Alexei rockets us into the blue sky in a spinning blast of cold air and power. Wind roars past my ears, thrashing my hair and shirt. Cloud-kissed sky wheels past below instead of above; green fields shoot by overhead. By the time he opens the full expanse of his wings and banks to level out, I’m dizzy and disorientated and practically strangling him in my effort to hold on.

His arm bracing my waist feels safe as a steel cable, but we rise high enough for clouds to wisp against the edges of his downward strokes. It’s a long way to fall, and it’s bloody terrifying.

His sultry chuckle tickles my ear. “I have you.”

“Fucking show-off,” I shout into his neck.

He holds my head to his and caresses my face with his silken cheek, then pulls in a breath from my skin. The gesture seems strangely cat-like. “How satisfying to have you in my arms at last. It pains me to be far from you, my love.”

The thrill that zings through my chest from his words feels traitorous. I tense my neck to prevent an instinctive urge to lean into his warmth. My cock hardens against his firm heat. It feels as if these responses belong to someone else.

“I could have killed those soldiers,” I say, trying to keep hold of my anger.

He tsks. “Did they not deserve to suffer? You were attacked while in chains? Touched by men who should have protected you?” He tucks my head back into his neck. “Those men will die for touching what is mine.”

“Look, thanks for your help in the cage, Alexei, but I’m not yours. I’m not anybody’s.” I try pulling back to scowl at him, but he holds me against his neck.

“You are mine, my love. You know this.”

I ignore the flush of pleasure his words draw from me. His closeness, his warmth, his delicious smell melt away resistance. Somehow that feels more dangerous than chains. I dig deep to retrieve my fury. He used me like a pawn.

“You’ve left your witches back there. Are they just throwaway weapons too?”

“They are not in danger. And neither were you.”

“That Flame could have burned me out.”

“I would never risk your life. You are far too precious.”

“Yeah, a precious toy.”

I twist my head around to see where we’re going. A forest canopy passes beneath. I recognize the twisted black trees of the Border Woods. Rolling green hills and craggy mountains speed toward us.

Now that we’re gliding more than racing, it’s cool to be this high above the world, everything distant and pocket-sized. The sky opens around us like endless freedom. A baby-blue forever. I could get used to flying, certainly wouldn’t say no to a set of wings.

I recognize nothing on the ground up ahead. Especially those mountains.

“Where’re we going?”