Page 63 of A Court of Wings and Shadows

Remy stood off to the side, arms crossed, his expression carefully guarded. “She gave you her blood,” he said flatly. “And it healed you.”

Zander inhaled deeply, his chest rising with strength that hadn’t been there minutes ago. “Are we talking afullblood bond?”

Remy shook his head. “Not unless you give heryours.” His eyes cut to me briefly, something unreadable behind them. “But I wouldn’t recommend it.”

I looked between them, confused and suddenly aware of how little I knew about what I’d just done. “What… is a blood bond?”

Cordelle stepped forward, brushing damp curls from his face, his voice cautious. “I read about it. But only full fae are supposed to be able to create one, or so the lore books say.”

“In theory,” Remy added, still watching Zander too closely.

“But what does it do?” I asked.

“It links two people,” Cordelle explained, his tone solemn now. “For life. If one dies… soon, so does the other. The Blood Fae use it on the hatchlings, which is why they die if we kill their dragons.”

I stared at my hand, still smeared with drying blood, and then down at Zander’s shoulder—no wound. No pain. Just… a connection thrumming faintly through the air, like the ghost of a heartbeat between us.

“I won’t be taking Zander’s blood,” I said firmly.

Zander pushed himself up slowly, muscles trembling from exertion. “Still,” he murmured, “can we have a minute?”

Remy’s jaw twitched.

But he didn’t argue.

He nodded once, sharp and stiff, and turned away with the others, herding them back toward the dragons.

Leaving Zander and me alone on the sand, the sea wind curling between us like breath.

Zander’s fingers brushed my cheek with a gentleness I didn’t expect from someone who’d just nearly died.

“Thank you for saving me,” he said, his voice still rough, but steadier now.

“You saved me first,” I replied, my throat tight. “So I suppose we’re even.”

He gave the faintest smile, something tired but real. I glanced past him, and sure enough, Remy stood a few paces away, arms crossed and eyes locked on us like he was calculating the fastest way to insert himself between us.

I looked back at Zander. “I felt something… when I healed you. Just for a moment. It was like you were…reachingfor me.”

He sighed, rubbing his thumb across the back of my hand where his fingers had curled over mine. “I have no idea what happened. One second, I was hit and in pain, then I was falling. I hit the water, and then Kaelith grabbed me. She pulled me out before I sank too deep.” He looked down, his expression shadowed. “I think I passed out after that.”

“I’m sure you did. The hole in your shoulder was the size of a cantaloupe.”

He turned his hand and gently threaded his fingers through mine, palm to palm. “If there are any side effects,” he said, voice low, “we’ll figure them out. Together.”

Before I could answer, he leaned forward. Slowly. Like he was giving me every chance to pull away.

I didn’t.

His lips brushed mine, warm, tentative, and grounding. Like he was tasting the edge of something dangerous and sacred all at once.

And right as the kiss deepened, a voice broke the moment.

“Fuck.” Remy’s growl cut through the air like a blade.

Zander didn’t pull away.

Not immediately.