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“That’s cheating!” He laughs as I run into the cove first. The water hits like ice, making me shriek.

I plunge straight in, not realizing how deep it is. “It’s freezing!” I gasp, breaching the surface and trying to climb back out, laughing despite myself as Arlo splashes toward me.

“Nope, no you don’t?” he teases, seizing me around the waist and hauling me back to him.

“You’re awful.”

He grabs me, pulling me under with him.

I come up sputtering, shoving at his shoulders, but he’s laughing, the sound echoing against the cliffs in a way I haven’t heard in forever.

For a moment, it’s just us. Like when we were teens, sneaking off into the woods, being silly when we were supposed to be hunting for mushrooms. Before Claudia noticed how close we were becoming and put a stop to it.

His hands settle at my waist, and the laughter fades. The space between us shifts as he moves us, and I lean against the rocky side. His gaze drops to my lips, a devious smile tugging at his own.

“Arlo . . .”

“Ali,” he chuckles, dipping his head.

I should pull away, tell him no, but just this once, I want to know what it feels like to be truly wanted in a way that has nothing to do with the blood or power in my veins.

I want to be touched. His lips graze mine, his breath ghosts my lips when a voice makes me jump.

“Am I interrupting something?”

Everything freezes, and my head turns swiftly at the sound of his voice.

Kylian stands at the edge of the water above my head, his gaze fixed deliberately on the sea beyond the cove.

“Eagan has the entire Guard looking for you,” Kylian says, turning his gaze to Arlo. Arlo stares back unflinching, his face transforming from playful to hateful, making me swallow hard.

“She is perfectly safe with me,” Arlo snaps, his tone changing swiftly.

“That isn’t for you to decide,” Kylian replies calmly, despite feeling through the bond he is anything but calm. He wants to hurt him, and I can just make out the tips of his fangs. Kylian holds his hand out in my direction, yet his gaze remains on Arlo.

“Get out of the water, Alessia,” he says coldly.

Heat floods my face as I move instinctively, but Arlo’s grip on me tightens.

“You don’t have to go with him,” Arlo says.

“Now, Alessia!” Kylian scolds, like I’m a defiant child.

“It’s getting cold anyway,” I murmur, trying to cover myself as I take Kylian’s outstretched hand, knowing if I don’t, he may just lose his temper and hurt Arlo. Kylian’s grip is tight, and I have to bite back the urge to pull my hand from his.

“My clothes are over—” My words cut off when he jerks me out, making me slam into him. Kylian pulls his cloak off and drapes it over my shoulders.

“I don’t need to waste resources searching the entire island because you decided to disappear,” he adds.

Arlo climbs out and steps forward. “We weren’t hurting anyone.”

Kylian’s gaze snaps to him. “No,” he says evenly. “You were just ignoring direct orders. She knows she isn’t supposed to leave the castle grounds without Eagan or me.”

“I’m sorry. I forgot she was property and not a person with a mind of her own,” Arlo replies instantly, and I feel the last piece of Kylian’s control snap through the bond.

I step between them just barely as Kylian reaches for him. “Stop, please.”

Kylian’s eyes flick to me. “You should get dressed.” His gaze runs down the front of me, peeking through his open cloak, and his jaw clenches. I tug it closed when Arlo mutters something, stomping over to his clothes and pulling them on.