Page 163 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
I laughed despite the worry that had sunk its rotten claws in me. I remembered the Serpents’ last attack. The warriors who’d lost limbs to their monstrous snakes, and the attackers I’d scorched before.
I wondered if the same power would come to the surface when I’d finally face my parents’ killers.
“We managed to open one of the Quorilith scrolls. Goose and Leesa are busy translating it,” I said. “Oh, and if you hear them asking about a big carriage around town, don’t worry about it. It’s a decoy.”
“Congratulations. A truly eventful day.” Zandyr’s brows rose. “Did you happen to invade another Clan after lunch as well?”
“No, that will have to wait until next week. Busy preparing for the wedding.”
“Anythingelseyou want to tell me?” he asked, laughter in his voice. Which meant the oath’s effects were vanishing. Good.
“Just one more thing.” I cleared my throat. “Valuta had faith that I could be a gold digger. Unlike someoneelseI know. It’s sad when the person who wants you dead believes more in your scheming abilities than the one you’re supposed to marry,” I said playfully. “Your lack of faith in my superficial tendencies is truly hurtful.”
Zandyr threw his head back, laughter filling the room. It was a booming, carefree sound that I wanted to hear again and again.
“My apologies. When we met, I did believe you were a Protectorate danger, but truly not for my vaults,” he said once he’d quieted down, but there was still joy dancing in his blue eyes. Eyes that were quickly darkening with another emotion–desire. “How could I possibly make it up to you?”
His voice was seduction incarnate, low and raspy and delicious. I licked my lips, gaze darting to his mouth. “I think you can come up with a suitable apology.”
“I might.” His hands fell to my hips, fingers digging into my flesh. “But it’s up to you whether you accept it or not.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Zandyr swallowed my grin with a searing kiss that burned away all thoughts of the dangers waiting outside this room.
Tonight was about us, before we had to break apart tomorrow.
Chapter
Fifty-Two
EVIE
This kiss quickly turned heated, all thoughts of laughter and jokes melting away in a pool of pure desire. How, in all of Malhaven, had I lived twenty-one years of my little life without experiencingthis?
This flurry of craving and pulling and tugging, like we wanted to devour each other alive. His breaths were mine and my heart beats were his, the connection between us tugging taut and tense.
He twisted his fingers in my hair, wringing out what remained of the water and the worries of the day. How could I think of anything else when his teeth gently grazed my bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth?
His lips trailed lower, kissing down the column of my neck with clipped groans at the back of his throat. Not to be outdone, my hands unfastened his armor like it had personally offended me. Perhaps it had–after all, it hid that glorious body Zandyrhad honed through years of training and fighting for his people without a moment’s rest.
He found that little spot right at the junction of my neck with my shoulder that made my knees weak. My nails scraped against the dragon’s teeth on his neck, holding on for dear life.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day,” he whispered against my damp skin, his large hand cradling the back of my head. “Couldn’t think clearly. Couldn’t drink. Couldn’t eat.”
Eat? That little hungry child in me would never vanish completely and was rattled. I leaned back, licking my lips. “I’m sure Goose has some of those squishy fruit cakes stashed in the kitchen.”
A slow smile twisted his lips. “I have something even sweeter in mind.”
He stole the question on my lips with another kiss, arms coiling around me. He lifted me in one fluid motion, as if I was a mere feather to his power. I groaned as his tongue twisted around mine, hot and demanding.
But instead of walking toward the bed, he headed to the window, the draft cooling against my back.
“If you’re into being watched, I hate to inform you that everyone in my house is already asleep,” I said. “And there are no more guards.”
“Your ravished state is for my eyes only,” he growled. “I love seeing you like this.”
“Like what?”
