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Kaz winced, looking suddenly pale. “I apologize for that,” he said, moving to stand behind his desk rather than sitting. “I took advantage of you in a situation neither of us chose. I assumed you would want nothing to do with a male you’d been forced to wed and bed.”

His words stunned me. I’d expected excuses, maybe even blame for seducing him . Not this... odd sense of honor.

“You didn’t take advantage,” I said evenly, plucking at an imaginary thread on my slacks. “I was a willing participant, if you recall.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Still. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” I said, the words feeling strange on my tongue. When was the last time anyone had apologized to me for anything? “I appreciate the consideration.”

His fingers twitched against the back of his chair, and I was thrown back into thoughts of those fingers on my body, inside me, making me come apart in ways I’d never experienced before. Heat flooded my cheeks, and I forced my attention back to safer territory.

“But that doesn’t change the fact that you’ve been avoiding your responsibilities,” I continued. “While you’ve been off playing mercenary, I’ve been at court ensuring our safety by diverting doubts and gossip.”

“Our safety was never in question,” Kaz said, frowning. “Adron got his heir to the throne.”

“A male heir who disappeared the moment the ceremony was complete,” I countered. “Do you have any idea how that looks? How vulnerable it leaves us both?”

He had the grace to look slightly chagrined at that. “I didn’t realize?—”

“Of course you didn’t. You’ve kept your clan away from those vipers while I nested with them,” I cut him off. I leaned forward, fixing him with a hard stare. “Have you made any progress finding Leona?”

It was clearly the wrong thing to ask. Whatever openness had been on Kaz’s face disappeared, replaced by a blank mask I recognized all too well from my own maneuverings.

“Some,” he admitted. “I received confirmation this morning that someone matching Leona’s description checked into a bed-and-breakfast near Niagara Falls with a human male.”

“A human?” That was unexpected. The Malum clan rarely associated with humans, let alone traveled with them. “You’re certain?”

The puzzle pieces scattered through my head.

Emil had been with my father just before our mating ceremony, discussing something in hushed tones.

Could the Malum clan be involved more than they let on?

Leona was, after all, from a branch of that clan.

Niagara Falls was a hop and a skip from Toronto, and Emil had a lake house a few hours north of the city…

But why? To what end?

Kaz hummed noncommittally. “I planned to teleport to New York City tonight. It’s the closest location I’m familiar with. From there, I can?—”

“That’s a waste of time,” I interrupted. “I can take us directly to Toronto and save several hours on the road.”

Kaz frowned. “You’re not coming with me.”

“I most certainly am.” I rose from my chair, matching his stance. “It’s clear you need me. Not just for teleportation, but for dealing with Leona when we find her. She knows me from court. She’ll be more likely to trust me than some ifrit she’s never met.”

“This isn’t the place for a princess,” Kaz argued. “If she’s been abducted, there could be danger. I’m not putting you at risk.”

“I’m not some delicate flower who needs protection,” I snapped. “I survived twenty-eight years with Javed as my brother. I think I can handle a human kidnapper.”

Kaz pretended to consider for just a moment, then leaned forward conspiratorially and shot a look toward the door. “Does your bodyguard go everywhere you go?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Yes, Griffin knows every move I make.”

“Great,” Kaz said, striding for the office door. “Then I’ll use him to jump to Toronto.”

Fury surged through me. I was on his heels in an instant and slammed my palm against the door before it could crack an inch. “You will not.”

Kaz whirled to face me. His eyes dropped to my lips for the briefest moment before snapping back to meet my gaze.

I smirked and planted a finger in the center of his chest, spiraling outward before lifting my eyes to watch him from under my lashes. “You could kiss me again if you bring me along.”

It was meant to be a taunt. Only a bluff. Leverage, not truth.

Then Kaz closed the distance, and the heat of his body radiated against mine. We stood there for a charged moment, breath mingling in the scant space between us. All it would take was the slightest lean forward, the smallest surrender to the need clawing at both of us.

His hand came up to cup my cheek, fingers tracing the curve of my jaw. “Is that what you want?”

No. Yes.

“What I want,” I swallowed the unsteadiness of my voice, “is to be treated as your mate, not an inconvenience to be left behind.”

His thumb brushed across my lower lip, eyes locked on the motion. “If I bring you,” he rumbled, “you follow my lead. My mission, my rules.”

“I can agree to that,” I said, and I had to fight not to lean into his touch. “Within reason.”

“No.” His hand slid to the back of my neck, fingers tangling in my hair. “You listen to whatever I tell you to do. Without question.”

The commanding edge in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. “And if I don’t?”

“Then you stay here,” he said simply. “And I take Griffin instead.”

I considered my options. I could argue further, assert my authority, perhaps even threaten to inform my father of his insubordination. But that would only escalate the conflict between us, at the detriment to the people we were meant to lead.

“Fine,” I conceded. “Your mission, your rules. But,” I added, pressing my palm flat against his chest, “I expect proper compensation for my cooperation.”

Kaz’s pupils dilated, the gold of his eyes nearly swallowed by black. “Meaning?”

I rose on my toes, bringing my mouth to his ear. “No running away before dawn next time.”

His grip tightened in my hair, and I felt the growl that rumbled through his chest. “Deal.”

The word was barely out of his mouth before his lips claimed mine, one arm wrapping around my waist to crush me against him. I melted into him, my hands finding their way to his shoulders, then his neck, then tangling in his hair as the kiss deepened.

His kiss was nothing like our first time together, when anger and frustration had fueled our passion. This was slower, more deliberate, an exploration rather than a battle. He tasted like smoke and desire, his tongue teasing mine as his body pressed me firmly against the door.

Madness. Absolute madness. I’d come here furious, determined to drag him back to court and force him to fulfill his duties.

But as his hands slid down my back and his thumb found the sliver of bare skin between my blouse and slacks, I couldn’t bring myself to care.

We could sort out the politics later. Right now, all that mattered was easing the ache that had plagued me since he’d left my bed.

Kaz broke the kiss first, his breathing ragged. “We should go,” he said, though he made no move to release me.

I nodded, stepping back to put some distance between us. “I’ll get Griffin. Meet me in the main room in five minutes.”

“Talia.” Kaz caught my wrist as I turned to leave. “Whatever we find, whatever happens... we present a united front. For both our sakes.”

The request surprised me. Not because it was unreasonable, but because it suggested he was thinking of us as a team, not just reluctant allies forced together by circumstance.

“United front,” I agreed. “But don’t mistake that for blind obedience.”

His lips quirked in what might have been a smile. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”