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She shrugged one shoulder. “Sounded that way.”

“Well.” I stomped to a wash basin. One palm on the spout, the familiar burn in my blood summoned a burst of cool water, forceful enough it slashed over the brim of the basin. I filled anotherdrinking horn and tossed it back. With a gasp, I slammed it onto the edge of the counter. “I think you will make my brother quite happy.”

“Is there a reason he wouldn’t makemehappy?”

“All the happiness and best wishes to the future king and queen.”

I raised the empty horn in a mocking salute, turning my back on her again. I had no claim on the woman, no reason to desire claim, and there were more pressing matters than to concern myself with who was in Destin’s bed.

Adira let out a groan of frustration and stormed to my side. There was no time to move before her small palm shoved against my arm. “You are absolutely infuriating. Say what you want to say. Quit grunting and be honest.”

Those vibrant eyes were like a light in a storm, and I was drawn into it like a river pulled off course. The urge to touch her grew too potent, too irresistible. I slid one hand down the length of her arm, gripping her wrist and pulling her against my chest.

Adira drew in a sharp breath. All skies, the feel of her curves in my grasp was stunning. Like a piece of my own body I’d not realized was absent.

With one knuckle, I tipped her chin, forcing her to hold my stare. From the moment I’d placed eyes on the wild Blood Sacrifice, she was familiar. A jolt to a past I did not know.

She was like . . . coming home. Safe. Warm.

Mine.

“Kage.” My name fell off her lips heady with desire. “What are you doing?”

I tilted my face closer. “You burn like a wildfire; I see it. Do not let anyone douse that flame. It would be the greatest of tragedies. My brother is a good man, he is just and stalwart, but he does not revel in chaos—he will take your fire and place it neatly in the hearth, where it will burn, but never blaze.”

My thumb brushed over her chin. She curled her hands around my top.

“I saw something the night I touched the Ravenwood arm ring.” Adira tugged me closer, our brows pressed together. “It was me, amemory, and I was . . . with someone. I knew I loved him. I-I called him a prince.”

My stomach dropped. True, I was a prince through marriage, but Destin was the true prince. “What if it was Destin?”

Adira blinked her gaze to mine. “Then why can I not stop thinking of you?”

One heartbeat, one breath, and I claimed her mouth with a passionate tug on the back of her head. I kissed her, deeper and deeper, like I might never let her go. I parted my lips; teeth and tongues collided as desire grew.

She tasted like wild honey.

Her arms curled around my neck, urging me closer. Our bodies fumbled together until her back struck the wall.

Whatever spell had ensnared me, I never wished to be set free. Never had I felt such a delirious sort of need at a woman’s touch. Madness—brilliant, intoxicating madness—robbed me of all thought until all that was left was Adira’s body against mine.

With slow steps, I walked her toward the door.

“Where are we going?” she asked, breathless.

One palm curled around hers, I rushed outside toward one of the supply huts. Small, but clean enough. Linens, furs, and bedding were tucked amongst soap pearls for cleaning my sleeping parents, and herbs made the air breathe savory and sweet in one.

I pinned Adira’s back to the door once I’d closed it behind us. “Forgive me, but my parents were in the next room. Sleeping or not, I’d rather they never know what I plan to do to you.”

Her freckled cheeks flushed a deep pink, her body trembled, but her gaze darkened, watching me as I slowly lowered to my knees.

CHAPTER 24

Adira

Kage’s fingertipsflitted across my waist as he sank to the ground. With a dark sort of challenge in his eyes, he bid me to sit on a stack of furs I’d not noticed before. Like a plush cushion, the furs offered a soft place to remain steady in front of him.

“Don’t think this means I don’t think you’re still the most aggravating man.”