Page 56 of In Violent Waves

Just because she wasn’t evil didn’t mean she wasn’t a threat. But it was still comforting to know she wasn’t completely corrupted.

“Let me know when you complete that puzzle.”

Ridge nodded, and they turned as one and headed back for the horses. Tension settled along Wilder’s shoulders as he strode back to Lyra.

No, she wasn’t evil, but that power was unfathomable.

That wasn’t the measly gift of song that was known for her kind. It had entranced him.

Lyra was so powerful, she could control rulers.

As she handed the water skin back to Maelys, Lyra glanced around at their surroundings. If she had thought the human forest had been lovely, it was nothing compared to the Valewood. Magic poured from every facet of this place.

The air was crisp and light against her face, soothing the burn on her cheeks. It smelled of wild roses, citrus, and robust cedar. Green leaves glimmered like emeralds in the moonlight. It was a forest of jewels. Ruby flowers, amber trunks, and sapphire fronds.

Majestic, eternal, otherworldly.

The air filled her lungs easier and warmth stirred in her veins. This was magic. She hungered for it as she gulped down the air greedily. Closing her eyes and tilting her head up to the moonlight, she reveled in its electric embrace. This was a place unlike any other. She felt the stirrings of guilt—she had never felt this way about Atlantis.

That thought frightened her. She snapped her eyes open in time to see Wilder slipping through the darkness. Moonlight poured through the trees, casting him in its glow. No—he was magic.

“We need to keep moving,” he ordered. His voice was gruff and the warmth in her veins rose to a blistering degree. Arousal and anger mingled and melded. She didn’t like to be ordered around—had never liked it. But something about the words coming from his mouth, that voice …

Well, you’d have to be dead not to find the allure in him.

“They’re a few hours behind us,” Otto answered Wilder from behind her. She flinched, having not heard him creep up.

“Good. Will they stay that way?” Wilder asked, looking right over the top of her head at Otto.

“If we keep on this pace? Yes.”

Wilder nodded and stopped a mere foot in front of her. His face hardened again, and she knew he would be answering none of her questions. Without a word, he scooped her up and threw her onto the back of their horse. She had to bite her tongue to keep from crying out in surprise.

“Was that necessary?” She glared down at him. And if she was not mistaken, a hint of mischief gleamed in his eyes.

“Of course, Legs. Can’t have you slowing us down or becoming injured.”

She cast her eyes around the rest of them, all seeming to have somewhere—anywhere— else to look.

“Touch me again and I’ll cut your hand off.”

As if he couldn’t help himself, he slid a hand up from her ankle to her calf. If she thought she had felt warm before, nothing could compare to the heat of his skin on her body.

But he goaded her on purpose, testing the boundaries she set. On instinct, she slapped his hand away. It stung, but she didn’t stop there. Kicking out with her foot, she aimed for his face and met a hardened wall of steel. He caught her foot before it could make contact with his face.

“Do not do that again,” he intoned. Fire blazed in his eyes, clashing with the fire in hers.

“I warned you,” she hissed.

Wilder let go of her foot and then nodded.

“I apologize.”

The world paused. And then tilted.

Apologized? No male had ever apologized for touching her against her will. Her chest rose and fell with her pants as she stared at him.

“My actions were thoughtless. And they will not happen again.”