Page 113 of Bitten & Burned

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“Say. It.”

I looked to Cassian, who shrugged. “I agree with him.”

Sighing, I looked back at Quil. “It’s not my fault.”

“Damn right, it’s not.”

I curled up on my side, facing Quil. I reached over to tucksome of his hair behind his ear. My hand came back bloody. I gasped.

He turned, looked at my hand, and felt his head. “S’not mine.” As if that were the reason I’d gasped.

I stared at him, his face in profile. He had a very regal-looking nose from this angle. His brow was the perfect amount of protrusion, his chin as well. Very symmetrical face. He probably was quite handsome back when he’d been living in his home with his family.

He was fucking gorgeous now.

The long-haired wild look suited him. I certainly liked it.

He turned slightly, his eyes flicking to mine. “You’re staring at me.”

“Your face is pretty…” I reached out, running my finger from his forehead, down his nose, over to his chin.

“Thank… you?” He asked, glancing at Cassian and back to me. “You still blooddrunk on Anton?”

I scoffed. “No. Take the compliment, Ashborne. You’re fucking gorgeous.”

He flinched like I’d struck him.

I blinked. “Oh, sorry,” I said. “That came out meaner than I wanted… what I really meant was…”

“Wasn’t mean. Just wasn’t expecting it.”

I lay my head back down, tugging his hand with me. I clung to his forearm like a pillow—until he actually slipped one under my head. Only then did I relax again.

I was going to tease him some more about being devastatingly handsome, but I fell asleep again.

Turns out being attacked is tiring. Go figure.

Seventeen

HELD

Serpentine Bay, Euraline, Verdune

22 Ebry, Year 810

It felt different this time.

Still lush and opulent, like the yacht—only grounded.

Soft music played from a phonograph somewhere nearby. A fire crackled gently in the fireplace. That explained the warmth.

I’d kicked the blankets off my lower half and lay still, curled around a pillow like it might hold me together.

I stretched, my fingers brushing the headboard.

A bed.

Not the yacht, though. My stomach wasn’t flipping with the waves.

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