Page 63 of To Wake a Kingdom

“Really? Why?”

He smirked. “I want to see the man who first stole your heart.”

“You’re just going to tell me how you’re better-looking than him.”

His grin was confident. “Well, I don’t need to see him to know that.”

I rolled my eyes, but I pointed to where Adrian lay beyond my father on the third and fourth steps leading up to the dais. Ronan’s expression softened, taking in the young man with the smattering of freckles on his nose.

“You would have been in so much trouble.”

“I know. But no one paid much attention to me. It was selfish and reckless, and he would have been the one to suffer more if they’d caught us, but he never minded the risk.”

Ronan laughed. “No, I don’t imagine he did.” He pulled me toward him, and I wrapped my arms around his neck and laid my head against his shoulder while his hands trailed along my back.

“Can I walk you back to your room?” he asked after a few minutes.

With a nod, I pushed away and stood. He took my hand in his large, warm grip, tugging me along as we paused to kiss along the way, pressed against walls and doors. I was drunk on him. It was euphoric and wonderful and distracting.

We stood at my bedroom door, where he pressed me against the door frame, one hand on my hip and the other bracing the wall behind us. After kissing me deeply, he pulled away and touched his forehead to mine. “Goodnight, Princess.”

“What? You’re leaving?” He’d moved back to his room once he’d recovered, and I’d missed his presence at my side.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said in a way that sounded like he was trying to convince himself to leave.

“But what about…what we were just discussing?” I gestured toward the throne room. My face heated.Did I really just ask him that?

His smile was so irresistible it made my heart skip a beat. Tilting my chin up, he said, “If I stay with you tonight, things will lead to a place we can never come back from.” His voice dropped so low I felt it tingle right to my core. “I can’t keep my hands off you, Thorne.”

“I want to go there,” I said, breathless. “Don’t keep them off.”

He rewarded me with a dark and delicious laugh. “I’m thrilled you’re so eager.” He gently brushed his lips over mine. “But these things shouldn’t be rushed. Not when it means this much. Soon, my beautiful princess.” He pressed himself against me and brought his mouth to my ear. “I got a hint of how good you taste, and I can’t wait for more. Soon, I’ll spread your legs wide and fuck you until you touch the stars,” he promised, and my heart performed an erratic leap in my chest.

Tick tock, Thorne.I shoved the reminder into a box and slammed the lid with a resounding thud.

Ronan stepped back and gave me a quick bow and wink before turning on his heel. I did my best not to pout as I watched him walk away.

Chapter Twenty-Five

6 days left

“Willyoucomefora ride?” Ronan stood in the doorway to the kitchen, where I was helping Gideon wash up after dinner.

Lost in my thoughts, I gave a start.“What?”

My coat was draped over his arm, and he held it up. “Will you come for a ride?” he repeated as I wiped my hands on my apron. Kianna lounged at the long wooden table, polishing off her third lemon tart of the evening. Ronan furrowed his brow. “Are you okay, Thorne?”

“I’m fine.”

Using the back of my hand, I pushed my hair out of my face. I’d been thinking about Mare and my parents. There was less than a week left before she returned, and unless Noah’s hag holes actually worked, I was completely out of ideas. The only thing I had was a bit of training under my belt and my dwindling hope.

I also had to decide what to do about Ronan—either tell him the truth about Mare’s deal or find a way to get them out of here within the next six days. Every time I spun up my courage to tell him, I stopped myself. I had no doubt he’d stay to confront Mare, and I couldn’t ask any of them to fight this battle for me. That would be four more deaths on my hands.

“Where?” I asked, trying to stuff down my thoughts. I’d convince them to leave. There was no other choice.

“It’s a surprise.”

I narrowed my eyes, but his face gave away nothing. Kianna and Gideon wore twin smiles of collusion I couldn’t interpret.

---