Page 109 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

Emotions knotted themselves in my chest. I could not deny my attraction to Tharan.

I nestled my head into his broad chest. I felt safe with him. In my heart, I knew I should let Caiden go. I had no loyalty to him. Tharan was real. Tharan was security and safety—something I hadn’t had in years. In Tharan’s arms, I didn’t feel like prey waiting to be pounced on. He faced his demons. I wouldn’t have to fix him—wouldn’t have to empty myself to make him whole.

“Alright,” I said after an awkward amount of silence. “We can take it slow. I want to get to know the real Tharan. I want you to woo me. Like a real princess.”

Tharan laughed. “Oh, I know how to woo with the best of them.”

“Judging by the way you kissed me, I’d say you’ve had a lot of practice,” I joked, trying to hide my smile.

He leaned in and pressed his lips against mine, sending electricity through my veins. “Practice makes perfect.”

This taking-it-slow thing would be harder than I thought.“Friends don’t kiss.”

He raised an eyebrow seductively. “Some friends do.”

I shook my head, trying not to blush. “No, they don’t.”

He nibbled my lip.

A moan grew in my throat. My fingers ached to touch him—to rake my nails down his back while he plunged himself deep inside me. A slickness grew between my legs. I wanted him. No—needed him.

Get it together, Aelia.

40AELIA

Rising at dawn,we packed the little wagon and headed toward the elven territory. Neither of us said anything about the night before. Tharan made me a breakfast of rabbits with thyme and rosemary. Being with him was effortless.

The juices from the rabbit danced on my tongue, making me moan with delight.

“When you’re at war, you learn how to cook for yourself,” he said, handing me a slice of cheese and an apple. “Eat up. We are not stopping in elven territory.”

Relief washed over me.

Tharan took off the twine ring, letting his true self shine through. The unforgettable scar snaked across his face, his skin glowing like dew catching the sun’s first light.

“They won’t bother us if they see it’s me, but keep your hood up. We don’t need word getting around we’re traveling together.”

I scrunched my nose at him. “Whatever you say, my king.”

He rolled his eyes at me. “Get in the cart. The sooner we leave here, the sooner we make it to the Stone Kingdom. I donotwant to get caught in the mountains at night. Harpies lurk there.”

“Oh, is the Alder King afraid of a little bat?”

“They are not bats. They are terrible creatures sent by Hades to punish humans and magus alike.”

I threw him a side-eye. “You fucked one, didn’t you? And then she tried to kill you.” Harpies were known for their ability to appear as beautiful young women to lure men back to their nests. Where they transformed into hideous beasts, tearing their unsuspecting victims to shreds.

He held his head high in the air. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“He-he, harpy fucker,” I said, jabbing him in the ribs with my elbow.

He scoffed. “I’m trying not to be that person, remember? I’m trying to show you I’m different, and fucking a harpy is not a great way to do that.”

I waved him off. “It’s fine. We both have pasts. No one can use them to hurt us if we laugh at them.”

Tharan clasped a gloved hand around mine. “You’re right.”

Arion breezed down the freshly plowed streets, whinnying with delight as we traversed the elven kingdom.

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