“There’s no part of you that scares me,” I whisper, the words an oath now and for the future. “I think—I think we’re mated because we’re both terrifyingly powerful, as you put it. We’re made for each other.” I bring her closer to me, our knees touching.

She closes her eyes and breathes deeply. When they open, her pupils have dilated, inky black orbs staring back at me. She brings her face closer to mine, breathing quickly with flared nostrils. She’s all primal fae now, and I don’t dare move. She gently brushes a single finger across my cheeks, my lips. I stay still, afraid I’ll spook her if I shift even an inch. Her hand lands on my chest.

“This is confusing,” she whispers, and I bark out a laugh.

“Immensely confusing. But I’d like to figure it out together.”

She nods. Body trembling, she stands, taking my hand in hers. “Follow me.”

“To the ends of the world,” I murmur. She blushes, and I squeeze her hand tightly. I follow her through another passage, this one leading east. We descend deeply, though I keep a soft glow of light around us. The air grows thick with humidity, and the temperature warms. We emerge in a smaller cavern than before, with lower ceilings and moss growing thickly. She leads me along the edge of the space, hand firmly in mine. When we stop, she turns to me with her lips pulled into a mischievous smile, then looks out to the middle of the cavern. When I illuminate the space, I see deep pools of water, steam rising from them in curling tendrils.

“The hot water in the palace comes from deep in these caves. There are several hot springs buried in this mountain. This one doesn’t feed into the palace pipes. It’s a well-kept secret for the royal family of Thayaria,” she explains. Without warning, she pulls her tunic over her head, and my mind shuts off entirely. Her full breasts are wrapped in a thin, lacy, bandeau, nipples peeking through the fabric. Milky white skin curves down from her breasts, her soft stomach breathing gently in and out. My gaze tracks to where her leggings meet her skin on her waist, then down the swell of her thighs and hips. A growl tears out of my chest, and it makes Laurel’s eyes heat. “Easy, princeling. That mating bond’s got you feral,” she teases. Eyes locked on mine, she pulls down her leggings, exposing her thick thighs and rounded ass, more of that tantalizing lace covering her. But I don’t mind, completely satisfied with the view I’m getting. My mouth goes dry, and her verdant green eyes sparkle with mirth. She knows what she’s doing. When she pulls her long auburn hair out of its braid, my knees go weak.