bra’s /bPOV

    “Thome… what’s going on with you? I managed to ask, bmy /bbreathing out in shaky bursts as he pressed his lips against mine again, more desper

    this time.

    His hands tightened around me, pulling me closer as if trying to fuse our bodies together. His body felt unnaturally warm, almost leverish. “bAre /bbyou /bbsick /bLasked, my voice breathless,

    “No.” His voice was low, almost growling. He bkissed /bdown my neck, the heat of his mouth sending a shiver through bmy /bbspine/b.

    “I’m just…” He paused for a moment, his breth grazing my skin as he murmuredb, /b“turned on. By you.”

    It wasn’t a lie. I could already feel the undeniable press of his arousal against my thigh, and it sent a flush through my chest.

    Before I could say another word, my back hit the floor, and Thorne was on top of me, his whole body enveloping mine. His hands were everywhere– under my legs, pushing them apart, and a twinge of panic twisted in my gut. “Thorne, we can’t we have to focus on what’s important”

    A gasp ripped through me as his lips found their way to ces I wasn’t ready to let go of yet

    “We’ve got time for bthis/b,” he said, his voice rough and pulling at something deep inside of me.

    I frome for a second, my legs instinctively closing as hel on anything that resembled reason

    kissed the sensitive skin between them. His tongue was warmb, /bbslow/b, exploring, and I lost my grip

    His hands–one pressing my legs apart, the other bbrushing /bmy most sensitive spot–sent waves of heat coursing through me. I couldn’t stop myself. My back arched, and I gasped, the pleasure overwhelming my thoughts

    “Thorneb,/b” I breathed, my voice cracking asi tugged at his hair, b“/bdon’t stop…”

    I didn’t know if it was him or the pleasure or both, but I felt like I was unraveling, my legs tightening around his neckb, /binstinctively drawing him closer. But

    he didn’t let me keep control. He was too strong for that. His lips were on me, consuming bme/bb, /band then–just like that–it hit.

    My body clenched and shuddered, an explosion that let me gasping for air. The broom /bspun. My vision blurred.

    He didn’t pull away. He stayed with me, lips still pressed to my skin,even as the aftermath washed over me in waves. I was left there, bbreathless /band tangled in the remnants of what had just happened, trying to pull my thoughts together.

    But Thorne didn’t let me. He kissed the top of my head, his fingers weaving through my bhair /bbas /bhe settled beside me. “That,” he murmured softly, “is how bmuch /bI missed you”

    I let out a bshaky /bbreath, still recovering, and I falta pang of guilt “LI didn’t return the favour.”

    Hisugh was soft, warm. “Don’t be I’ll make sure to collect on thatter.” His fingers found the back of my neck, massaging gently, and for a moment, I let myself forget about everything else.

    “You were going to bsay /bsomething earlier?” he asked, voice almost teasing

    I blinked at him, trying to remember. “Oh, right..” bit my lip. “I was gonna ask about Serena and Raslen, but… bforgot /b

    3* bHis /bvoice was

    Thorne’s eyebrows lied slightly, and I could see the skepticism in his beyes/b. “You sure? You wanted to talk about them after everything?” His steady, but the tension was bstill /bthere.

    I gave him a look, unsure how to even start “it’s okay to talk babout /bthem now, right? You promised me…)

    … you bwouldn’t /bsnapb./b”

    He nodded, though I could see the weight of the moment in his eyes. “I won’t,” he said, but the bwords /bdidn’t quite erase the dou

    Chapter b94 /b

    His hand lighted around bmine/b. “I was bjealous/b,” he admitted, bhis /bvoice barely above a whisper, “Spending they Ralen, wondering what you were doing while I wasn’t around. And then Ie back, and there he is, with his damni me closer.ou’ve got to understand how that feels.”

    bI /bshook my head. “I didn’t ask him to stand there. He gave me his jacket because I was cold”

    “bI /bknow. I just overreactedb,/b” he admitted. “It won’t happen again. His lips brushed against my forehead. “You have my word.”

    limet his gaze, eyes serious “I don’t think Serena is lying.”

    He raised an eyebrow. “So, you believe her version of things?” His voice held ba /bchallengeb, /bbbut /bthere was something else beneath it

    I was quiet for a moment, weighing my words. “You just said that you wouldn’t mind”

    He chuckled softly, clearly amused. “Rx. I bwas /bjust messing with you. You seemed too tense?

    Ibit back a smile, and he didn’t let go of bthe /byful mood. His bhand /bslid down my neck again, massaging away the knots. “Honestly, I don’t think Semu was blying/b, either.”

    I blinkedb, /bba /blittle taken aback. b“/bReally?”

    “Yeah.” He bnodded/b, the seriousness of his expression matching his tone. “There’s no reason for her to lie. And we know she’s been through a lot. She’s been honest with us, and bthere’s /bno point in pretending otherwise.”

    “But that’s not what’s bothering me,” I said, frustration building again. “It’s the fact that twopletely different stories are out there, and we’re stuck in

    the middle of them.”

    Thorne blooked /bthoughtful, his brow furrowing “it doesn’t make seme. Maybe the Rogue King is pulling the strings from behind the scenes. We’re not

    seeing the whole picture.”

    I sat up, shaking my head, unable to make sense of any of it. “But can they really switch their gander like thatb?/b” Lasked, feeling the weight of the mystery pressing down on me.

    Thorne was silent for a beat, then shrugged. “Maybe misinterpreted what I saw out there.”

    I scoffed. “Thome, you bhave /bperfect vision. Don’t doubt byourself/b”

    He didn’t look convinced, though “What I mean is maybe what we saw wasn’t the breal /bRogue King. Maybe it’s another puppet. Like Sterning”

    The words hit me hard.

    and “Right, that makes sense. But what if the person Serena met was a puppet too? What if none of bthis /bis what we think?”

    Thorne nodded. “That’s why I want to go to the Great Canyon. To see for myself. To confirm.”

    “WHAT?” My voice shot up in shock. “No! You can’t go there. It’s too dangerous. The Rogue King’s headquarters are there, surrounded by his men. Even

    someone like you—”

    “bI /bknow, bra/b. I know.” His bvoice /bsoftened, but the resolve in his eyes didn’t waver. “We’ve been reacting to their moves for too long. I’m tired of ying their game. It’s time we take control.

    Trested my head on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. The rhythm calmed me, but the worry still gnawed at me.

    “If you go, I’ll go with you,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

    His body tensed, but I pressed my point. “I’m not sitting back and letting this happen, I’m in this for the whole alliance. Not just you

    There was ba /blong silence, and then he spoke, his voice softer. “We’ll talk more about thister. When the timees.

    at out a sigh of relict He hadn’t said no. And that was all I needed for now.

    “Thorne?” I murmured, my eyes heavy with exhaustion.

    He kissed my forehead, then whispered, “Whey all this is over will you consider my proposal again! Toe back. To be my Canal-

    Ifroze, heart skipping a beat. He was serious. But before I could respond, he kissed nie softly, his words almost a plea.

    “Just promise me you think about it. That way, I’ll have some hope to hold onto.”

    I squeezed his hand tightly, entwining my fingers with his “Sure,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I think about it. But f’ll give you my when all of this bis /bover.”

    AD