“Time to surrender, love. Don’t fault yourself, it’s not every day someone goes up against a first-rank mage.”
I grumbled a very unladylike word and Darren laughed, his whole body shaking.
“You are insufferable.”
Darren stopped and his eyes met mine. The look he gave me was enough to forget the terrible pain in my chest and bring on a whole different kind of heat. “Well, I don’t believe that for a second.”
Blood rushed my face as the prince leaned in.
“Admit it.” Darren’s mouth was close to my ear. “You aren’t suffering in the least...” His hand traced circles along the inside of my wrist. A rain of shivers followed wherever his fingers went. “Are you, Ryiah?”
I swallowed. For the first time I was conscious of the fact we were the only two in the room. And we were on the floor, which suddenly didn’t feel quite so uncomfortable and cold.
Not when he was looking at me like that. Like…
I had a sudden flashback to that day in his chambers two years before. To what had almost transpired the last time we had been truly alone.
Gods, I hadn’t been able to keep my hands to myself. And neither had he.
The memory was making me blush. Even now.
Darren noticed and his lips curved in a half-smile, his eyes hooded. “That’s what I thought.” The words closed the distance between us. I could detect the faint spiciness of his breath, like cinnamon and heat and ice. Something that was dangerous and dark and, to be honest, exactly what I wanted.
I knew we needed to treat our injuries, especially mine, but…
“If you are going to kiss me,” I said brazenly, “you should do it now.”
The corner of his lip turned up. “Oh, I intend to.”
“Really, because I’m still—”
Darren placed a tanned finger to my lips, eyes dancing. “I haven’t named the prize for our wager yet.”
That silenced me real quick.
“Ah, and I see I’ve finally rendered you speechless.” His smirk deepened. “And here I thought you would never—”
Before Darren could finish whatever taunt he had started, I dragged the prince down by the hem of his vest. His lips met mine, surprised, and for a moment everything was slow and languorous and sweet.
I could hear the unsteady beating of his pulse. The careful way he kissed me back had my vision swarming before my eyes. It might have been slow but my pulse was thundering inside my ears like a roar.
For once neither of us was rushed. There was nothing forbidden, nothing wrong, we had all the time in the world.
Darren’s fingers slipped into the back of my hair. I looked up at him and his eyes were smoldering. This was us. He stared back and for once there was no challenge, no sarcasm or smirk, just Darren. And me.
After so many years we were finally together.
His fingers trailed the side of my face and my skin burned underneath his touch. Could a person catch fire and still live? I wasn’t sure, but I thought the answer was yes.
His lips parted mine. I shut my eyes.
Dear. Gods.
“Ryiah…” His hand skimmed down the side of my waist…
And a startled cry fell from my lips.
Darren fell back with a start. “Are you—are you hurt?”
I pressed down on my stomach and bit back a long string of curses. Hot needle pricks flared in response. “My ribs.” I avoided his gaze and silently chastised the god of chance. Now? The pain could not have resurged at a more inconvenient time.
Or maybe it is exactly the right time, my inner voice replied. You know perfectly well what happened the last time the two of you got carried away…
I groaned loudly to cover up the rest of my thoughts. Tomorrow morning I was supposed to set out to Ferren’s Keep. I couldn’t very well do a two week trek on horseback where I would be in constant motion with broken ribs.
I tried to stand and doubled over in agony.
Darren was there in an instant. I swatted him away with a weak wave of the hand.
“I’m a Combat mage.” I stood and took a sharp lungful of air. “Not one of those damsels in distress you keep here at the palace.”
He raised an amused brow. “I never said you were.”
A scowl met his reply. “Tell that to the tutors your father ordered me for etiquette this week.”
“I can never win with you, can I?”
I rolled my eyes, but inside I was smiling. Outside, my mouth was plastered in a grimace. “Just take me to the infirmary.”
“So full of authority.” Darren joined me as I started toward the nearest passage. He pointed the direction we were to take. “And I believe I told you I would never carry you.”
I let him lead the way. “That was four years ago. And I’m not asking you to carry me—I just want your company.”
Darren flashed me a predator’s grin. “Well, don’t expect me not to gloat on the way over. Because despite your injuries, love, I do believe I have maintained my standing as a first-rank mage.”
I rolled my eyes. “For now.”