An idea flickers. A very bad one considering what rages around us. But it’s the only way.
“No.” Wilder shakes his head, pulling the idea straight from my thoughts.
“You need to recover, and that’s the quickest way to do it.”
“I’ll be fine without it.”
“Will you?”
He doesn’t answer, which is answer enough.
“Just…” I tilt my head back so it’s resting on the post behind me. I unlace the strings at the front of my tunic so it falls down my shoulder and bares my neck. “Drink. Your magic is the only thing strong enough to fight off the ravagers, and it won’t recover quickly enough without this.”
His throat tenses with his swallow, even as his teeth extend and sharpen. Wilder’s eyes are on my throat as his thumb grazes the side of my neck, and I shiver.
This shouldn’t feel right. Worse, I shouldn’t want it. But my back arches, and a slow growl rumbles in his chest. That sound is intoxicating. It doesn’t just make me want to offer him my magic. I want to hand him myself.
Humans in Alyssium spoke of the Fae as if they were wild creatures. Like the wolves that once roamed the woods at the edge of my village. Kind if you’re careful around them, but vicious the moment they sense any threat. Staring into Wilder’s liquid-gold eyes, I see what they’re talking about for the first time.
He fixes his gaze on me, and my heart races. But he holds back. One hand gripping my hip so hard it almost hurts, while his other hand braces the post overhead.
“I am not worth saving again, Elorie,” he warns.
“It doesn’t matter right now.”
“It should.” He shakes his head. “If you knew the truth, it would.”
I don’t doubt that. What I don’t know about Wilder wouldlikely terrify me. But, in this moment, I don’t care how horrible he is.
The battle has faded to a muted chorus of screams and clashing swords. At any second, this could turn. We could be surrounded like we were before. But all I see is him.
Hesitating.
“Is it your mate?” I ask him, swallowing hard. “Aurora.” A beautiful name. Fitting to stand beside a king. “Is she the reason you won’t do it?”
“My mate?” His gaze sharpens, and I nod. “Aurora isn’t my mate.”
“But the king said?—”
“Malachi assumes what he wants.”
“And you let him.”
Of course Wilder would want King Malachi to assume he had a mate on his throne in Vaelier. A false sense that his people are protected.
“You don’t have a mate then?” It shouldn’t be a relief, but the anger that twisted a knot in my stomach loosens.
Wilder cups my cheek in his hand, brushing his thumb over the three freckles on my cheek. His breathing deepens, and I swear it somehow matches the pace of mine. His eyes fall to my mouth, slowly scanning every inch of my face before he looks me dead in the eyes.
“Aurora is not my mate.” His mouth lowers, and I close my eyes.
Thinking, for a moment, they’ll land on mine. Foolishly allowing it to happen. But instead, they meet my throat. A single press of a kiss before he parts his lips and sinks his teeth into my flesh.
It burns. The bite of a snake that is instantly soothed with venom. Wilder’s hard body curls against mine, pinning me to the post as he seals his mouth and takes his firstswallow.
The rush that swims through my veins has my head instantly floating. His mouth is at my neck, but I feel him pulling fromeverywhere. My blood sings in response, magic rushing to meet the connection.
Reaching up, I dig my fingers into the back of his hair, tugging him closer. But he can’t get close enough.
