Page 41 of Of Wind and Terror

Sometimes, it’s hard to remember that Blaze is technically engaged to Treyton’s little sister—and my friend—Serena. I don’t like to think about the two of them together.

Blaze’s eyes frost over and harden. “I ended that engagement a long time ago.”

“Did you now?” Treyton lifts an eyebrow and then focuses on Blaze’s hand. Or, more specifically, the metal band resting on his finger.

A marriage band.

Blaze curses savagely and immediately removes the ring, but Treyton just chuckles and continues walking, guiding me along with him. He only pauses when we turn the corner and Blaze and Aleksander disappear from view.

Treyton tugs me into a tiny alcove and presses me against the wall. He bears down on me, his expression unreadable, his eyes like liquid mercury. I wait for the familiar tendrils of anxiety to grab ahold of me, but they never come.

“Kassie…” Treyton gingerly grabs a strand of my hair that escaped its ponytail prison and holds it in front of his face, studying it like one would a piece of fine silk you yearned to purchase. “We need to talk.”

16

TREYTON

It took me an entire night and day of nonstop riding to arrive here. My thighs burn, my throat is parched, and there are a dozen knots in my back that refuse to loosen.

Cayetana and some of my most trusted soldiers are a day or two behind, having chosen to take the carriages. Cayetana wasn’t happy that I decided to head into enemy territory on my own, but she didn’t dare stop me.

No one did.

It’d be suicide to get between a fae and his mate.

Mate.

My mate.

I take a moment to study Kassandra’s features, though I already have them memorized. They’ve featured prominently in my dreams since the first moment I saw her.

I inhale her citrus scent and allow the foreign feeling of contentment to cascade through me. Being in her presence after all this time… It’s like coming home. All I want to do is pull her into my arms and never let her escape. Not again.

And yet…

There’s so much I still need to know.

Where’s Calan? Why is she here? What the fuck happened?

And who is the elf that’s with them?

I can’t remember the last time I saw an elf in fae lands. Years ago, I think, when I was just a boy.

And why was that elf staring at my Kassie in such a possessive way? Like he owned her?

An uneasy feeling travels through me.

Kassie stares up at me in wonder, her perfect pink lips parted just slightly.

Her hands lift so she can sign. “You came for me.”

I’m not sure if she means those words as a statement or a question, but I take it as the latter and answer accordingly. “Always.”

Her breath hitches, and a rosy flush unfurls in her cheeks. The enticing red looks striking against her golden curls.

“Why?”

I take a step closer until my chest brushes against hers. “Because we belong together.”

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