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My breathing deepened as his gaze intensified.

Married, by law, and even in the eyes of the Faetia, but were our hearts inching closer?

The Faetia had blessed our union, and yet we’d brushed it off. Said that we’d follow through with our plan.

Were we fools?

Before I questioned that too, Vale’s head dipped, and his lips caught mine.

A soft whimper of pleasure left me and deep inside, something stirred. A feeling that had never been awoken in me, one I wanted more of. By the dead gods and the Fates and the stars and the Faetia and whatever else there was, his kisses were pure magic. Nothing like the other kisses I’d shared with boys and then human men. Nothing like I imagined.

They wiped away the pain, the sadness, and allowed me to exist in the moment. As messed up as that might be after what we’d seen, I allowed myself that small mercy and leaned into him.

Vale’s tongue swept into my mouth, and I accepted it, met it with a dance of my own as his hand found my back and somehow pulled me closer.

How did I feel so protected with him? I’d only known Vale for less than two weeks, and yet it was like I knew him, deep inside. And he knew me too. Wanted me. Try as I might to remind myself that I had to leave this court, had to flee at the first chance, I wanted him too.

Stars, I was in so much trouble.

He pulled away with a sharp intake of breath, though he remained close enough that I still felt his exhale graze my lips. “Neve,” Vale whispered. “Are we sure?”

A laugh trilled out of me. “Sure?I’m not sure of much, but I know one thing.” My fist wrapped around the front of his shirt, stained with blood from the fight, just as I was. Not that I cared. Perhaps later I’d feel disgusted, but right now, all that mattered was him and me and our pounding blood rushing through our bodies as we found a moment of peace together. “If you stop kissing me like that again, I’m going to have to teach you a lesson during training.”

A devilish smile spread across his face. “Promise?”

“You’re impossible.” I lured him in slowly.

As our lips met again, Vale’s hands moved down and around me. He cupped my rear, his fingers digging into my flesh.

“Bleeding skies, I love this arse,” he growled.

“There’s a lot of it to love,” I said, my voice breathy at the rough passion in his touch.

“Thank the dead gods for that,” he murmured and lifted me.

I squealed and my legs wrapped around his middle as he carried me to the table. With one hand, Vale swept aside the bundles of herbs and books, clattering them tothe floor before he set me down as gently as one would a porcelain object.

The pulse of pleasure inside me was tightening, the pressure building, and my eyelids fell closed as my hands tangled in his black hair. Beneath the long top layer, my fingers grazed the shaved portion. He didn’t wear it up often, but when he did, he looked even more like a warrior than usual and always set my heart racing.

His hands traveled from where they’d been exploring my arse up, to my wings, where his touch became more delicate, reverent, as he explored their contours.

I shivered. Faerie wings were already sensitive and, for that reason, usually kept pressed down our backs, covered up, or vanished. Vale’s touch, though, seemed to make mine a thousand times more tender.Needy.Craving more, I pressed my wings into his hands, hoping he’d linger.

Instead, he paused and pulled away again.

“What did I tell you about pulling away?” I murmured, surprised to hear my voice was deeper, almost a growl to match that of the prince’s.

“Neve, you’re glowing but not your hands. Your whole body.”

My eyelids flew open, and I gasped.

He was right. I was glowing, this time more strongly than before. Perhaps differently too?

“It’s your magic,” Vale said, his hand moving to my chest and pressing into my heaving bosom. “It’s unraveling. Desperate to get out. Pulsing within you.” His dark brown eyes lifted to meet mine. “You’ve never felt that before, have you?”

“No. The potion has always worked the same way, never failing. But since coming here, I’ve sometimes felt different. I’ve glowed a few other times too. Just my hands though.”

“I think it’s because you’re home. You belong in this kingdom and the magic recognizes you, Neve.” His hand drifted to my cheek and cupped it. “You’re going to be stronger than you could have imagined.”