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“For me?” I ask, voice trembling.

I press my hands against the door to steady myself. A tremor passes through every muscle; it’s all I can do to stay upright.

“Of course,” he says.

Simple. As if that explains everything. He came for me, but why? I’m not special. I’m not like a Council member or something. It doesn’t make any sense that he would come for me.

“That doesn’t explain why,” I say.

“Mine,” he growls.

I gasp as my knees fail. I grab the bars barely fast enough to keep myself from collapsing onto the floor. The way he said that single word… a claim… a possessing… but more. My heart races so fast I’m light-headed. Muscles remembering their purpose and duty, I straighten but the spinning doesn’t quit.

“You don’t know me,” I say, shaking my head.

“I do,” he says. “I’ve always known you.”

My heart lurches. Stupid heart. What is wrong with me?

“What?” I ask, which is a stupid question.

A stupid word even. What? It’s clear what he thinks. Why did I ask that? I’m flabbergasted. Showing up here, at the absolute scariest and worst moment of my life out of nowhere and laying a claim on my heart and soul isn’t something that should be happening. What, is this some crazy ass Earth rom-com vid?

This is my life. My real, messy life—and it doesn’t work like those stupid Earth rom-com vids. No one comes charging in to save you, no matter how bad things get.

Sometimes, if you’re lucky, someone stands with you. Fights beside you. But not this. There’s no hero riding in on a white dragon. And besides, damn it, I’m no damsel in distress.

...Aren’t I?

If this isn’t distress, then what is? What plan do I even have to survive this? No. I’m not that girl. I won’t be. But somewhere deep—too deep—I feel it. That flicker. That dangerous, aching want. I like it.

The way he looks at me, like I matter. Like I’m worth crossing a battlefield for. It makes me feel… special.

It makes me feelseen.

And it leaves me flushed, trembling, shamefully wet.

“Tell me you don’t feelit,” he says, strangely emphasizing and dragging out the single syllable of it, giving the simple word an entirely new dimension.

“I…” I what? Don’t? That’s a lie. I do feel something. Is what I feel ‘it’ or is it something else? I don’t know… I need to steer this somewhere else. Somewhere that makes sense. “How did you get here?”

“Heh,” he huffs. “I tried to sneak in. I am not… good at that.”

“You think?” I snort and he laughs too. “But wait… you came alone?”

That doesn’t make sense.

“I did,” he says, speaking softly.

The Zmaj always patrolled in at least pairs. The entire time we’ve been here with the Cavern Zmaj I’ve never seen one of them go beyond the perimeter of their compound alone. Ever.

“You disobeyed orders,” I say, realization dawning.

“Yes.” There’s no hesitation, no shame. Only certainty. “I couldn’t wait any longer. The thought of you still here…” he growls. “I couldn’t leave you here, not knowing if you were okay.”

I swallow hard. The weight of his words presses into me, mingling with the lingering fear that never fully leaves in this city.

Before I respond, heavy footsteps echo down the corridor. I hear the Zmaj shifting as the boots of the Urr’ki guards approach. I pull myself up to peer through the window. The corridor is filled by six guards, blocking any other sight. I spy Z’leni among them. He looks over his shoulder as they line up at the Zmaj’s cell. He blinks but his eyes are colder than before. My stomach knots, goosepimples spread over my skin.