Page 127 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash

Alina’s eyes strayed towards Zahian, who stood by one of the fountains, speaking to a desert princess with the ease of a man accustomed to admiration. Her throat tightened. ‘Of course. I am truly honoured to have been granted such privilege.’

Flora leaned in, her breath warm against Alina’s ear. ‘You might want to rehearse more, princess. It is not really believable.’

Alina’s blood ran cold. She turned to the Fae princess, searching her face for malice, for amusement, for anything that might betray her intentions.

Flora only smiled. ‘Do not worry. I won’t tell anyone. I think almost everyone knows you do not truly wish to marry the prince. Oath marriages have began again and soon we will all be married off to other kingdoms as we did all those years ago.’

‘You are lucky, I suppose. You are to be a queen. No one can take you away from your kingdom.’

Flora’s smile thinned, turning into something unreadable. Before Alina could apologise, before she could take back the sting of her words, Flora’s gaze shifted past her.

KaiBlackburn was making his way through the gardens. Flora’s lips twitched, as if she had unraveled something Alina had tried so desperately to keep hidden. ‘I shall leave you to it, then.’ She unlinked her arm and stepped away, but before disappearing, she added in a whisper, ‘Do not let them clip your wings.’

Alina barely had time to process her words before Kai was upon her, his steps quick, purposeful, unstoppable. Her heart slammed against her ribs.No. Not now.

She turned abruptly and strode in the opposite direction.

‘Princess.’

She ignored him and forced a smile for the noblewomen who turned their heads in curiosity, willing herself to keep walking.

But Kai was faster. His fingers wrapped around her arm, pulling her towards him, turning her to face him with a force that sent heat rushing up her spine.

‘What do you think you are doing?’ she hissed, her voice low, trembling.

‘What amIdoing?’ Kai’s breath was warm against her ear.‘Youare the one that ran off as if the seven demons of the underworld had come for you.’

‘I was in a hurry.’

‘You were running away—fromme.’

Alina released herself from him. ‘No, I was not.’

‘Then why—’

‘Because it was a mistake.’ Her voice was quiet, but sharp enough to cut between them like a blade. ‘I am to be married. I am to leave my home to be taken to another. It was a one time occurrence and I felt trapped in my life, and I wanted to kiss you. But that is all. Now we can continue on as if nothinghappened.’

‘I don’t want to pretend nothing happened.’

Alina glanced around at the watching eyes, grabbing his wrist and pulling him into the nearest corridor, down a quiet hallway where the air was thick with shadows. ‘Well, you must. In a few weeks you will be returning home.’

‘Then come with me.’

Alina’s breath stilled in her chest. She looked up at him, her mind roaring at the impossibility of his words. She searched his face for jest, for something that would prove he wasn’t serious.

But there was only sincerity. And something far more dangerous—hope.

Her lips parted, but she had no words. Could she? Could she forsake everything—her duty, her name, her kingdom—to follow this man into the unknown?

Kai reached up, brushing a stray strand of golden hair from her face, tucking it gently behind her ear. His lips ghosted over hers, and fire curled deep in her belly. She wanted to taste him again, to burn in him. Right here, in this hall, in this cursed castle, she wanted to be his.

But instead, she placed trembling hands against his chest, pushing him away.

‘I can’t, Kai.’ His brows furrowed, his lips parting to argue, but she continued before he could speak. ‘If I do that, what difference will there be? I’ll still be a princess sent off to another land, without purpose.’

Kai’s breath hitched.‘You won’t. You will be choosing.’ His dark eyes searched hers, desperate, pleading. ‘You will be choosingme.’

Alina’s chest ached. She had never heard his voice so raw, so fragile.

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