Page 40 of Her Manticore Master

"I know."

"Valdris—"

"I don't care."

The words are barely audible, but they shatter what remains of my control. My thumb traces across her pulse point, feeling how it races beneath fragile skin.

"Corrina."

"Yes?"

I'm going to kiss her. Despite every reason why it's a terrible idea, despite the consequences we'll both face, I'm going to claim those soft lips and damn the world.

Then footsteps echo through the corridor outside, and reality crashes back like ice water.

I release her so quickly she stumbles, putting as much distance as possible between us. By the time the guard appearsat our cell door, we're on opposite sides of the cramped space, both breathing hard.

"Everything alright in here?" Thane asks suspiciously.

"Perfect," I manage, my voice rougher than usual.

He studies us for a moment longer, then shrugs and continues his patrol. When his footsteps fade, the silence stretches between us like a chasm.

"That was..." Corrina begins.

"A mistake."

"Yes."

"It won't happen again."

"No."

But even as we make these promises, I can see the truth in her eyes. Feel the way the air still crackles between us like the aftermath of lightning.

We're playing with fire, and sooner or later, we're both going to get burned.

16

CORRINA

The cell is a cage of stone and shadow, the air thick with the tension of our almost-kiss, crackling like a storm about to break. I pace the cramped space, my silk skirts hissing against the rough floor, while Ronan slouches against the wall, his steel-blue eyes tracking me with a predator’s lazy intensity.

“Stop staring at me,” I snap, my voice sharp enough to slice through the damp air.

“Stop giving me something to stare at,” he drawls, the words dripping with challenge, stoking the fire in my chest.

“I’m not doing anything.”

“You’re prowling like a caged leopard, all fury and restless heat. It’s distracting.”

“Maybe because I am caged.”

“So am I.”

I whirl to face him, silks flaring, my hands fisted at my sides. “Then why are you so damn calm about it?”

“Who says I’m calm?” His voice drops to a low growl, sending a shiver straight to my core.