The cavern shook. Fenn’s power faltered, rocks slipping past his wavering control of force. “I’ve told you before to not ask of me—”

“I’m not asking. I’m telling,” Serenna snapped, struggling to see through the burning in her eyes. “Two jumps,” she said, squeezing him tight. “One to the top of the stairs. And one up to the bridge.” A tear fell and she angrily wiped it away. “Fenn,” she whispered. “Please.”

Something broke in his gaze, and it shattered her heart. Serenna knew she had him. This was her fault, manipulating him to the point where he’d accepted her power. And now she was pressuring him beyond what his capabilities might be.

Serenna moved her palm to cradle Fenn’s cheek. Her chest caved in as his eyes searched hers, silently pleading. Unable to speak, too scared to put her thoughts into words, she did the only thing that made any sense in the chaos of her confusion. It could fracture his concentration. But if she was going to die here, she wouldn’t do it without—

Serenna kissed him.

Fenn sharply inhaled sharply against her mouth. A part of her almost wished that he’d push her away. Scorn her. She didn’t deserve his feelings for her. Not after selfishly using him to twist together a plan that failed to unfold.

But his lips pressed back into hers, stealing the air from her lungs. The way their mouths met was soft. Sweet and tender, soothing like a spring rain. It was easy. Carefree. Just like everything else about him.

Somehow, despite the peril, Serenna felt safe in a way that she never had before. And those complicated thoughts she’d kept buried—denied all these weeks—bubbled up in her chest like the magma threatening to envelop them.

Serenna flinched as she heard the chamber crash in around them.

CHAPTER 47

SERENNA

Fenn seized Serenna’s waist, hauling her into a whirlwind of darkness. Her knees buckled as the world spun. Vision swimming, Serenna tumbled through open air until she landed on a hard surface—spared from the magma.

Through the haze of her panic, she slowly blinked her surroundings into focus. Chest heaving, splayed on her back across the stone archway, Serenna reflexively reached out, searching for Fenn.

Finding him sprawled out beside her, no sooner than their eyes met, they both burst into laughter. Whether it be from the brush with death or simply joy from still being alive, she couldn’t say.

Feet nearly dangling off the edge of the bridge, Fenn dragged his claw over his face, still chuckling. Panic lifting from her chest, Serenna salvaged her breath, staring up at the cavern ceiling. A swirl of snow spiraled in through the natural openings, melting before it reached them. The magma hissed below, settling back against the stony floor.

Serenna uncoiled her fingers from around the Heart still clutched to her chest, setting the relic aside. Glancing over at Fenn, he’d propped himself up on an elbow, angled toward her. The corner of his lip lifted in that quirky way she found endearing, eyes catching the flames below.

With the back of his finger, he brushed a stray strand of hair away from her cheek. “There’s my she-elf.”

Something settled in Serenna’s heart as it ceased belonging just to her. It was a gentle claiming, like a butterfly landing on a flower. Her mouth automatically curved in response as her gaze roamed over the face of a courageous warrior. Her friend, one who didn’t hesitate to throw himself in danger. A fearless protector—almost to a fault.

The chamber faded while what she wanted came into focus. Serenna’s eyes must’ve given away the rest. She didn’t know who moved first, but her mouth crashed into Fenn’s at the same time as his crashed into hers.

This kiss wasn’t delicate like the one moments ago, below the magma. This was bruising. Thoughtless with need. Explosive with want.

The stone archway scraped into Serenna’s side as she wrapped her arms around Fenn’s shoulders, but all she could feel was him. Drawing her against his chest, Fenn enveloped her like he had the day he’d shielded her in the war room.

Gripping his face, Serenna tugged him closer, trailing her fingers up to the points of his ears, his jewelry gliding under her skin.

“Stars, slay me,” Fenn growled against her lips. His body lurched against hers when Serenna made a second teasing pass over the peaks of his ears before weaving her fingers into his hair.

Tongue sweeping past her teeth, Fenn pressed further into her mouth, deepening the kiss. Warmth that had nothing to do with the heated chamber kindled low in Serenna’s belly. She released a whimper as his tongue caressed hers. Fenn’s claws stiffened against her back when she arched into him, seeking out his hungry lips, loosening another breathy noise.

That was all the permission he needed before he began exploring her body. His fingers began roving—threading in her hair, gliding down her spine, circling around her hips as he pulled her closer to him. His touch was fierce but gentle. Urgent but not demanding.

Serenna melted into Fenn, inhaling scents of pine, fresh snow, and the smoky floral aromas of the Lagoon. She grabbed his lip ring between her teeth and sucked the metal into her mouth. Sparks flew down her spine when Fenn’s growl thundered through her chest, the ache between her legs beginning to pulse ruthlessly in response.

