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“What was me?”

Adira’s eyes were pink and swollen. She smiled through the tears. “You were supposed to come bring me home.”

“How do you know?”

“A woman was there, she was confused. She saidhewas supposed to be here, but something must’ve gone wrong.”

“The degeneration.” I dug the heel of my hand against my skull when it pounded and ached. The battle against my memories wasthere, but it felt . . . weaker. The Well must’ve cleared some of the darkness. “I’d forgotten.”

“Do you still have missing moments?” Adira’s eyes were wet with tears.

I nodded. “I saw a great deal, but some remained shadowed like?—”

“We were only shown faces and moments that reminded us of our abilities?” Adira interrupted. “It is the same for me. Like I could only see part of a memory, like there were people there I was not permitted to recall, only how we became to be and how we arrived to the sacrifice.”

Moments ofus.

I cleared my throat. “The degeneration must’ve been caused by dark mages after you left. That time is still lost to me.”

Her palm tilted my face back to her. “We will find out the truth, Kage. All that matters to me right now is I finally know why my heart sings when you are near. I know why Gaina must’ve sent me to you, she felt it as well. Iremembermy magic.”

Memories of her kiss, her taste, our bodies entangled many times, flooded my mind. So clear, so perfect. I helped her to her feet, then gripped her jaw, drawing her mouth close. “I need you. It has been far too long without your skin against mine.”

Adira drew in a sharp breath, but did not hesitate. She was the first of us to run for the door leading away from the Well of Urd.

The journey back to my tower was laden in reckless steps, too much muffled laughter, and before we fumbled over the lip of the back tower stoop, I paused to press her against the wall and claim her mouth.

Her body arched into mine, her fingers tugged at my belt.

“Woman,” I said, voice rough. “Not here.”

Adira flashed a wicked sort of grin—she knew just what she was doing to me. Fingers laced together we took extra care when we reached the upper levels. Guards would be returned to the main door, but there was more than one way into my chambers.

Before I lifted the latch to the guest rooms, I pinched her chinbetween my thumb and finger. “Do not wake them, whatever you do.”

“I will douse them with sleeping elixirs. Now hurry your pace.”

Asger had flipped onto his stomach now, and Gwyn drifted to him rather than Cy, curling her body around one of his arms.

Adira paused, her gaze on Cyland. “Should we tell him when he wakes?”

I shook my head. “We’ll take them to the Well. Perhaps it will help them remember the past like us. To simply tell him, I think it would be rather unsettling if he does not have the memories.”

Adira nodded in agreement and quietly followed me to my bedchamber. The moment the door was closed, she used her slight body and pinned my back to the wall, roving her hands down my stomach.

A deep, guttural sound lifted from my chest when her fingertips teased the top of my belt.

I tugged on the back of her neck, drawing her closer. “I’ve waited so long for you.”

“There is no more waiting.” Adira grinned against my mouth when the clasp to my belt clinked and hung open. Her cruel fingers slid beneath the waist of my trousers, tracing every line, every indent of the muscles leading to my cock.

I wouldn’t survive the night. No mistake, my lost Wildling had unraveled every thread of my being kiss by kiss.

Adira’s sly fingers curled around my shaft, stroking until I could not draw a breath. Heady want burned in her eyes as she dragged her thumb over the smooth skin and explored from root to tip.

“Adira.” Her thumb brushed over the sensitive crown and I had to brace on the wall when my legs threatened to give out. “Dammit.” I gripped the roots of her hair, trying to find purchase to keep upright. “I’m going to come in your hand if you’re not careful.”

“I don’t see the problem.”