Page 70 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash

It was all he had ever known, the only world he had ever belonged to. And now—now it would become hers. Did she feel like a stranger here? Did she long for home? He wanted to ask her, to hear her thoughts, to understand how it felt to have your entire world rewritten. But the fear of stuttering, of failing to find the words, kept him away.

A sound cut through the stillness.

Ash turned sharply, scanning the dark water.

There—not far from him.

His breath caught.

Mal Blackburn floated on her back, arms stretched out, completely naked beneath the moonlight.

Ash nearly choked. He twisted around, clearing his throat to alert her. Her shriek confirmed she had heard him.

‘What are you doing here?’ she hissed.

He turned back, frowning.

‘Swimming.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘Of all nights… Are you naked?’

‘You are too.’

Mal pulled a face. ‘And how would you know that?’

Then—that smile.

That wicked, knowing, sharp-as-a-knife smile that sent hispulse hammering. His body locked up at the sight of it, at the way she began swimming towards him, slow and purposeful. For a brief, torturous moment, all he could see was her dancing.

His control wavered.

His eyes dipped—just for a second.

She splashed him.

‘Get out then,’ she said.

‘Why me?’

‘I was here before you.’

‘My home.’

Mal cocked her head, raising an elegant brow. ‘Oh really? Must I remind you that in a matter of days we will be married, and this will officially be my home, too?’

Ash chuckled, deep and low, and she stilled.

‘Not yet,’ he whispered, teasing. Then he gestured to the shore.

She splashed him again.

He certainly deserved it. But god, it was worth it. Because he got to watch her swim away, the moonlight kissing her bare back, gliding off the water that clung to her skin. She glanced over her shoulder, and if looks could kill, Ash would have been dead.

Mal emerged from the sea so slowly, so deliberately, her body gleaming beneath the moonlight, droplets cascading from her skin like liquid silver.

Ash groaned. Audibly.

He hadn’t thought this through. He shouldnothave let her get out first. Now—now she was bending down, reaching for that damn dress, that sheer, flimsy slip of fabric that barely covered anything.

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