Lore of the Wilds (Lore of the Wilds #1)

by Analeigh Sbrana

“My favorite stories are the ones I can escape into. The ones where I can leave behind this bleak existence and be somebody else, even if just for a little while. Someone braver than me. Someone with the power to change their circumstances.”

He grinned, expression brightening. It was as if every smile until then had been half-hearted, but now that she’d said his name, they’d doubled in intensity.

“Right. Well, I’m glad you have your cold leaf water then. I’ll enjoy my creamy cup of joy.”

She had risked everything to help them, but in the end she may have only doomed them.

She really didn’t think this through enough

If anything, she was fighting the urge to fold herself against him to see if, when his strong arms wrapped around her, she would feel the most impossible thing of all. Safe.

And suddenly his mouth was on hers. Every thought flew out of her head but one: He tastes like blackberries and honey.

At her moan, he growled again, deepening the kiss. His tongue entered her mouth, tentative at first—then more insistent, hungry. She was on fire.

“But the truth is, I’m still here because I want to help you. To be honest, the thought of leaving you on your own never once crossed my mind.”

She would figure out a way to repay him. She would find a way to relieve him of the burden she had become. She didn’t know how. In truth, she wasn’t sure of anything at all.

Now, all she wanted was to shut him in a dark room with her and make sure that they had absolutely no clothes between them.

She couldn’t stop herself from nuzzling into him and giving his firm chest a light pet. She loved his blackberry smell. She wanted to eat him up.

Sometimes, their fingers would brush when they dipped their quills into their shared inkpot and the shock would startle Lore. The brief contact birthed a quick heat that shot from the brush of their hands to her core, and the feel of his fingers against hers would linger long after they’d closed their books for the night. It wasn’t long before she yearned for the day to end, for the patrons to leave, and for Finndryl to step through the little door that led to the kitchen.

I think she might be touched starved

And yet, in the moments right before sleep, she would wonder. What was building between her and Finndryl?

Umm not a damn thing

He’d taken to keeping her company in the woods, even if he spent the whole time “resting his eyes.”

“We can speak about this more when I return. Just don’t leave m— Don’t leave again.”

“Promise me you will be here when I return.”

“I’ve heard what she does to those she collects. If she hurt you, tell me. You’re mine to protect.”

They knew it wouldn’t be easy, but they were determined to rescue the people who needed their help.

Im so confused by the trajectory of this plot. What the hell she gonna do after the rescue if she still doesn't really have magic

“You couldn’t hurt me.” “I could hurt you in more ways than you know. But I can’t seem to stop tasting you,” Asher murmured. “Simply delightful.”

“Mouse, if you keep untucking my shirt, I’m going to do very bad things to you.” Lore began untucking it in earnest.

He dropped to his knees and licked his lips at the sight of her spread bare before him. There was no sign of the male who coaxed plants with gentle hands. He looked like a predator who would eat her alive.

“If the price for your power is ink-stained fingers, then I’ll worship this ink. Power is beautiful and, Lore, you’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on,”