Page 138 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

“That’s part of it.” His gaze lingered on my mouth again before drifting back to my eyes.

“And the other part?” I pressed.

His fingers twitched on his knee, like he was fighting something inside himself. “Being forbidden to take what you really want.”

His words hung in the air like smoke, curling through my chest and twisting low in my stomach. My throat felt tight.

“What do you really want?” I whispered.

He moved closer, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him, the faint scent of leather and pine clinging to his skin. His gaze locked on mine, unwavering.

“Isn’t it obvious?” His voice was rough, almost ragged.

And then his lips touched mine.

Soft at first—tentative, like he was testing me, waiting for me to pull away. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. My breath hitched, and myeyes closed as his hand rose to cup the side of my face, his fingers threading through my hair.

The tension that had been building between us for weeks ignited like dragon fire. His lips moved over mine, slow and intentional, but there was nothing gentle about the way his other hand gripped my waist, pulling me closer.

I felt the warmth of his breath as he tilted his head, deepening the kiss. His fingers pressed into my side like he was afraid I might slip away. The world faded—the ache in my ribs, the burning questions in my mind, the chaos back at the castle—all of it drowned beneath the feeling of Zander’s mouth on mine.

When we finally broke apart, I could barely breathe. His forehead rested against mine, and his fingers lingered on my waist.

“This is a bad idea,” I whispered, my voice shaky.

“Probably,” Zander murmured. “But tell me you want me to stop.”

I couldn’t. So I didn’t.

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

Zander’s lips pressed harder against mine, and I felt myself falling—deeper, further—like I was tumbling into something I couldn’t control. His hands slid from my waist to my back, pulling me closer until there was nothing between us but heat and breath and the rapid thrum of my heart. My fingers dug into his shoulders, feeling the solid strength beneath the fabric of his tunic.

The kiss deepened, his tongue teasing the seam of my lips, coaxing them apart. I let him in, desperate for more. My body hummed like a live wire, energy snapping beneath my skin in sharp bursts. Every touch—his fingers at my waist, his hand tangling in my hair—sent fire rolling through me. I leaned into him, craving the warmth of his body, the safety of his arms.

He tasted like smoke and something sharper, something wild and untamed—like the storm that always seemed to live behind his eyes. I couldn’t breathe, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was this—the way he held me like I was something precious, somethinghis.

His hand skimmed down my side, fingers pressing into my hip, and heat pooled low in my stomach. His teeth grazed mylower lip, and a quiet sound escaped me—needy, desperate. I didn’t recognize it as my own.

“Zander,” I whispered, unsure if I was asking him to stop or to keep going.

He groaned against my mouth, fingers tightening at my waist as his lips found the hollow of my throat. My head tilted back, exposing more skin, and his breath scorched my pulse point. I knew this was dangerous—knew I should pull away before this spiraled out of control—but I couldn’t make myself let go.

And then, just as my fingers slid beneath the hem of his tunic, Zander broke the kiss.

His breath came hard and fast as he rested his forehead against mine, his fingers still curled against my side like he didn’t want to let go. “We should get back,” he murmured, voice rough and strained.

I swallowed hard, still dazed, still aching for the warmth of his mouth on mine. “Yeah... okay.”

Hein emerged from the tree line, shaking out his silver scales like he had all the time in the world. Zander stepped back, his eyes dark and unreadable as he walked toward his dragon. I followed, still tasting him on my lips, still feeling the imprint of his hands on my skin.

The flight back was quiet. I could feel the tension rolling off Zander in waves—his body taut, his jaw clenched. I wanted to say something, to fill the silence with anything other than the chaos spinning inside me—but I couldn’t find the words.

When Hein landed in the compound, I slid off the dragon’s back, grateful for solid ground beneath my feet. My heart still pounded like I’d run for miles.

“I’ll see you later,” Zander said, his voice distant, like he was forcing the words out.