Page 8 of Crown of Ashes

Making my hands busy is the only thing keeping my thoughts at bay. And if it weren’t for flipping this dagger, I’d be pacing canyons into this damn cliffside. At least the view is nice… It’s been a while since I’ve had a moment to myself. Even longer since I’ve been able to relax in comfortable clothes and breathe in the earthy scent of the forest near Hell Hold.Near home.I’ve missed it, but I’ve missed Alice more.

Her red hair is the first thing I see through the foliage as she nears the forest edge. This is where Finn meets her to spar,apparently. I’m not sure I like the idea of them being this close to the Forest of Lost Souls, and I’m even less enthused by them crossing through a small section of it to get here. But I suppose I can see the charm of being secluded, and far away from distractions.

Bright auburn curls slap across her face as the wind blows. Sputtering, she spits them out, cursing every word in the book while batting them away. She’s a mess, but she’smymess. Cerulean eyes lock on my form as I lean against the rough bark of a tree. They widen and the gasp she makes forces her lips to part as she freezes midstep.

I could stay in this moment and never want to leave. The way the air seems to crackle between us, it draws me in like a magnet, beckoning me to wrap my arms around the woman who owns my heart.

Alice clears her throat, darting her eyes to the ground. Her teeth nip into the plump bottom lip, attempting to hide the grin reddening her cheeks. Or maybe she’s simply trying to wrap her head around the fact that I’ve come home early. Either way, it’s a look that has my pulse picking up speed and makes every nerve in my body spark to life.

I was supposed to meet with the Elf Lord before coming home, which would’ve been a week-long trip at best, since I don’t trust myself to teleport a brigade over water. It’s been too long since I’ve visited those Islands. There’s no way I’d be able to form a clear picture in my mind and the last thing I need is a slew of men and horses portaling into the open ocean. With it being a three-day journey by boat, and my incessant need to get home, I decided it could wait.

This was the longest I’ve been away from her, and Finn staying back helped ease my worry, but it did shit to calm my need to have her close, to feel her skin against mine, to hear the sweet noises she makes in her sleep. I’ve never been more homesick. If only she could come with me…

“You’re home,” she says, lifting her head and rocking on her heels. “Had I known, I would’ve made myself a bit more presentable.”

My lips twitch up.Presentable?

Finn told me they were working on formalmanners. Personally, I don’t think she needs them. Maybe I’m biased–I prefer the raw, brutally honest Alice–but I can respect the concept of her learning of our realm and how it operates. I’m sure some of the other more ‘old-fashioned’ lords and ladies would prefer their future queen to know of their customs. I didn’t expect it to change her tongue, though. As much as I shouldn’t, I thoroughly enjoy her temper and lack of fear toward speaking her mind. It keeps me on my toes.

“If I had warned you, I would’ve missed this… andthisis quite the look,” I say, tapping the blade of my dagger to my chin.

She’s stolen my pants. No. Not just my pants. One of my shirts, too. I never thought a woman in men’s clothes could make my mouth water, but here she is and suddenly I’m famished. Pushing off the bark, I skip a step toward her, desperate to close the distance. I’ve been deprived and something about her image tells me she feels the same. Even though I can’t put my finger on what, I’m willing to take the chance.

Her eyes light up, tracking my moments. The red deepens in her cheeks as I circle around her, taking in every angle. “I think my clothes look better on you than they ever did on me, and I’m quite the sight for sore eyes.”

She snorts, crossing her arms over her chest. “Cocky are we?”

“A little.” Holstering my dagger, I scoop my arm around her waist, dragging her body against mine. “Only for you.”

Lifting her chin with my knuckle, I lean forward and ghost my lips over hers. Alice grabs my neck, deepening it until my chest flutters and my blood heats, making my own cheeks flush.Fuck…I’ve missed her. When she pulls away, I chase the connection, damn determined to get one more second.

“Finn told me you wanted to spar with me,” I say, kissing down her jaw and throat.

“He’d be correct.”

Nipping my teeth against her pulse, she jolts. “In that case,” I let go, taking a step back, linking my hands behind my back. “You better run, little witch, because if I catch you…” I trail off, letting my eyes roam over her body. My tongue swipes over my lips, getting lost in the way they taste like her. “I intend to have my way.”

“And if I win?”

I take another step back, giving her a head start. “You get yours.” One of her eyebrows arches up and she starts toward the woods, like she’s going to run.

Fucking please. Do it. Run… I’d sell my soul to be the one to catch you.

The veins around my eyes pulse. It’s a feeling I know all too well. My eyes have gone dark. Can she blame me? I’vedreamedof this moment–of going toe to toe with her. Though, I thought when the dream became reality it’d be with sword in hand and in a training room. But this? This has my cock twitching. When I catch her, because I will, I’m going to take what’s mine, and every ghost in this fucking forest will hear her scream my name.

Except, instead of darting off, she takes three steps, then dares a glance over her shoulder. With a hand on the hilt of the practice sword, she yanks it from the sheath.

“There’s only one problem,” she says, spinning and holding the blade up level with my throat. “I don’t run.”

Heat blooms beneath my skin, scorching me from the inside out. This woman always chooses violence. Why is that? And why does it drive me mad?

“Well, in that case, you better switch swords.”

Her eyebrows scrunch as she peers down at the dull blade. “But I could hurt–”

“I promise you won’t.” My lips twitch as I fight off the grin threatening to split my face in two.

“But you only have…” she points at the dagger on my thigh.

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