Page 157 of Feralheart

Unless they’d all died and this was still part of the latest test. Was such a thing possible?

Fen got up and went to Aristus, returning to kneel in front of me, dropping a small pack between us. While I settled on the ground because getting up felt like it would take more effort than I possessed, he opened the bag and pulled out a jar of salve. He unscrewed the top and tossed it aside. His finger dipped in and he leaned close, his finger extended…

“What are you doing?” I scrambled backward so fast my boot caught on a root or a rock, and I went down on my ass.

“I’m going to take care of your wound.” He didn’t move closer, but his expression had changed from the careful prince mask to something more aware. “Unless you’d prefer to do it yourself.”

“Obviously I’d prefer that.”

“Then why aren’t you?” He held up the jar. “Your hands are shaking too badly to do it, that’s why.”

“Alright.” I held out my arm, keeping my eyes on Selira instead of his face. “But make it quick.”

My skin felt too tight, like I’d grown another size in the last three seconds. I was hyperaware of the calluses on his finger, the warmth radiating from his body, and how my breathing had gone uneven. This was ridiculous. He was treating my wounds.

Except…he wanted me.

That changed everything.

“I’ll be thorough.” When his finger touched my arm, I flinched, though it didn’t hurt. He was being gentle.

His brow creased, the same expression he’d worn when working on Aristus last night. Taking care of someone mattered to him in a way I hadn’t expected. He treated my wound like it was important. Like I was important.

I bit down hard on my tongue to hold myself together.

“That’s going to make this difficult,” he said softly.

“What in particular, because I can think of more than one thing?”

“You flinching every time I touch you.”

“I’m not⁠—”

His finger moved to the other wound I hadn’t noticed, this one on my other wrist.

I locked every muscle to keep from pulling away. “See? Not flinching.”

“You’re holding your breath.”

Leave it to him to notice. “Just finish.”

I knew why I felt so bristly.

He wanted me. I kept repeating it in my mind, but the words didn’t line up. How could he when I was commons and he was the crown prince?

I felt too raw and exposed from what the magic had shown us.

He dabbed at one spot after another. His fingers found a graze on my temple. He worked the salve in carefully, his other hand steadying my jaw. Too close. His sweet breath drifted across my cheek. I could count his eyelashes from here if I was stupid enough to look up.

“It… It can’t mean anything,” I said, my voice coming out much too wispy. I wasn’t angry at him. I was angry that someone caring about me felt dangerous. I wanted to let him close but couldn’t afford to. Everything he did made me want more and more. And wanting anything from an elite had only ever ended in pain.

“Or maybe it could.” His lips curled up on one side.

Was he actually enjoying this?

Selira nudged Aristus, her snout gentle against his neck. Aristus nuzzled back, coiling his neck around hers.

Our dragons were courting.