Page 36 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

Theron stared at him a moment longer, shaking with the effort of restraint. Then he turned his head and spat the words like venom.

“Take your commonerwhoreand go.”

My body stiffened, hand twitching toward my dagger, but Remy beat me to the response.

Without a word, he turned to me, placed a steadying hand on the small of my back, and guided me toward the door.

He didn’t look back.

Neither did I.

Because we both knew?—

Theron had just made a powerful mistake.

The corridor was dim, lit only by a few wall sconces casting flickering gold across the stone. My boots echoed softly as we walked in silence, until Remy suddenly reached for my arm, stopping me with more hesitation than strength.

“I’m sorry about the report,” he said, voice low, regret bleeding through every word. “I should’ve left you out of it.”

I grunted, not looking at him. “Likethat’sthe worst part.”

His hand rose slowly, and his fingers brushed my cheek. Light. Familiar. Too familiar.

Just like the day he left me.

My breath caught. I stared at him, at the softness in his eyes, the ache in his touch, and Ialmostleaned in.

Almost.

Until a voice, as sharp as a blade drawn across stone, cut through the hallway.

“What thefuckis going on?”

Zander’s boots hit the stone hard as he stalked toward us, eyes locked on Remy, fire already building behind his expression.

Remy turned slowly, jaw tightening, but his hand didn’t leave my face. For a second, I thought he might actually draw steel.

He didn’t.

“Your dearbrother,” Remy said with venom-laced sweetness, “wishes to remove Ashlyn from the Fourth Guild because she hasn’t bonded yet.”

Zander’s growl was instant. “Over my dead body.”

Remy arched a brow, as calm as ever. “Is that an offer?”

Zander’s eyes darkened, the deep-black of storm clouds brewing.

“I’d happily take our differences out in the ring,” he said, voice low and dangerous, “but let’s make it somewhere withoutprying eyes. Perhaps a Blackbind meeting would be more appropriate?”

Remy’s smile curled, sharp and satisfied. “I would like that, Prince Rayne.”

I stepped between them before they could rip each other apart. “Let me save you both a lot of trouble.”

They paused.

“You both have big dicks,” I said flatly. “You’re both good in a fight. And if one of you kills the other, I will kill the victor or die trying.”

That shut them up.