His hands moved upward, entwining in my hair, pulling me against him until our chests touched, making me never want to let go. I responded, wrapping my arms around him. He deepened the kiss, pressing his lips against mine with more ferocity than a tiger. It was like being in the shifting hills. The world tumbled away around us. All there was were his lips on mine, the small gasps of air we snuck, and our heartbeats.

Thoughts of how I never wanted him to stop, of how I could ever have thought I didn’t want this rushed through my head until one final thought sliced through them all.

I pulled back. “Latia,” I said, trying to catch my breath, “she’s alive.”

His arms didn’t drop away. “I know. Rodric made sure I saw her before I was taken into the arena. He probably wanted me to think she was behind one of the doors.”

He leaned forward like he was going to kiss me again.

I didn’t move, confusion playing across my face. “You gave her an engagement bracelet . . .”

“What?” Then understanding dawned in Cion’s eyes. “You thought I was in love with Latia?”

I ducked my face. “What was I supposed to think?”

“She’s my cousin,” he said with a laugh. “Bala is her mother.” He shook his head, sending wisps of hair over his eyes. “Latia’s like my sister.”

“Then why did you give her the engagement bracelet?”

“You know it’s a tradition for a mother to give hers to her daughter. Bala wanted her to have it, but Latia refused to see her, knowing she’d try to get her to leave on the caravan with her,” he said. “Bala thought if Latia would get married, maybe she’d give up this idea of getting revenge. Both Bala and I thought it was too dangerous for Latia to keep working in the palace, but she refused to stop searching for the water controls. Her mother was hoping if she had her engagement bracelet, it might change Latia’s mind.”

I nearly cried in relief. “You could’ve told me that.”

He looked puzzled. “I tried right after she left us alone in the desert. You said you understood. I thought you did.”

It felt like he’d pulled me out of the shifting hills again, and I was back on solid ground. This time, I didn’t stop myself from brushing the hair away from his eyes, and when he kissed me, warmth shot through me hotter than the blazing desert sand.

The roaring of the crowd was what finally drew us apart. My cheeks blazed when I remembered just how many people were watching us, but they didn’t seem to mind the idea of Cion by my side.

“I guess since I defeated Rodric, that means I get to pick who I marry,” I said, eyeing him and thinking maybe I wouldn’t mind wearing my mother’s engagement bracelet at all.

A smile slid across his face. “Does that mean you’re rescinding your offer to make me your captain of the guard?”