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Alora’s heart skipped a nervous beat. His leather and metal scent, mixed with a warm hint of vanilla and oak, was inviting.

He leaned close.

The corner of Garrik’s mouth twisted up, his fingers gliding against the warm skin of her thigh. Traveling up until he gently squeezed above her knee. His thumb traced idle circles against her skin. The other moved under her white hair until it settled on the back of her neck.

A warm pulse radiated between her legs. How this sinfully beautiful stranger could make her feel things she could never admit to herself was a mystery for another time. Her mind was lost within the silver of his eyes and the pulsing desire to feel his hand moving against her skin that carried a memory from not long ago—a memory of his tent. In his bed.

She pleaded to every Celestial that he couldn’t discern how her aching body was reacting to his touch as he pressed his against the crease between her closed knees.

Garrik leaned forward, eyes locking onto hers as if nothing else in the world mattered until his lips brushed against her jawline. Gracefully descending along the curve. Icy breath traveled across her, and the pressure at her knees pushed a little harder.

Alora parted her lips with a sharp breath. Then angled her head, causing his lips to brush her chin as her traitorous legs drifted apart until his body was poised between. She feltthe hand against her neck trace down her spine to the table, brushing against her outer thigh.

Until it steadily backed away.

Garrik’s lips … they were inches away.

Those sinful lips feathered across hers, driving her to the edge of insanity.

“Good girl,” Garrik breathed.

The sound of his voice could have sent her into the next realm if it wasn’t for the shriek of pain from her lips as Garrik tightly pressed the wet cloth against her wound. She leaned back on her palms until her nails scratched rivets into the wooden tabletop and curled her toes.

His palm clasped her shoulder, careful to keep her from writhing in pain. “Consider us even, clever girl.” With a smirk, he pulled the bloodied cloth away and tossed it to the dirt.

“Bastard!” Alora shoved his chest hard and backed it up with a swift kick to his thigh.

He stumbled out between her legs and adjusted his tunic.

“I hate you.” She hissed with gritted teeth and a sharp breath.

“I know.” The smirk on his face was more menacing than usual and accompanied by an amused laugh.

Alora pressed her lips tight as he prepared another cloth and reached to her wound. His wrist was instantly caught in a scorching, embered hold.

“I’d say you made things even when you had Jade nearly kill me today,” she accused.

Garrik’s hand enveloped hers and pulled it away.

She sucked in a swift breath as he wiped bubbling blood from the wound. Its sting significantly lessened this time. “She’ll never forgive me, you know. I’m at the top of her hate list.”

The High Prince wetted another cloth from a green bottle. Its contents ran yellow on the fabric. “I assure you, there are othersmuch more worthy of her hatred than you. Her father being one. And the entire male race is a close second.”

Alora looked away anticipating the incoming sting. “Excluding you and the others, of course?” Her voice rasped as he rubbed the cloth again over the gash. A numbing sensation crawled across it and irritated the skin.

“I am irresistible. Nobody could hate me.”

Alora rolled her eyes. “Okay, Your Royal Highn-ass.”

Garrik chuckled once more. “The five of us have bonds only family hold. Jade and I share similarities with our childhood. Her father and Magnelis are…” He paused. “He would be dead if I found myself in her realm. He and all the rest of the males on that starsdamned piece of dirt.”

“Why?” Alora pinched her eyebrows.

“It is not my story to tell. Be patient with her. Just as you would wish me to be patient with you. In time, she will defend you as one of her own, as one of us.”

“Defend me? Yeah. Right. I’ll fly on wings of fire the day that happens. Jade wants to kill me. Why did you give her that chance?”

“I have seen you attack when angry and scared. You needed to be reminded of that. You are powerful, Alora, once you get out of your head. Jade needs to release her rage or she will become reckless. She is so loyal that it is her greatest weakness. If I am there, I can stop her before her anger escalates. You were never in any real danger.” He pointed to the hole in her leather armor behind them. “That would have gone through you.”