Page 43 of Savage Crown

Knows what I just let slip through the cracks of my control. Knows exactly what I want and exactly how much it’s fucking killing me to not take it.

She swallows, stepping forward. "Rylan?—"

"Don’t."

My voice is hoarse, raw.

A warning. A plea.

I turn away, raking a hand through my strands, forcing myself to breathe.

I can’t.

I can’t do this.

I grip the desk, knuckles white.

"Get out."

The silence between us is heavy.

Then—a sharp exhale.

I hear her move, hear her hesitation, hear the way she lingers.

But in the end, she leaves.

The door clicks shut.

I squeeze my eyes shut, cursing myself.

I should have stopped sooner.

I should have never touched her.

Because, despite all the warnings, all the reasons, all the fucking risks?—

I already want more.

18

SERAPHINA

Ihate him.

I hate the way my lips still burn, the way my pulse hasn’t settled, the way my body still trembles—not from fear, but from something worse.

Something I don’t have a name for.

I hate him for this.

For making me crave something I shouldn’t.

For making me want him.

I shove the door shut behind me, my breath coming fast, uneven. The dimly lit corridor feels too narrow, too tight, too suffocating. My hands shake, my fingers curling into fists as if I could fight the feeling crawling in my veins.

I should run.

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