Page 18 of Severed Heir

I froze. “You what?”

“He doesn’t know,” Archer said quickly. “Not about the heirship. Not about the Gemini dragons. And we’re keeping it that way until I can explain how a flame-wielder became heir to Night.”

I scoffed. “And how exactly am I supposed to hidethat?”

“Don’t show your mark,” he said simply. “Unless you plan on being shirtless often, it shouldn’t be hard.”

I raised a brow. “Maybe I will.”

A flicker of a smile curved his mouth. “Then I suppose the guards should prepare to lose their eyes.”

“It should have been Kian,” I snapped. “Now he’ll think you brought him here because he failed as your potential heir. Myla already thinks you’re a tyrant.”

“I’d rather be the villain in his story than leave you alone. Kian is strong. He’ll protect you.”

I lifted my chin. “I have Myla and Cully, and I’m strong.”

“Myla’s taste in men is questionable, and Cully still must earn my trust. You might light hellfire, but I care about you.”

“Youcareabout me?”

“Of course.”

Shit. Antonia was right, I was persuaded by Archer. He was only a damn flirt. “I don’t want to be here.”

“Oh, I know. After that dinner with the king and Charles, I half expected chains dragging from your ankles.”

I stiffened. I hadn’t realized he’d been watching through the bond. I didn’t even know how to tap into his eyes.

“I’m shocked Sabitha didn’t convince you to stay away from me,” I muttered.

His brow lifted. “Sabitha? The Briber?”

“She said she was heading to Demetria. Her exact words:she couldn’t wait to be beneath you.”

His smirk deepened, toeing the edge of infuriating. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say someone’s been listening to gossip. And not the mind-reader kind. The jealous kind.”

Before I could respond, a clawed shadow unfurled from his palm. It coiled around my waist, dragging me against him in one fluid motion.

His breath brushed my ear. “If a ward designed to injure me for touching you didn’t stop me,” he murmured, voice low and deliberate, “what makes you think anything will get between us?”

My breath hitched. “Foolish of you.”

His dark hair tousled in the wind, shadows curling like smoke from his wrist. “Not as foolish as nearly getting expelled trying to save me. Now that you’re not writhing in pain, I feel no guilt calling your choices reckless.”

“Believing you were dead wasn’t reckless,” I said. “And don’t forget, you give me orders, I do the opposite.”

He huffed a low laugh. “So tying me up back there with a flame rope was your idea of rebellion?” He leaned in, shadows flickering at the edges of his smile. “Because that felt suspiciously like a bedroom request.”

My jaw clenched. “You can’t protect me here like you did at the Academy. And punching the captain of the recruits isn’t going to help me now.”

His hand brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “Don’t count me out. The wards won’t let me inside without notice... but if you need me, you know how to reach me.”

He didn’t say it, but I felt the bond thrumming beneath my skin like a second heartbeat. I swallowed, skirting the question neither of us dared to ask:What were we now?

“I guess I’ve got two brothers watching over me,” I murmured. “Though I’m sure your time at the academy kept you away from your duties as a ruler.”

He didn’t flinch. “Ourduties,” he corrected, voice calm. “You’re my heir.”

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