Page 119 of The Sorrow of Shadows

Fuck.I had forgotten about that.

“I don’t owe you any explanations, Ayden.”

“Perhaps not,” he says as a wicked smile takes over his face. He leans down and whispers in my ear, “But I would love to know what Aurelius thinks about your friend.”

“Our relationship is none of your concern,” I grit out.

“We’ll see about that,” he says, stepping back. “Try to remember the silencing shield tonight. It’s late, and I need my beauty sleep.”

Before I have the chance to respond he’s back in his room, door shut and locked behind him. I roll my shoulders, trying to ease the tension building between them.

I’m muttering something about stupid insufferable males as I finally enter my own room, locking the door behind me. All I want is to bathe and sleep through what little I have left of the night.

“It’s late, Princess.”

My heart beats faster as I lay eyes on Aurelius stretched out across my bed. He’s wearing loose sleep pants, but nothing else. The toned lines of his muscles catch my eyes, and I find myself staring.

“I’m aware,” I finally manage to say. “I was just about to bathe.”

He looks me up and down, his gaze assessing, but I can’t tell what he’s thinking.

I turn toward the bathing chambers and make it all of two steps before I feel him behind me. My hood is down, and his head is buried in the crook of my neck. His arm wraps tightly around me, and I feel his chest move as a low growl rumbles through him.

“Where were you and why do you smell like shit, Princess?”

I flip in his arms so I’m facing him now. “I had to pay a visit to the Midnight Brotherhood. We needed information about the Howard family, and I knew I could get it there.”

“That answers the where, but not why you smell like so manyothers.” The way he says others is laced with threat. He doesn’t like their scents on me or how they got there.

“There is a certain protocol for speaking with a mercenary king,” I explain, keeping my temper and tone even. “One that not even I’m able to bypass. I did what I had to do, Aurelius.”

“There’s lipstick on your neck, Breyla,” Aurelius snarls. “Why didn’t you take me?”

“Cillian never would have spoken to me with you there. We have a history, and he owes me, so he agrees to see me. But you? He never would have let me through the door with you there.” I explain it the best I can, trying my best to remain calm, but it’s becoming increasingly more difficult.

His nostrils flare as he processes my words. “What kind of history?”

My patience finally snaps as I blurt out, “Enough of this. Control yourself!” I shove against him, trying to create space.

He’s having none of it, though, and pulls me back into his chest. “I’m not jealous, Princess. Jealousy would imply that you aren’t already mine, and we both know I hold every piece of you. Your pleasure, your sharp words, your moans, your insults, your laughter, your tears and sorrow, your anger, and even one day—your love—are mine.”

An excited thrill runs through me at his words, and I can’t help the heat growing low in my belly as I realize how true those words are. I never wanted any piece of this male—if anything I wanted him gone from my life—but something changed, and I’m so tired of fighting it. I don’t understand it, but the heart doesn’t obey the laws of logic.

“My history with Cillian is the ancient kind. I made that very clear to him tonight. When he asked me if I had finally found my match, do you want to know what I said?” My heart beats erratically in my chest at what I’m about to admit to him.

“I’d very much like to know, Princess.” Aurelius's eyes search mine as I take a deep breath.

“I told him that I had found the one that makes my shadows sing and my heart beat faster.” The admission comes out barely above a whisper. I’m not proclaiming love, but this is the closest I’ve ever come. “Never have I felt like this for anyone, Aurelius. I don’t understand it, I sure as hell didn’t ask for it, but here we are.”

His jaw drops as his eyes widen, the moon making the crimson flecks sparkle in its light. “Those are awfully poetic words coming from you, my little demon.”

“That’s all you have to say?” I ask dumbfounded.

“You’re not yet ready to hear what I have to say.” His response leaves me stunned. I just admitted that I care for him—that this isn’t just something physical between us—and I’m somehow not ready to hear his response?

“Excuse me?” I ask, trying to understand.

He moves us toward the bed, never breaking eye contact with me. When the backs of my knees finally hit the mattress, he tilts my chin up and kisses me softly. I melt into his kiss, relishing the feel of his lips on mine in a touch that’s so at odds with our normal heated embraces.

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