Page 71 of Crown of Slumber

He laughed, cutting off my words. “Your father ensured nothing. Do you know what he promised me? He promised me yourdragons.He offered a fae bargain, swearing that if you did not grant access to my dragons within five years, then you would be married to me.”

My blood turned cold, and my heart dropped to my stomach like a stone in the river.Oh gods, no.I would have called Tyrone a liar, but I knew he spoke the truth.

Father, what have you done?

Horror and rage mingled within me, but I couldn’t find the strength to utter a single response. Tyrone smirked at me, his face full of triumph.

He’d won. Because he knew I would never surrender my dragons. Not to him.

“Pardon me,” said a voice in my ear.

Our dance halted, and I turned to find Fenn standing next to us, his eyebrows raised. “May I steal my beloved from you?”

Tyrone opened his mouth, but before he could respond, Fenn slid between us, easily shifting my arms and gliding me forward to continue our waltz. My steps continued seamlessly, and we spun around the dance floor, leaving Tyrone staring after us.

I was torn between bewilderment and amusement. “Fenn, what the hell are you doing?” I asked through gritted teeth.

He leaned in close, his lips tickling my ear. “You two were making a scene.”

My mouth went dry as I cast a quick look around the ballroom. Sure enough, the guests were glancing between me and Tyrone, who was storming off the dance floor, fuming.

Burning suns. Fenn was right. I hadn’t been paying any attention to the witnesses of my conversation with Tyrone.

“How bad is it?” I whispered.

He grimaced, then leaned close to murmur in my ear, “Everyone saw you, Tyrone, and Callan return from the balcony. Judging by the rumors I’ve already heard floating around, it isn’t hard to guess what happened.”

My eyes closed briefly. “Shit. This is such a disaster.”

“I can fix this. But you’ll need to play along.”

I opened my eyes to glare at him in suspicion. “Fix it how?”

“Do you trust me?”

I stared into his earnest green eyes. There was no trace of amusement or smugness in his face. Nothing but pure affection for me.

Against my better judgment, I found myself nodding. “Yes. I do.”

He glanced at the orchestra as the music began to slow. The dance was almost over. “Prepare yourself, princess. I’m going to kiss you now.”

My spine went rigid. “What?”

The final note rang out, and he dipped me low with a final flourish. The breath whooshed from me, my stomach dropping from the abrupt movement. Fenn pulled me upright again, our bodies closer than before. His face was mere inches from mine, his eyes dark and seductive as they fell to my lips. I was painfully aware of my breaths, sharp and ragged, the way his chest was flush against mine. I could feel each inhale and exhale in tandem with mine.

Applause followed the song’s end, but I barely heard it, barely registered as the couples dispersed from the dance floor. Fenn continued to hold me, his face still hovering close to mine. He brought his hand to my cheek. His fingers were delicate against my skin as he tucked a curl behind my ear.

He waited, his eyes intently fixed on mine. And I realized he was giving me time to push him away, to deny him. Even now, he was offering me the choice to refuse his touch.

But I said nothing. Because this was not like when Tyrone touched me. With him, it was revulsion and despair, helplessness and fear. But now, with Fenn, I felt nothing but heat and longing.

“This will be over soon,” he murmured, his breath mingling with mine.

Then he was kissing me.

Fenn’s lipswere smooth and soft and sweet. He tasted of cool mint and the wide open sky. My body soared, something within me unleashing, setting me free—as free as if I were gliding through the clouds on Mal’s back, and yet… different. Once I took Mal out for a midnight ride, wanting to see the stars as we flew. It was terrifying and thrilling, and I never did it again. The night sky was so rare in the Summer Court, and it was dangerous as it impaired my vision.

But the thrill… I had yearned for that energy ever since.

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