Page 49 of Of Wind and Terror

Blaze doesn’t look away from me when he responds to the elf. “Because it does.”

“Rude.”

“Speaking of annoying creatures…” Blaze’s eyebrows furrow. “Where is that pesky monster of yours?”

As if he can sense he’s being talked about, Runt’s head pops out of the nearest bag. His shrewd, intelligent eyes fix on Blaze, and I swear they narrow in challenge. The pacon has a piece of meat in his mouth, and he slurps it down while maintaining eye contact with the Fall Prince.

Blaze bares his teeth at my pet.

Runt simply grins wickedly, jumps out of the bag, and then climbs up my body, being sure to not accidentally prick me with his claws. He rests his furry head between my breasts and sighs in contentment.

Blaze scoffs. “Did anyone else see the glare that damn pacon threw me? I swear he’s out to get me.”

“Is someone turning paranoid in his old age?” Treyton teases as he uses a leather strap to tie the end of my braid.

“Fuck off,” Blaze snaps, his gaze traveling to my now braided hair. His scowl deepens. “You need to teach me how to do that.”

“Braid hair?” Treyton sounds genuinely confused, and I can’t say I blame him.

“Yes,” Blaze grunts.

“You…the fearsome Prince of the Fall Court…want to learn how to braid a female’s hair?” Treyton repeats slowly.

“Teach me.”

Aleksander lifts his hand in the air and waves it back and forth. “I’d like to learn as well.” He winks at me. “Need to be able to take care of my cherub.”

“I don’t think I will teach you two.” Treyton infuses his voice with forced cheer as he gives my shoulders a squeeze, indicating he’s done.

I go to move back to my own sleeping bag, but he stops me, holding me tight against him. I can feel the rigid muscles of his stomach against my back and the rapid pounding of his heart.

“You see, there’s no reason for you two to learn how to braid hair since I already know how. And I have no intention of leaving Kassie. Ever.”

Despite his jovial tone, I detect an undercurrent of darkness that’s impossible to ignore. A warning, a promise, and a threat all combined into one.

And from the looks of it, Blaze and Aleksander heard it as well.

Neither one seems happy.

19

ALEKSANDER

“Rise and shine, dearest,” I singsong, pressing my lips directly against Treyton’s ear.

For a prince who constantly has to be on guard and alert against any and all threats, he sleeps like the dead, tiny snores emitting from his parted lips.

When he doesn’t immediately stir, content to curl up around my mate, I heave out a breath and reach for my secret weapon.

It’s not coffee, but I’m pretty sure pacon shit is the next best thing.

“Wakey, wakey,” I say as I wave my hand back and forth over the bowl of shit I collected, hoping that the pungent scent will entice him from his bedroll.

He blinks groggily up at me.

And then jerks into a sitting position when he finds me straddling his waist with a happy grin on my face.

“What the—” Treyton begins, but I place my finger against my lips and then jerk my chin towards Kassandra, indicating for him to remain silent.

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