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She stopped in front of him, and his big hands closed around her waist. It was his devotion that made her fall into him, scars and wickedness and all.

There was beauty in loving another so much you’d give them anything if they only asked. He opened his thighs and pulled her flush against him. He brushed his fingertips over her mouth, staring at it longingly. Like he was a desperate man in a blazing desert starving for a drink. “Is there anything else you want?” he asked.

“Life with you forever.”

“Forever.”

Chapter 30

THANE

The wyvern fights lasted well into nightfall. Leif and Fennan both had more to drink than they should have, and went to stew in their rooms while Ronan and Piper went for a stroll on the royal grounds. Why her relationship bothered them more this time than the last was a mystery. Maybe now they believed it was a real possibility Piper could leave, before that wasn’t even a thought in anyone’s mind.

Queen Nyrovia retired early from the fights but promised Thane an audience with her husband the following day.

“So, what did you think of the event?” Thane walked Katana to the guest wing and stopped at the door next to his where she would be staying. He wanted her close, not for any reason other than to make sure she was safe, he told himself. It was in case Atlanta showed up.

Lifting a shoulder, her brows rose. “It was interesting. I hate to admit it but the more fights I watched, the more I could not look away. Not that I enjoyed it. I detest violence, especially with animals.”

Thane rubbed the back of his neck. She would detesthimif she hated violence. “Well, um… sleep well, Katana.” He groaned. “I said ‘well’ twice.”

“Three times now,” she teased.

He half smiled. “Yeah. Goodnight. If you need anything, I’ll be right here.”

Still facing him, she reached back, opened the door and stepped onto the threshold and… waited. “Goodnight, Thane.”

His eyes fell to her lips and the sudden urge to kiss her was like a burning fire. “Katana,” he breathed, leaning forward and gripping each side of the doorframe.

It was lust, pure lust, and had absolutely nothing to do with love. He didn’t want love, but he wanted her. The intensity of the feeling sent his pulse racing. The breeze from the open window in her room trickled through the doorway, swirling with her scent all around him.

Her bright lavender eyes locked onto his and she took a small step inside the room, then another.

“Yes, Thane?”

As if he had no control, he found himself following her inside. “I—should let you get some sleep.”

“I am not tired. You can stay for a while, if you would like. We can… talk.” The lit candelabra on the bedside table was the only light in the room. The amber glow somehow enhanced her curves. The V-cut of her silk neckline showed off the roundness of her breasts.

“Yes, talk,” he whispered, eyes traveling to the large four-poster bed. He hurried to the only chair in the room and gripped the armrests.

Facing him, Katana leaned her back against the bedpost with one leg extended forward. It opened the slit in her dress to her upper thigh, almost where it creased at her hip. He didn’t remember it being that high before. While watching him, sheslowly began unwinding the small plaits in her braided hair. A few of the flowers she’d weaved in fell to the floor. Her fingers ran through her loose locks with a coy smile. Gods, he felt like he was going to catch fire at any moment. “Do you really think we have a chance?”

Thane gulped. “A chance?” Them? In a romantic way? He hadn’t thought past wanting to bed her, past the sounds she would make with him inside her or the way he’d make her moan in ecstasy. He didn’t want to think past that. Thinking about giving his heart away again made him want to vomit. Especially to her. He shouldn’t want her at all. He promised Valeen he wouldn’t hurt her, she was too good for him to do that, and right now, he couldn’t give her all of him.

“At convincing the dragons to join us. Even Ronan seems reluctant.”

“Oh, right, the dragons.” Thane took a deep breath. “I must convince them. I won’t leave until I do.”

“You do seem like the type to get what he wants.”

“Usually.”

She smiled and laid herself across the bed, propping herself up on her side. The position of her thighs, one crossed over the other, hiked her dress up even higher, exposing the side of her ass. Just like he thought, she had no underwear on.Shit.

Thane tore his gaze away, trying to find something else to focus on, but then he drifted right back to her. “Do you need a drink or anything?” He might have to get out of this room to catch some cool air. “Water perhaps?” He needed water, splashed in his face.

She propped herself up on her hand and draped the other over her waist. The V in her dress fell more to one side, and he was sure if she shifted a little, her nipple would show. She didn’t seem to notice or care. “No, but thank you. Unless you do.”