Page 58 of Queen of Whispers and Mist

“I mean, if you’re looking for something to choke on...” he crooned, words just for her as he hid his lips and wicked grin behind his makeshift cup.

“Ronan, Shadow, you aren’t paying attention,” Bast complained.

Ronan offered an apology, but Shadow was too busy mentally picking her jaw up off the floor to do more than gape at him. Somewhere between their kiss on the beach and earlier conversation, Ronan had decided the gloves were coming off. The man was on the hunt, and she was his prey.

With the way her thighs clenched and the juncture between them throbbed, she was ready to be caught. More than, if she was being honest with herself.

Come and get me, Ronan. I’m so tired of fighting against what I want.

Sebastian, however, was through being ignored. He lobbed a stick at Ronan’s head. Without taking his eyes off hers, Ronan caught it in midair. The unexpected demonstration of skill only made the flutters in her belly stronger. What was it about a competent, capable man?

With a smirk that told her he knew exactly what he was doing to her, Ronan glanced in Bast’s direction and snapped the twig in two.

Sebastian flinched but bravely held his gaze. “Pay attention, or next time it will be a rock.”

“Behave, or next time it will be your neck.”

“You’d have to catch me first.”

“If the drake riders managed, I’m sure I’ll do just fine.”

Sebastian glared at him. “You owe me.”

“Owe you? How do you figure?”

“After those lessons I gave you.” He waved dramatically at Shadow. “Clearly, they’re working. You’re welcome, by the way.”

“What’s he talking about?” Shadow asked with a lift of her brow.

It was Ronan’s turn to blush. “Nothing. He’s full of shit. Just ignore him.”

“Mmhmm.”

“I, for one, think the game sounds like fun,” Bronn said, earning himself a wide grin from Bast.

“You’re interested in anything that involves the opportunity to drink vast amounts of rum,” Caly teased.

“What’s your point?”

The captain pressed her lips together and shook her head. “Jagger, will you join us?”

He turned his head in her direction. If he were anyone else, Shadow would have described the move as shooting her a disbelieving glance, but with his blindfold, she wasn’t sure she could categorize it as such. Without a word, he stood and walked into the house he’d selected and shut the door.

“Suit yourself,” she called after him. “Count the rest of us in, Bast.”

Sebastian took that to heart, despite Ronan’s protest. “Finally. Okay. I won my first sword fight at five years of age.”

“Horse shit,” Ronan coughed. “How can you even prove it?”

Sebastian pointed to a nearly invisible scar on his chin. “The only blow that landed.”

“That doesn’t prove anything.”

“The truth is the truth. Now, drink up, Ronan.”

“You heard the man,” Shadow said. “Drink up.”

He scowled at her. “I can’t believe you’re taking his side.”

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