Page 71 of A Kingdom of Shadow and Ash

Ash clenched his jaw and turned sharply, desperate for composure. But all he could think about was grabbing her.Keeping her right there on the sand, her body beneath him, his mouth exploring every inch of her, tasting, devouring, consuming.

His restraint snapped.

Without thinking, without hesitation, he turned back towards the shore. Ready to take her. But—

The beach was empty.

Mal Blackburn was nowhere in sight.

Ash exhaled harshly, running a hand over his face. He was not sleeping tonight. Not a single goddamn second.

…

Alina had slept far too long, and yet, it still wasn’t enough. Her head throbbed, a dull, insistent ache from the copious amounts of wine she had consumed at the banquet. Even now, as the morning sun spilt through the curtains, golden and unforgiving, the remnants of last night’s indulgence lingered behind her eyes. She pressed her fingertips to her temples, rubbing slow, circular motions in a futile attempt to chase the pain away.

She had noticed Hagan's gaze throughout the evening, the way his eyes had narrowed in silent reprimand each time she had lifted her glass, each time the honeyed liquor had slipped down her throat.

She had half a mind to throw the damned drink in his face.

What did it matter to him how much she drank? Not all of them had the luxury of brooding in dark corners, clutching their duty to their chest like a sacred relic.

With a tired sigh, she pushed away from the bed, allowing the maids to dress her, their hands cool and efficient as they worked the laces of her gown. The scent of warm bread and fresh fruit filled the air, a reminder that breakfast had alreadybeen set.

She plucked a handful of grapes from the golden tray, their cool skin a welcome contrast to the heat of her lips, and padded barefoot towards the balcony.

Beyond the open doors, the morning air was crisp, a gentle breeze curling around her shoulders, lifting the stray golden strands from her face. She leaned against the stone railing, eyes drifting towards the horizon, the distant mountains rising like jagged teeth against the soft blue of the sea.

Last night Kai Blackburn had run off into the night, no doubt chasing after some poor, unsuspecting servant. Alina did not care. He was not her problem. If he wanted to bed a servant, let him. Why should it concern her what men did with their time? They did whatever they pleased. Always.

She popped another grape between her lips, savouring the burst of sweetness, letting it melt away on her tongue before swallowing.

The sound of doors swinging open pulled her from her thoughts.

She turned just as Ash stepped inside. The shadows beneath his eyes were deep, dark hollows that made his face look hardened, worn. He had not slept. Not even a little.

Alina’s brows lifted slightly as she studied him, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. Hadherun off with a servant, too?

No. Surely not.

Ash had better taste than that.

He sat down at the table and bit down on a grape.

‘Did you not sleep?’ Alina’s voice was light with curiosity as she crossed the lavish chamber, filling a crystal goblet with freshly squeezed juice. The scent of ripe oranges lingered in the air. She set it before her brother, watching as he took slow,measured sips, deliberately avoiding her gaze. ‘You look dreadful, brother.’

Ash did not respond, merely reached for a plate and began serving himself in silence.

Alina studied him for a moment, then shrugged, deciding not to pry. Instead, she busied herself with piling eggs, buttered toast, and delicate cakes onto her own plate. She no longer cared about her mother’s lectures on restraint; if the damned dress for the wedding was too tight, so be it.

‘I cannot believe we have only two days left until the wedding,’ she mused, slicing into her toast. ‘There is still so much to be done. Mother must be having a fit. I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t sent a maid to drag me from my chambers.’

Ash grunted something incoherent around a mouthful of food.

Alina grimaced. ‘Swallow first, Ash. You’re going to choke one of these days.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘Why must all men eat like wild beasts? For gods’ sake, use a fork.’

A low chuckle escaped him as he grabbed a piece of bread and hurled it at her.

The slice hit her square in the face.

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