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My body trembled at his touch. I placed my hand on his chest for fear I might lose myself if I wasn’t holding on to him. My fingers traced along the curves of his muscles, imagining the beautiful markings that painted his bare skin underneath his shirt.

His breathing became deep and husky. His muscles strained like it took all his strength to hold himself still.

I was lightheaded. I wanted to lean into him and feel the strength of his arms pull me close. But the unrestrained look in his golden-ringed eyes kept me frozen in place.

His gaze dropped from my eyes, lingering on my throat, then my jaw, then my lips.

The way he stood, he was more animal-like than human. The power of a wolf. The strength of a bear. My heart became a butterfly in my chest as he drew closer. I couldn’t feel the cold anymore. The worries that had plagued my mind moments ago were puffs of smoke.

I forgot to breathe as his fingers slipped into my hair, pulling my face toward his as he leaned down. My eyes closed. My lips parted.

Sparks flashed as our lips touched. His kiss was gentle at first, then becoming more intense, more primal when a soft moan escaped my throat. I held on to his shirt, pulling him closer and deeper until I could feel the low rumble in his chest, tasting the bramble nectar on his tongue.

Then his hands dropped, and he backed away. “I can’t.”

It felt like the wind was knocked out of me.

“I’m sorry—I can’t.”

He turned so abruptly that I stumbled backward, catching myself on the railing. Before I knew what was happening, he’d stalked away across the hanging bridge, letting out a savage roar that echoed into the dreaming bramble canopy.

I watched, stunned, as Jeddak disappeared down the stairs and into the cold night.

36

Jeddak

Blazenhell! What was I thinking? What did I just do?

I couldn’t bring myself to look back at Raven as I navigated the dark labyrinth of bridges and winding staircases until I reached the forest floor. From there, I used the glowing lights of the hanging city to track my way back to the cells. No one stopped me or uttered a word as I stalked past.

With every step, my guilt grew hotter, searing the inside of my veins.You’re an idiot, Jeddak. You’ve messed up everything.

When I left Askeland months ago, I’d promised Lila that I would travel to the end of the world until I found what the king wanted. I promised I wouldn’t let her die. I pledged my heart and soul to her, believing we would still marry on the winter new moon like we’d planned.

Now, I felt like my heart was betraying me.Lilawas supposed to be the love of my life, not Raven. So why did my heart leap every time Raven smiled? Why did I falter when I smelled the sweet scent of her skin? Why had Ikissed her? And why had I just left her standing there with no explanation?

You know why …a quiet voice inside me whispered. But I ignored it, continuing my retreat.

Skies!Raven must think the worst of me. That would make two of us.

“What happened toyou?” Kah asked when he heard my boots stomping heavily through the bramble, unconcerned about the sharp thorns scraping my arms. If the queen hadn’t given me the nectar tonight, I’d be marching straight to the shadowlands right now. I felt like I deserved it.

“Nothing,” I muttered. To Kah’s surprise, I brushed aside the curtain of bramble enclosing him and gestured for him to come out. To my relief, there were no guards on duty after tonight’s incident.

“Well,somethingmust have happened,” he said, raising his bushy black eyebrows as he exited. “How about you give me the highlights?”

I inhaled. “Let’s see—the Bramblemen aren’t cannibals like we thought, I’m immune to the bramble poison now, I met the mysterious bowman from Javan, and I kissed Raven.”

“Oh.” The syllable lingered in the icy air.

I rubbed my neck, pacing back and forth.I kissed Raven.

I could still taste the sweetness of her tongue and feel the heat of her body pressed against mine. The way she pulled me toward her like a wrong in the universe had finally been righted.

I pressed my hands against my skull, desperately trying to erase the fresh memories. Because if I couldn’t clear my head, I didn’t know what was going to stop me from marching straight back to Raven’s room to finish what I’d started.

“What about Lila?” Kah asked, his tone surprisingly gentle, considering I’d just made a huge mess of things.