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She wanted the earthshake to have never happened and to sit next to Aunty Eshe at night, grinding flowers, discovering new pigments, and trying recipes for their scented oils.

She smiled, thinking about the time she’d mistakendekiabuds forjassimineflowers and her “perfume” had made the entire kitchen smell for a day. Aunty Eshe had laughed so hard, pinching her beautiful, wide nose and pretending to faint from the fumes.

Lore fell asleep with burning eyes and her grimoire in her arms. She dreamed of a future where she led her people to a new settlement, one by the ocean where they could build boats andtravel the world, no longer unwanted prisoners on Alytherian soil, but a proud people with land all their own.

Lore woke with a start, sitting up and tucking the journal beneath the pillow.

Somebody was in the room with them.

Chapter27

Lore reached out to shake Grey, but he wasn’t there. He was standing by the window, talking to a shadowed figure with twin swords slung low on his hips.

Lore jumped out of the bed. Her feet tangled up in the sheets and she flipped off the end of the bed, landing on the floor on her back.

Asher ran over to her, kneeling beside her and laughing quietly. She would’ve died from embarrassment, but she was too busy laughing herself. Relief swept through her entire body like a balm.

How was he here?

“You are ridiculous, but I’m so happy to see you,” Asher said through a quiet chuckle.

“Is it really you?”

“It’s really me. I didn’t expect to see your friend here, though.” He looked at Grey with an eyebrow raised.

“Me neither...” Lore’s voice trailed off as Asher leaned in toward her, cupping her cheeks. Long fingers curled in her hair, and he cut her off with a kiss. A low growl erupted from his chest, and she couldn’t stop her own answering moan. His smell, his taste—everything about him was intoxicating.

She heard Grey leave the room, closing the door behind him softly. A true friend, that one.

Asher pulled her up until she was straddling him. His excitement at seeing her pressed between them, hard against her stomach. She wrapped her arms around his thick neck and slid her hands in his soft curls, wrapping her palms around his antlers as she ground into him.

Goddess, he tasted like blackberries. She pulled his pouty bottom lip into her mouth and nibbled it. Asher growled at that, tightening his arms on her back for a moment, deepening the kiss.

Through panting breaths, between kisses, he scolded her. “I heard what you did, leaving the safety of Gryph’s house and sneaking into the palace.”

Lore bit her lip. She was having trouble getting her thoughts in order. His eyes were dark with desire. She wanted to marvel at the heat in them, but she kept dipping down to look at that pouty lip. She wanted to bite it again. “I didn’t have a choice,” she murmured before leaning in to kiss him again.

Asher pulled back a moment, his eyes searching hers. “Did she hurt you?” Asher pulled her close again, threading his fingers through her curls, and pressed her cheek into his chest, growling. “I’ve heard what she does to those she collects. If she hurt you, tell me. You’re mine to protect.”

Lore’s stomach tumbled at the word “mine” and she bit her lip in surprise—she’d never belonged to anyone before. She’d never wanted to be anyone’s either, would not have tolerated it, but she loved the idea of being Asher’s. She craved it. “I’m glad I have you on my side, Asher. I don’t ever want to find out what it’s like to be your enemy.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “You don’t have to worry about that, my little mouse.”

She loved his laugh. She leaned in to kiss him again, thinking that maybe now was a good time to move to the bed.

Asher spoke before she could. “Isla and Finn are waiting for us downstairs. As much as I would love to continue our reunion, we have much to discuss.”

Wait.“Howareyou and Isla here right now? Last I saw, you were on a mountain, leagues away.”

He grinned. “You saw us? How? Ah, I see. Your powers have grown.”

“In surprising ways.”

“I can’t wait to hear all about it.”

“Are you two done?” Grey called through the door. “We don’t have much time.”

Lore leaned in and kissed Asher, wishing they had all the time in the world to taste each other, explore each other. Asher felt the same because he pulled her to him with his arm, crushing her to his chest, as if he couldn’t get close enough to her. He kissed up her jaw, and sighed into her ear, and Lore thought it was the most beautiful sound, him breathless against her. She jerked her hips, unbidden, against his hard length that pressed against her, and he groaned at the sensation—Lore realized there was a more beautiful sound after all. Grey knocked again, and with a sigh, Lore slid off Asher’s lap and pulled the door open. Hoping her cheeks weren’t too flushed, she said, “Grey, remember? I told you about Asher. This is him.” She waved her hand in his direction, as if he could have somehow missed the giant fae male in the room.