Page 95 of Savage Crown

A pause.

A breath.

“Yes.”

Something in me snaps.

I close the distance between us in two strides, my hands bracing against the wall behind her, trapping her between my arms. Her breath hitches. That tiny, unintentional sound… It does something to me.

“I should let them take you,” I murmur, my voice a thread of quiet fury.

Her chin lifts, defiant. “But you won’t.”

I exhale sharply.

No.

I won’t.

That’s the problem, isn’t it?

Because this is not just about the treasure.

No longer about power or revenge or any of the lies I’ve told myself since the moment she stepped into my world.

It’s also about her.

And I know what needs to be done.

My fingers brush against the bare skin of her throat, trailing down, barely touching, enough to feel the pulse racing beneath.

She shudders. I close my eyes, inhaling deeply, forcing myself to stop. To remember what she is, what she’s done, but I can’t.

I open my eyes, and all I see is her. All I feel is this, this thing coiling between us, dark and consuming. A hunger that rivals even the one for revenge.

“I don’t know what the hell you’ve done to me,” I whisper.

Her breath stutters.

But she doesn’t look away.

And gods help me, I need her to look away.

If she doesn’t, I might do something I can’t take back.

Her voice is quiet when she speaks.

Low. Unsteady.

“I haven’t done anything to you, Rylan.”

Lie.

I know a liar when I see one.

She’s done everything.

And the worst thing is that she’s done it without even trying.

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