Page 121 of Scars and Burns

Aemond holds his hands up. Blocking me from the door. “It’s alright! King Elio is alive and well. Nothing will happen to Prince Aeron, my lady. All is well.”

I’m wriggling under his touch. He’s grabbing my shoulders. Trying to keep me still. I don’t register anything that he is saying. Not until Iknow Aeron is alright. A lump forms in my throat. Making it hard to breathe. I can’t put my finger on it but there’s something new, something different between us.

I feel him.

More than I ever have before. I feel him in my heart and soul. He is alive. He is safe. But I need to see it for myself.

“My lady! Please! Listen to me!” Aemond begs, “Your mate will be her soon!”

I freeze.

What did he just say?

Mate? My Mate? Aeron?

Can’t be but that would explain so much.

But I know he’s not. Mates have matching Goddess marks and I saw his chest. His sternum is blank. Absent of any tattoos or a Goddess mark.

I look Aemond in the eyes, “What did you say?”

“N-nothing my Lady” His eyes are wide. Voice faltering at what he’s just given away.

I relax. Stepping away from him. “First, please don’t call me my Lady. That’s not who I am. I’m just Dinalia. And second, you don’t answer to me. I have no authority or power over you but you care about Aeron. He is your prince. So please answer me honestly. What did you say?”

His shoulders droop with the sigh he releases. “I believe Aeron is your mate. And he will be here soon. So there is no need to panic M- Dinalia”

He laughs, “Feels weird to not use your title.”

I smile at him, “Feels weird for you to speak it to me.”

The doors open. We whip our heads over to see Aeron standing there.

My heart nearly bursts out of my chest at the sight of him. MyGoddess mark burning. Feeling the pull towards him. I don’t care if he’s not actually my mate. I will not deny this desire.

His eyes widen and before I can move he’s on me. Enveloping me in his arms. Picking me up off the ground. Spinning me in a circle.

Setting me down gently. Taking my face into his hands. Resting his forehead against mine. “I thought I lost you.”

I hear him swallow. As if the lump in his throat was as big as mine until we saw each other.

“Y-you came for me. You saved me.”

“Of course I did! I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner! I knew King Elio was not to be trusted. I shouldn’t have let you out of my site.”

I pull him into a bruising kiss. Smashing his lips into mine. Embracing the warmth he fills my body with. Letting him consume me.

Pulling away, I say, “Doesn’t matter. You came and you’re here now.”

“What is this!”

We freeze. I look to the side of him to see who it is. It’s… oh no.

Saphrina.

I try to step away but he pulls me in closer. I don’t know if he doesn’t realize who it is or if he simply doesn’t want to let me go.

“I have to talk to her.” I whisper to him.

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