Prince Pierce on his white dragon was the first to rise into the sky. Naasir was only a second behind him, then the other riders followed in waves.

It was quite a rare and awe-inspiring sight to see so many riders in the sky at once. I was reminded briefly of the Exodus Ball and all those dragons flying overhead, glowing in the night. Skye came to sit at my feet as we watched them all slowly disappear into the distance.

Once I could no longer see any of the dragons, I spun and headed for my room in the barracks. Luckily, mine was one of the rooms that hadn’t been damaged when it was hit by the rogue dragon.

The floor felt empty and silent as Skye and I walked toward my room. Almost all the residents on this floor were prospects, so I would basically have it to myself for the next week. We reached my door just as Millie was stepping out of it. The maid’s expression was pinched, and she was holding her head.

“Are you all right, Millie?”

“Oh, I’m fine, miss. Just a touch of headache. I’ll come finish in your room later if that’s all right? I think I might go lie down.”

“Of course,” I assured her. “Take all the time you need.”

Her red curly hair framed her round face as she gave me a weak smile. “Thank you, miss.” She curtsied and left.

Skye and I stepped inside, and a sickly-sweet aroma filled my nose. Skye snorted in disgust. I made a mental note to ask Millie when she was feeling better what that smell was, and not to use it in the future while cleaning the room. I saw Millie had lit the fire as well and thought that was odd since it was summer.

Deciding I would put the fire out in a moment, I scanned the room eagerly looking for what Rake could have left me. My eyes snagged on something on the bed. I stepped forward as Skye leapt onto the blankets, and my breath caught when I realized what they were.

The jade daggers.

The same pair I had seen in the market that day in Itrain. The ones I had wanted so badly but had been unable to afford. Rake had tried to offer to buy them for me, but I never thought . . . I reached out and touched the polished jade handles. The swirls of color matched Skye’s scales even more perfectly than I remembered.

Had Rake gotten them that day, one of the times he’d disappeared? Or had he flown back and picked them up on a different occasion?

My heart swelled thinking that, either way, it was incredibly thoughtful. And they had been so expensive.

It was only then that I noticed the note that lay next to the daggers. I picked up the small piece of parchment and read the masculine script.

I laughed aloud as giddy excitement thrilled me. Aside from that day in the market, I had never received a gift before. My mother may have given me one when I was young, but I simply couldn’t remember it.

Tears pricked my eyes at Rake’s thoughtfulness. My head had started to throb a little, so I sat down on the bed. My mind swirled with thoughts as I reread the note and picked up the daggers, testing out the weight and feel of them in my hands.

I could feel Skye’s appreciation for how shiny they were, but her feelings felt muted for some reason, almost lethargic.

I glanced over to see that her head was now resting on the bed, and her eyes were drooping.

“Skye?”

There was no response from her as her eyes closed completely, and she drifted off to sleep.

A wave of exhaustion hit me as well. I suddenly wanted nothing more than to curl up next to her and close my eyes.

My mind felt hazy, and it was hard to think. Some instinctual part of me shouted that something wasn’t right. I wanted to go test out my new daggers, not sleep. My head was pounding, and I vaguely thought of how Millie had complained of a headache before she left.

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