Needing to be closer, Serenna hooked a knee over his waist. Fenn swiveled to sit up, cradling her in his lap. Straddling his hips, Serenna anchored him between her thighs. She skimmed her hands over the planes of his chest, flowing over every ripple of muscle through the thin fabric. The shadows they cast from the stony bridge danced across the cavern walls, suspended above the churning magma below.

Fenn tugged at her hair, angling her head to sweep his lips along the edge of her jaw before sucking gently at the slope of her neck. Heart pounding mercilessly, Serenna ground her hips into his. Fenn’s fingers tightened where they were resting against her curves, his body hardening between them. Head kicking back, he snarled a curse, sliding his length against her center.

Serenna chased after that sound rumbling from his throat, wanting to hear more of it. Demanding to hear more of it. Grabbing his face, she hauled his mouth back to hers. Fenn met her with the same reckless abandon, their tongues and teeth colliding.

The bridge scraped into Serenna’s knees as she began steadily rolling that aching part of herself across the length of him, sweeping like waves flowing onto a shore. Fenn moved with her as she selfishly rode against his rigid hardness, vaulting herself to the brink.

But she didn’t want to be the only one taking pleasure—didn’t want to go over the edge alone.

Panting, Serenna stilled and broke the kiss, fighting every urge to grind her hips against his. Her entire body was on fire, throbbing for more. Loosening her nails from where they dug into Fenn’s scalp, she untangled her fingers from his hair. He reclaimed his breathing with her, resting his forehead against hers while their heartbeats evened out.

Returning to her senses, Serenna pulled back to meet Fenn’s gaze. His fangs had extended. He averted his eyes, cheeks flushing a darker shade. Clenching his jaw, she watched him fight a losing battle to retract them.

“Keep them out,” Serenna whispered.

She didn’t want him to feel like he needed to hide what he was for her sake. He was beautiful, the way the fire shimmered against his skin breathtaking like a trail of stardust draped against the deep indigo of night.

Fenn’s claws tightened against her waist, a carnal desire burning in his eyes. He leaned forward, brushing his lips against hers cautiously, as if careful to work around his fangs. Serenna ran her tongue along the point of one. Fenn’s hips bucked, seemingly of their own volition.

His kiss turned wild. Meeting his frantic mouth, Serenna sucked in a gasp as he cupped her rear, grinding every inch of his arousal against her. His snarls of pleasure reverberated throughout her body, bouncing off the cavern walls.

The sounds tearing out of his throat had Serenna ripping his shirt off.

Fenn raced her. By the time she unweaved the ties on his trousers—thanking the stars he wasn’t in armor—he somehow already had her chest bare and boots off. He used his talons to slice through the last few laces of her pants after growling some obscenities about his claws slowing him down.

They broke apart to shed the rest of their clothing. Fenn hastily arranged the discarded scraps under them, offering some protection from the rugged stone. With an effortless wave of power that had Serenna wondering if he channeled desire to fuel his punch of force, Fenn cast the Heart away from the bridge to a safer location on a rocky shelf.

With nothing between them this time, Fenn sat up and Serenna climbed back into his lap, straddling him. Her eyes drank in every inch of his body, every unveiled ridge and plane, the desire to touch him swiftly turning into a need.

Serenna ran her fingers through his cascading hair, sailing down the taut muscles of his back. Moving to his chest, she glided her palms down over the chiseled ripples of his stomach. She swallowed hard before reaching for his length between them.

“Wait.”

Serenna’s heart staggered to a halt when Fenn seized one of her hands, preventing her from exploring further. Stopping her before she could reach for that rigid, tempting flesh wedged between them, so close to her aching core.

A protest nearly flew from her tongue as she met his eyes. Instead, Serenna’s thighs tightened, drowning in his consuming look. Holding her gaze, Fenn lifted the chain over his neck, pressing the key to her tether into her palm. Serenna’s breath caught as he wrapped her fingers over the iron, offering the tiny piece of metal—her freedom.

Fenn searched her face. “You should have the choice to be free like the wind.”

Heart squeezing at the gesture, Serenna couldn’t even deliver a quip about Fenn defying Lykor. Perhaps she was already free, but in a different way. A reckless impulse nearly had her flinging the key over the bridge.

When she didn’t move, Fenn settled the chain over her neck. He traced a talon over the key after it slipped from her hand, nestling between her breasts.

And then lower.

His eyes followed the path his fingers traveled down her stomach before skimming back up her body. Fenn swallowed, throat tensing as his voice came out unsteady. “Stop me if I harm you.”