Page 60 of To Wake a Kingdom

“I’m so glad you didn’t die,” I said in a whisper.

He smiled against my skin. “Me too. Though now, I can die a truly satisfied man.” As I blushed, he traced the edge of the bruise on my face with his thumb. “Does it hurt?”

“Almost as much as getting stabbed.”

Ronan had gone pale again, our activity still too much for his delicate state. He winced as he shifted and collapsed on his back.

“I think I need to rest,” he said, his eyelids fluttering closed for a moment before he peeled them open, desire in his expression. “As much as it kills me to say that right now.”

And as much as I didn’t want to stop, I knew he was still recovering.

“You’re still healing.” I pressed my hand to his chest. “I’ll owe you one.”

He clasped his hand over mine and stared at me. “You never owe me anything, Thorne. I’m just grateful to be in your presence, however you’ll have me.”

I tapped the tip of his nose. “Never turn down a favor owed from a princess.”

He chuckled as he flipped my hand and kissed the palm. “I’ll try to remember that.” His gaze returned to my lacerated cheek. “And I will kill Mare for everything she has done to you.”

“You’re obsessed with killing,” I teased, leaning over and pressing my mouth to his.

He pulled me down, wrapping firm arms around my waist.“I’ll kill anyone who hurts you, Thorne.”

“Don’t make promises that might be too hard to keep, Ronan.”

“I mean it. I will protect you with every breath in my body.”

The declaration was bloody and violent, and a previous version of me might have shied away from it, but right now, wings as wide as the sea opened inside my chest. His words were raw and sincere, and no one had ever wanted to protect me like that.

“I’ll protect you, too. With whatever I have, I will protect you.”

The smile he gave me cracked my heart, releasing a warm river of golden light. It was so utterly disarming and earnest that I could do nothing but lay my head on his chest and listen to the steady beat of his heart.

Chapter Twenty-Four

8 days left

Ronanrecoveredinrecordtime, partly thanks to Kianna and partly to some benevolent force that appeared to be watching over him. After a thousand more kisses in my bed, he was already back in the training yard with Noah and Em when I joined them.

My tincture would be ready to try this evening. As it bubbled on the stove, I was bouncing with excitement to test it, though I was also trying not to get my hopes up.

Noah and Em had also made dozens more hag holes to hang all over the castle, and while I was skeptical about Noah’s claims, I couldn’t help but feel touched they were all trying so hard to help me.

Ronan and I faced off outside, the sun high in the sky. I lunged, and he blocked me, so I tried again. He spun, evading me as I prepared for a counterattack that didn’t come. I pounced again as he blocked me and stepped out of the way. Eyes narrowing, I fought harder, swinging left and right as he checked me with ease, but he didn’t fight back.

Attacking with more fury now, I swung at him over and over. He evaded every one of my blows but didn’t reciprocate, simply spinning away.

“What are you doing?” I hissed at him. “Why aren’t you fighting back?” Wild now, I swung again and, this time, he didn’t even attempt to stop me. The practice sword cracked against his shoulder, and he grunted but gave no other sign that I’d hit him.

“I don’t know what you mean,” he said, backing up. “I’m tired. I did just get stabbed, you know?”

“I just watched you flatten Em and Noah,” I said with a swing that forced him to take a step back. He had never yielded an inch of ground to me—ever. With both hands pressed to his chest and a snarl that ripped from my throat, I shoved him with all my strength as he stumbled back into the stone wall of the courtyard.

“What are you doing? Fight me!” I screamed. He countered with a half-hearted swipe and glanced over at Noah and Em as he silently begged for rescue. They shuffled their feet, looking everywhere but at us.

Our swords crossing between us, I pressed myself against Ronan.

“Are you refusing to fight me?” A flash of guilt passed over his face, and fury tunnelled into my veins. “Are you kidding me?” Conscious of Noah and Em, I lowered my voice, seething with anger. “Are you afraid to spar with me because we kissed? Is that what this is about?”

---