Page 139 of A Fate so Cruel

Her gaze slid to his lips once more. “Then kiss me again.”

A dream. He’d slipped into a dream. And he never wanted to wake. Let this be his eternity. Let this be his life.

Rion dared to lean down and capture her lips in an achingly slow kiss. Her breath hitched and some animalistic instinct broke free of his control.

Rion crushed his mouth against hers and she met his ferocity, matching him movement for movement. Her fingers threaded through his hair, tugging at the strands, and their tongues warred for dominance.

Rion spun her, wrapping one arm around her torso before slowing to press her against the wall. He closed the space between their bodies and only paused when she winced.

His gaze flickered across her face. “Your injuries—”

“I don’t care.” Then her lips were on his again, consuming him, pulling at every instinct he’d locked away since the first time they’d touched.

Intoxicating hints of vanilla and wildflowers filled his nose, and he moaned into her mouth. Her warm hands ventured beneath his shirt, ghosting over his skin, squeezing his muscles in places he’d always imagined a female might like.

Gods, her touch was like kindling to his blood, igniting his body with flames so bright he was sure they’d take form and consume them both.

Rion let his hands wander over her torso, her legs, her arms, her face, her throat. He devoured that, too. Gods, he loved her neck, the rapid pulse beneath her skin.

Selina pulled on his shirt and Rion only broke their kiss long enough to rip the material over his head before pressing against her again. She could have him. Every bit of him. Here and now if she wanted. He couldn’t care less that her comrades were so close. Let them listen. Let that male listen and know who she’d chosen.

His magic still danced around their bodies, caressing her skin in places his hands hadn’t yet reached. She hooked one leg around his waist and Rion pressed into her, relishing the friction of the movement. She felt so right. So perfect beneath him. Nothing else existed in this moment but her.

His fangs grazed her throat and Selina moaned, leaning further into his touch.

He had to resist the urge to mark her. It was an old custom most didn’t perform anymore. If she’d been at herfull strength, Rion might have nicked her skin, just to seek permission.

But not today.

He devoured her neck again with his tongue and teeth, then returned to her lips before blinding white-hot pain tore through his lower back.

Rion roared and arched to try to escape the deep burning sensation. He cursed and gritted his teeth. It struck again, slamming through him before he could collect himself long enough to register where the pain was coming from, who to strike, and where.

Rion shoved Selina away and her head cracked against the stone wall. His stomach soured, dread and despair sinking through him long before he even saw her face.

She wouldn’t.

She couldn’t.

She’d said . . . nothing. She’d said nothing. All those times he’d mentioned the future, she’d been silent. Contemplative. And he’d quickly covered for her. Because he’d been afraid to hear any sort of rejection.

Every conversation flashed through his mind in rapid succession. The last few months they’d spent together. Everything she’d done.

She’s manipulative. She doesn’t fail a mission.

The rebels. They’d been part of the assignment, but they’d also been a cover. A decoy for the real reason Selina and her twelve were out in the middle of nowhere.

The information. The sneaking in. Had any of it been real?

Rion recalled the way Seán had questioned her. Recalled the male’s anger, too. Seán hadn't known. None of them knew, at least not before yesterday. Had she finally filled them in? Was that the reason the pair hadn't smiled at him that morning? Whythe short-haired—a flash of pain forced Rion to his knees. He gasped and his palms hit the stone floor.

Breath wouldn’t come fast enough.

It had been a ruse. All of it. Every touch was calculated. Every movement thought out.

She’d kept her team in the dark because he would have noticed if they acted differently. It would have given away her plans.

Saoirse had warned him. His instincts had warned him. Selina—he’d fallen, no, leaped for her. She’d been everything he’d ever wanted. To just have someone listen to him. Hold him.

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