Page 27 of Lore of the Tides

Her eyes fluttered, overwhelmed by his closeness, as her heart stuttered in her chest. “I haven’t been hungry.”

“Don’t make meorderyou to eat, because I will, if I must,” he growled. “I’ll visit your room for every meal, just to make sure you finish them.”

Thelastthing she needed was for Syrelle to be in her room during meals or otherwise, not with the way the weight of his hands warmed her entire body through the fabric of her dress.

“You cannot order me around. Just because Ichoseto wear the clothes you picked out today, you think I your puppet?”

His hands were still around her waist. They tightened for a moment, his thumb pressing into her hips.

Her legs went weak.

Gods—Lore knew she should, but she couldn’t muster up the strength to push them away.

Pushhimaway.

Lore’s lips parted against her will as Syrelle’s hungry gaze dipped low to them.

“Stop fighting me, Lore. Together, we can be the two mostpowerful alchemists on the continent.” His breath brushed over her face.

Blackberries and honey.

He smelled the same.

That ache within her intensified. She missed Asher so damned much. Syrelle’s face softened and tilted a fraction toward hers.

Their breaths mingled as they inhaled the same air. She heard his breath hitch and knew his own heart must be stuttering like hers, because he was now gliding one hand up her waist. His knuckles grazed the fabric near her breast before slipping over her shoulder, his thumb brushing her collarbone. His touch was maddeningly light. Goosebumps erupted across her arms when he cupped her cheek.

Lore wanted to melt into him, to close the last bit of distance between them, to see if he kissed and tasted the same.

She was not in control, right now. In fact, this exchange was wildly outside of her control. Her emotions were once again dictating her actions, and gods, her body was being downright mutinous.

“I’ll be the sun to your moon,” he murmured, his dark eyes searching hers. “I can’t think of anything I want more than to rule with you at my side.”

She jerked backward, out of his grasp, slamming herself into the wall.

The... sun... Her eyes flashed, anger superseding any lasting lust. It was one thing to fool him into thinking she was not just cooperating but on his side... It was another entirely to listen to whispered promises, to let him kiss her.

For the first time in days, she didn’t bank her rage, she coaxed it to life, feeding the writhing fury within her. He was the enemy; this was simply a game, and she would not lose to him. She siphoned the lingering heat from his touch until every last cinder inflamed nothing but her rage.

“Why settle, when I can be both sunandthe moon?” Her voice was a blaze.

Syrelle’s face, which had been soft and hungry a moment ago, shuttered. His head tilted to the side as he regarded her with eyes like hoarfrost. He straightened up, brushing a nonexistent wrinkle from his pressed shirt.

Lore was trying to catch her breath, her head spinning. She might have given too much of her intentions away just now, but she was desperate to gain back some control. Had shereallyalmost kissed him just now? She despised him. She wanted him out of her life.

Notin her bed.

She held her anger close, caressed it. Anger was righteous. Anger would save her.

He took a step away from her.

Onestep, but the distance between them was a chasm that neither could cross.

Syrelle opened his mouth to respond, but two guards rounded the corner just then.

His mouth snapped shut and he cleared his throat. “I thought we would try something different today.” He repeated his earlier declaration. Whatever he’d been planning on saying, he clearly didn’t trust the guards to hear it.

Lore sighed. She didn’t want to know what his response would have been, anyway. Let them get this over with so she could be rid of him once more. She unclenched her jaw. Relaxed her brow, her clasped fists.