Page 81 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

“Why?” His throat works on a swallow. “Just tell me what possessed you to sneak out, tack up an alicorn, and risk your life. What’s so important to you?”

I angle my head away and study the ground. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.” He cups my jaw and brings it back so he can look me in the eye.

“People are depending on me.” I squeeze my eyes shut, a lump forming in my throat at the thought of so many people without food. “I help with a food pantry, and I got a letter today. There was a fire, and,” when I open my eyes, the fury on his face has faded, “they need my help.”

I leave out the part about the book. An explanation for that would take too long, and this is a longshot anyway. If Thorne mocked me over how far-fetched my hope is that the book will lead me to Leesa, I might actually get arrested for kicking an instructor’s balls into his throat.

Several seconds pass as Thorne says nothing.

I clear my throat. “You were right. It’s a reckless plan, but I can’t let those children…any of those people…go hungry.”

Still silent, he releases me and motions toward Zephyr.

Is he mocking me? “I don’t understand.”

“I’ve done some shitty things in my life.” He works the muscle in his jaw. “But I’m not going to add to that list tonight. Get on.”

My own jaw drops. “Really? You’re…going to help me?”

He rolls his eyes. “Don’t sound so shocked, Duchess. Who am I to deny hungry children food? Besides, you can make up for missing your lesson this morning.” He motions toward Zephyr again. “Now get on. We don’t have all night.”

Amazed at the outcome of this conversation, I put my left boot in the stirrup and swing my right leg over the saddle. Before I can get comfortable, he vaults onto Zephyr behind me.

I sit up straight, trying not to wiggle as his hard body presses up against me. “What should I hold onto?”

“Either Zephyr’s mane or the pommel.” He reaches around me and picks up the reins, encircling my waist with his other arm. “Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall.”

“For some reason, I’m not so sure about that.” The words spill from my lips before I can stop them.

He’s actually helping you, and you just keep baiting him. Perfect.

“You wound me.”

I snort. Although I can’t see his face, I can practically hear his smirk. “Please.”

With a soft chuckle, Thorne nudges Zephyr into a brisk walk. “Ready?”

“I am.” I suck in a breath, nerves fluttering in my belly like tiny butterflies. “And I promise to behave. For the rest of the night, at least.”

With that, Zephyr’s off, rising off the ground with a powerful flap of his silvery wings. My stomach dips as we rise higher and higher, and I squeeze Thorne’s arm like my life depends on it.

He tightens his grip on my waist. “If you wanted to hold my hand so badly, why didn’t you just say so?”

I release a shaky laugh. “You wish.” This man is full of contradictions, riling me up one minute and putting me at ease the next.

“You can relax, you know. If you sit that stiff the whole time, you’re going to have quite the backache later.”

Funny. Now that he mentions it, I notice my back already hurts a little. The pain feels less like muscle soreness and more like sharp tingling near my shoulder blades, as if I’m being stabbed by a hundred tiny needles.

I roll my shoulders, hoping the movement will banish the unpleasant sensation. Pain is the only reason I let my back melt into his chest and allow his warmth to seep through my cloak. I definitely, one hundred percent, absolutely do not use my flight instructor as a personal pillow because Iwantto be closer to him.

That’s the story I tell myself, anyway.

“Isn’t that better?”

“Mm-hmm.”

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