The moment her lips touched his, the world around them vanished.

The cold air, the dark stone, and centuries of bitter war melted away under the sudden, explosive heat of the bond. Kaelen let out a low, guttural groan against her mouth. His arm wrapped around her waist like an iron band, lifting her slightly off her feet and pulling her flush against his hard chest.

Sylvia gasped into the kiss, and Kaelen immediately took advantage, his tongue sliding past her lips to taste her deeply. A wave of intense, electric sensation shot straight through the tether on her wrist, rippling across every nerve in her body. It was sensory...