Page 44 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

And why did it feel like her silence had been the real test?

A test I hadn’t passed.

Only survived.

Teren and I stood beneath the pale stretch of late morning sky, just beyond the main cluster of riders. The tension in mychest had only barely loosened since the trial, but somehow, his presence helped. There was something about his easy grin and the way he always seemed like he had a joke tucked behind his teeth that made everything feel a little less sharp.

“Are you always this serious?” he teased, nudging me with his elbow. “Or is it just a special talent when I’m around?”

I rolled my eyes. “Only when I’m fresh from almost drowning and being ghosted by my own dragon.”

Teren winced. “That’s a rough morning.”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

He grinned. “Well, I hear drowning is character-building. Builds lung capacity and trauma.”

I snorted and shook my head. “You’re the worst.”

He looked entirely too proud of himself. “You laughed.”

I glanced toward the training rings and caught sight of Zander speaking with Cade. They stood apart from the others, Zander’s arms crossed as Cade gestured through whatever quiet argument they were having. But it wasn’t Zander’s attention that crawled down my spine like a whisper.

It was Remy.

He stood with Warborn, arms folded across his chest, staring at me like I’d become his favorite war tactic to analyze. His expression unreadable, but intense. Focused.

Too focused.

Teren followed my gaze and hummed. “You’ve got an admirer.”

“He’s my ex-fiancé,” I muttered.

Teren whistled. “He let you go? What an idiot.”

A slow smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “Just so you know… Remy can read lips.”

Teren’s eyes lit with pure mischief. “In that case…”

He shifted just enough so Remy had a perfect view, then turned his face directly toward him and whispered, “You’re a fucking idiot.”

I pressed my lips together, trying so hard not to laugh.

“You’re playing with fire,” I warned under my breath.

Teren leaned in, eyes glittering. “No, this is playing with fire.”

He kissed my cheek, slow and warm, then slid his arm around my shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Your friend is coming.”

I blinked at him. “Naia?”

“She’s on her way back.”

My breath left me in a quiet rush of relief. I nodded, letting myself lean just slightly into Teren’s side. “How do you know?”

“I asked Lurik, to inquire.”