Page 1 of To Crave Deeply
Prologue
CASSIAN – Fifty-four years ago
The pale light blue of her dress flashed between the trees as I chased her, and my heart pounded in my chest. I’d get close, but then she’d slip through my fingers like wisps of smoke. She loved to play this game, loved to keep me on my toes and make me work for the privilege of kissing her. I could hear her laughter caught on the breeze as she pulled me deeper into the wood and further away from my responsibilities. I should be in a stuffy meeting with my father, discussing terms of trade with another clan, but I couldn’t stand those.
I didn’t want to be a king. I just wanted to be free.
Sanna helped me break free from the confines of ruling. She pulled my rebellious side to the surface, and with that alone, I knew she was the one for me. If I could run away with anyone, it would be her. We dragons were given an opportunity once a century to find a soulmate, and I was convinced Sanna was mine. I’d never felt this way about anyone. Never wanted anyone more.
I intended to ask her today to choose me as her partner. To choose me to love and have a family with. Father wouldn’t approve, but I couldn’t change how my heart soared at the sight of her. She was the daughter of an enemy clan and, as such, she was off-limits. Our love was never meant to be, but to me, she was the one. If she refused me, I’d have to wander the earth for another century looking for my soulmate. And even then, it was entirely possible I would never meet another.
Her laughter stopped. I knew she was hiding somewhere now, waiting for the moment that I would capture her and claim her mouth in a kiss that would steal her breath. I closed my eyes and strained my ears until I pinpointed the soft beat of her heart.
I’d recognise it anywhere.
I crouched low and stepped slowly through the snow, trying to make as little noise as I could, but this was all a game. She knew exactly where I was, and she was merely playing along. I waited another moment before leaping from behind the tree and capturing her in my arms. She squealed in delight and tried to break free from my arms, but I pinned her between the tree and my large frame. Her lips stretched wide in a glorious smile and her green eyes shone brightly in the morning light.
I captured her mouth in a kiss that she returned with a passion that rivalled my own. I slipped my thigh between her legs and my hands worked their way into her fiery red hair, fisting the strands and pulling them until I could taste her moans on my tongue. I lost myself in her.
And that was my biggest mistake.
White-hot pain flared in my shoulder as an arrow speared my flesh. I broke the kiss, my mind instantly finding the combat skills I’d honed to perfection over the years. My senses flared to life as I quickly spun around to protect Sanna from our attacker.
“Stay behind me, Sanna,” I whispered as I blocked her body with mine.
I grabbed the head of the arrow that had pierced my shoulder and broke off the tip. I examined the design and instantly knew it belonged to Sanna’s clan, the Berglands. They were the ones my father was currently having the trade talks with. We’d always been enemies, but they’d reached out asking for a trade deal, and I was hoping that a more prosperous union between our two clans would allow me the freedom to take Sanna as my mate.
Sanna’s fingers clutched tightly at my waist. I’d never forgive myself if I couldn’t protect her.
“Come out!” I shouted. “Stop cowering behind the trees.”
A manic laugh echoed through the branches. “I’m not cowering, I’m just holding your attention.”
I hadn’t even seen it coming.
An intense sting sliced across my skin. Sharp agony ripped through me as a knife was plunged deep into my ribcage. I looked down and found Sanna’s hand wrapped around the hilt of a Hellfire blade.
A knife wound I could recover from, but a Hellfire blade… I might as well say goodbye to the world now. They were like poison to Ice Dragons, and they were ridiculously difficult to get hold of. You literally had to go to Hell to get one.
But that wasn’t what hurt the most. It was the manic look of joy that blossomed across Sanna’s face as she twisted the knife in my side and brought me to my knees.
“You really think she loved you?” a deep male voice crooned from the shadows.
Sanna let out a bubble of laughter as she skipped around me and over to the man who’d shot me. “Did I do well, brother?”
“Yes, little one. You did.”
My limbs started to turn to lead as the poison took hold in my bloodstream, but I managed to find the strength to lift my head and stare at the two who had caused my downfall. They were a perfect match. Both with the same fiery red hair and green eyes. Not only was he her brother, he was also her twin and heir to the Bergland clan leader.
Von looked down at Sanna with a mad gleam in his bright eyes. In one hand, he held a crossbow, and his free hand wrapped around Sanna’s waist possessively. His mouth claimed hers, and disgust roiled in my stomach. She’d played me like a fool. She didn’t love me. I could tell by the way she was sticking her tongue down her brother’s throat. She’d never kissed me like that, with such wanton abandonment.
Revulsion burned through me as I watched them. The pain from the Hellfire blade paled in comparison to the shame, hate, and rage that was fuelling me now.
“Why?” I asked, venom lacing my tone.
They broke off their kiss to look at me. Von stepped forward and knelt in the snow with me.
“Because we want the throne. And everyone knows that you don’t, Cassian,” he sneered. “You were so set against ruling that now you’ve lost it all.”
