The Glass Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #2) - Gena Showalter Page 0,137

the rightness of our connection.

This...this was everything.

We were worth fighting for.

I had been Craven’s obsession and for a time, I’d been Tyron’s joy.

The name whispered through my head, a facet of the past opening up to my mind. My memory, not Leonora’s. Tyron Skylair, king of the avian, had been ill prepared for Leonora the day she’d strolled into his palace to speak with “the love of her lives.” On a rare few occasions, I’d managed to overtake the phantom—because she hadn’t killed me in either of my other lives; I’d been confined to the void.

Big surprise. The evil stepmother had lied.

The times I’d managed to break free, I’d sensed great sadness in Tyron, as if he’d lost something precious, but he wasn’t sure what that something was. I’d loved to play games with him, to make him laugh. And I had.

He’d kept me around longer than he should have because he’d loved our games, too.

Was I to be Saxon’s peace?

Would I also be his torment?

Two hearts, one head. I had the heart of Cinder in my chest. Did I carry Saxon’s heart in my hands, the way he carried mine?

Strong of heart.

Could love be the answer to Leonora’s hate? At the very least, it gave me hope.

I experienced the first stirrings of...what was that? Bliss? “What of Leonora?” Wait. Equally important... “What of Milo?”

He lowered his clasp to my jaw and ghosted his thumbs over the underside of my cheekbones. “Leonora is currently caged inside your head. It’s a temporary fix. When she regains the power she used to heal you, she’ll be able to fight her way free. I don’t know when that will be. Milo isn’t a concern. He won’t win the tournament.”

I began to shake—oh wow, no. He shook, the vibrations rushing through me. Shock. Saxon Skylair, future king of the avian, was shaking because of the Glass Princess.

On the battlefield, his aim had remained steady, no matter the skill or size of his opposition. But here, with me, he’d reached his breaking point?

“It’s just you and me right now?” I asked, suddenly breathless.

“It is.”

Then I would waste no time. “I want to be with you, Saxon.” I offered the words boldly. “I want to do everything with you.”

He searched my gaze, his own flaring with hunger. “You are sure?”

I nodded without hesitation. I’d never been more sure about anything.

“Do you crave my kisses, Asha?” he asked.

“More than anything.” I wound my arms around his shoulders.

He nipped at my lips. “This everything you mentioned?”

“Y-yes?”

“I’m going to give it to you.” Without looking away from me, he called, “I’m taking your mother inside. Unless you want to see your parents naked, you’ll stay out here.”

I laughed as the dragons squawked in horror. But my amusement only lasted a moment. Saxon brought his lips to mine, and I forgot everything else.

We kissed, ravenous, devouring each other. He cupped my bottom and lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, my dress hem hiking up in the process.

He walked me backward, past the doors, the kiss continuing. The most amazing sensations poured through me. Heat in my veins. Delicious aches here, there, everywhere. Flutters in my belly. Tingles. So many tingles.

He eased me upon the pallet of furs, his weight settling over me. “If I do something you do not like, tell me to stop. If I move too swiftly, tell me to slow down. Your word is my command. Understand?”

I struggled to keep my mind on his speech, my focus remaining on his mouth. I wanted it on me again, his tongue dancing with mine. His minty taste was my drug.

Feeling as if I were in a trance, I nipped at his bottom lip. “I think we’re overdressed. I want to see you. Let’s wear the same outfit to the party.”

“Skin?” His eyes hooded. As he kissed me again, he pulled at my clothes. I pulled at his, too.

Soon, no garments separated us. I’d never revealed my body to a boy. I expected nervousness to flare, maybe a little shyness. As he looked me over, I experienced neither of those things. The most delicious feminine power uncoiled. He didn’t just study me. He worshipped me.

The most powerful warrior in all the land wasn’t just shaking now. He was quaking before me.

“You are beyond exquisite, and you are all mine.” He sifted my ring between his fingers, brushing his thumb over the metal. “I’m glad you have this.”

A pang rent my chest. “I’m glad I have you.”

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