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Shaking my head, I slammed my hands into his chest. “And now you’ve ruined it. You’ve committed treason, and Conreth will punish you. Because of me.”

“Stop trying to protect me.”

“I can’t!” My voice cracked, and I covered my face with my hands.

Lorian caught my hands, pulling them back down. He’d gone very still. “And why is that, Prisca?”

I shook my head. When I raised my gaze, his eyes were blazing with triumph. He pulled me closer, and his mouth was suddenly on mine. Gods, I’d missed him.

I didn’t realize I’d said it aloud until he smiled against my mouth. “Missed you too, wildcat.” Lorian lifted his head, and his brow creased. “You want to visit your kingdom? I can save you a week of travel.”

An entire week? “How?”

His mouth twisted into a grim smile. “First, we negotiate.”

“Lorian…”

“No leaving without me. Ever.”

“I’m not agreeing to that.” I’d be lying, after all. The moment Demos and Tibris found the hourglass, I was going after it. And Lorian couldn’t come. My chest ached.

Lorian let out a low growl. It was a sound I’d only ever heard when he was dealing with me.

“How will Conreth punish you?” I demanded.

“That’s not relevant.”

I took a step back. “It’s entirely relevant. You want to negotiate? Then be honest with me. What would he do?”

“It’s not what you’re thinking, wildcat. Conreth won’t kill me, and he won’t imprison me. Not only would it be terrible for morale, but he needs me. The wildkin won’t respond to anyone else, and he’ll need me for this war. I had some personal time owed to me. I took it.”

I let out a hollow laugh. “With no warning? And to helpme? And you don’t think he’ll punish you for it?”

Lorian stared back at me, but a muscle ticked in his jaw.

I didn’t understand him. He’d only brought me with him to the fae lands because his brother had demanded it. Now, his brother had ordered him to let me go, and he’d done the opposite.

“We need to talk about this.”

“It’s happening.”

This wasn’t the end of this conversation. My instincts insisted Conreth was holding something over him. But I also knew that stubborn expression. Lorian was coming with me. I might as well accept his help. But I’d find out how Conreth would punish him.

“Fine,” I said. “You may join me on my trip.”

Lorian gave me a wicked smile. “Don’t choke on it, wildcat.” His smile widened, and I knew he was thinking about what he’d prefer for me to choke on. I narrowed my eyes at him, but a smile tugged at my mouth.

He lowered his head, his mouth caressing mine, and I sighed against him. His lips left mine, and he kissed a trail down my neck until I was gasping, my head spinning.

He stiffened, slowly lifting his head. “What is that?”

I raised my hand, finding the ridge of the disk Vicer had given us. “Uh…”

“Prisca.”

I sighed. He was fae. He recognized fae magic. Which meant he knew exactly what it was.

“It’s in case I’m ever captured. If there’s no other way out…” My voice trailed off at the dangerous glint in his eyes.