Page 98 of Shadow Wings
“Tyrrik,” Igasped.
He turned me, and I had no thought to resist as his arms circled my waist and pulled me flush to him. I pressed my hands to his chest. His heart was racing, beating in the same erratic rhythm as mine. I slid my arms up until my hands were around his neck and guided him to mymouth.
“I love when you whisper my name. My real name,” he said, and he crushed his lips tomine.
Whatever this mate bond forced upon us, there was no doubt in my mind of Tyrrik’s desire for me or his joy when wetouched.
Heat pulsed between us. Our lips and bodies tangled with a frantic edge I’d never felt before. His lips were soft and warm, and he tasted of nectar. The nectar I’d made for him. He coaxed my lips open and brushed his tongue against mine, pulling me closer. I threaded my hands through his dark hair and stood on my tiptoes to meet his hunger with my own. He pulled away suddenly and I made a sound of protest until his lips pressed to my neck. I arched again as he trailed kisses from my ear to mychest.
“Uvijek sam te voljela,” he growled.I have always lovedyou.
His hands tangled in my skirt, and I grabbed either side of his torso, my mind clouded with a thick haze. Tyrrik backed me to the wall, only breaking our kiss to whisper in my ear. My entire body shivered with want forhim.
“Mistress moons!” Dytersputtered.
I screamed, jumping a meter off theground.
“Oh my stars,” Dyter hollered as he stepped back out the open door. “My eyes. Oh stars. I can’t . . . I can’t unseethat.”
Tyrrik pulled away as I dropped my skirt which had apparently migrated during recent events. As I did so, I heard a series ofclinks.
Drak!
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Dyterand I froze and Tyrrik raised his eyebrows, a slow smile spreading as he looked at the three beautiful sapphires on the stonefloor.
Dyter’s lips dipped into disapproving lines. “Please tell me you’re not stealing from our host, who is also aking.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” I protestedweakly.
We all stared at the glinting gemsagain.
Tyrrik wrapped his hand around my waist, and my blush intensified due to Dyter’s presence as the Drae spoke. “Ryn is indulging in herinstincts.”
I had a feeling I didn’t want to know anything about this, but I felt braver after our kiss. “What does it mean? This shiny obsession.Reallymean. I want the full scoop this time.” Why had I already assumed I wouldn’t be able to crush them in my teeth and spit shiny daggers into my foe’seyes?
“Your horde is for our family. By collecting precious objects and keeping them safe, you are showing me you would make a good mother to ourchildren.”
My attention caught ongood motherandchildren,and my mind blanked. I edged out of Tyrrik’s grip in a subtle movement no one probablynoticed.
Dyter chuckled and mumbled something about family jewels. He straightened, grinning at my slack face, and said, “If you’re done using the facilities, mayI?”
Tyrrik exited the restroom. I blinked, mouth open, and swooped to pick up my pretties and Tyrrik’s discarded carrot top. Collecting sapphires and rubies and gold stuff didn’t mean a thing. They were an investment. Carrying them was a smart businesschoice.
I trailed out of the bathroom, unresponsive to Dyter’s light pat on theshoulder.
“How many have you taken?” Tyrrik asked, plucking one of the jewels from myhand.
“That’s mine!” A fierce protective instinct gripped me. I whirled on him, throwing the carrot top athim.
“Ryn,” he said, his voice muffled with laughter. He held the gem out to me. “Please, forgiveme.”
I grabbed my sapphire from his hand and sauntered past him. “Don’t take myjewels.”
Dyter came out of the bathroom, and his gaze went from Tyrrik to me. “Enough tomfoolery. We all need our rest. Tomorrow we need to search for the other Phaetyn girl. The emperor likely knows we are here, so we cannot linger before traveling toAzule.”
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