His fingers dug into my chin as he held me there. This kiss was far from gentle. It was desperate. It was panic. It was holding on to each other for dear life, like we may never have a moment like this again. My fingers hurt from how hard I gripped his body. I melted into him, pressing every inch of my body flush against his. He angled my head back to deepen our kiss. The warmth of our breaths swirled and mixed together. My body was on fire, and I would let it burn. I wanted more. I couldn’t get close enough. When I slid my tongue into his mouth, he growled and slid his hand down my throat, then pushed me off of him. My back hit the tree trunk as I whimpered in protest. I reached for him but the hand on my throat slid to my chest, pinning me in place. His cheeks were flushed, and his lips were red and puffy. I took small victory in seeing my own passion for him reflected back. His lips parted and his chest rose and fell rapidly, like he was also struggling to catch his breath.

“Everest—”

“Stay away from him,” he said with barely more than a growl. He ducked his head to keep his gaze level with mine. “If you see the Unseelie Prince, you are to run away as fast as possible and not look back. You must stay away from him. Do not let him see you. Do not let him get near you.”

“Okay,” I breathed, my heart still pounding in my chest. I licked my lips, and they still tasted like his.

I must’ve made a face because his eyes flashed with desire. He pressed one finger over my lips. “Do you hear me, Francelina?”

“Stay away from the Unseelie Prince. Yes, of course, I know that⁠—”

“Then why were you running to him just now?”

I gasped. “I thought it was you.”

His eyes went wide. He dropped his hand. His face was pale. “Why would you think that?”

“I’d asked my rune stones to guide me home and then it led me right to the shadows and the black magic . . .” I shook my head and licked my lips. “I thought it led me to you.”

His face fell. He closed his eyes—and then I was in his arms, my face pressed against his chest. He sighed and his breath rustled my hair. His arms were wrapped tight around me, one of his hands stroking my hair. “My magic is black because I was born from Lilith’s womb. The Unseelies, among various other creatures devoted to her, have black magic because she gave it to them.”

I flinched and craned my neck back to look up at him without pulling myself out of his arms. “I did not know that.”