Page 104 of Dueling the Suitors

The Emperor of Draken, the most feared and beloved Cyrus the Great, was on his knees before his enemy. For her.

Forher.

Her heart stuttered and broke. Tears spilled from her eyes.

Rowan’s victorious laughter filled the air, grating in her ears. “Orion,” he said, and the next moment, something flew towards Cyrus and clasped at his wrists.

The anti-magic cuffs.

Cyrus dropped his gaze to them, but his expression didn’t change.

Rowan moved the knife from Astoria’s throat, and she took off in a sprint towards Cyrus. Cyrus looked up. His eyes softened just the slightest, and he rose to his feet. He lifted his chain-linked arms, and she ducked under them, colliding into his chest.

She crushed herself to him as much as possible with her cuffed hands between them. Cyrus’ arms held her close to him, his face nuzzling into her hair.

“Are you hurt, Little Dragon?” The immense worry in his voice that made him sound so vulnerable broke her heart further.

She shook her head against him. He snuggled her even closer.

“Guards, keep them in the dungeons until I deal with the court and am ready for the magic deal,” Rowan called out from somewhere ahead. Astoria opened her eyes and saw him now sitting on the throne. Cyrus’ throne.

Her rage burned. She spied the guards in her peripheral view, but no one moved from their position.

Rowan’s expression turned stormy at their loyalty towards Cyrus. “I shall deal with you all later. Orion, would you kindly summon our men?”

“With pleasure,” the man said.

Soon enough, footsteps sounded. Astoria refused to pull away from Cyrus and see how many had emerged from the portal.

Cyrus’ chest rumbled with a suppressed growl. His arms tightened around her.

“Marvelous! Four of you, grab this man and his wife and bring them to the dungeons. Lock them up in separate cells and guard the entrance—why, Cyrus, I shall make sure you are nextto each other,” Rowan added as Cyrus shot him a glare. “Once we strike the deal, you both will be free, but I have something else to see to before that. You have my word.” He turned back to his men. “Don’t leave the dungeons until I send word.”

One of the men stepped forward and reached for Astoria but stopped as Cyrus growled at him, “Touch her. You die.”

“Alright, don’t touch them unless they fight back,” Rowan said tiredly from behind. “Now, lead them away.”

Astoria couldn’t believe this was happening. She looked at Cyrus’ face. He met her gaze but didn’t say anything as he began to walk them out of the throne room, arms still around her.

As they neared the doorway, she looked over her shoulder and locked eyes with Rowan. He smirked. She glared.

He would pay for this. At this point, she didn’t know how. After Cyrus struck the magical deal with him, they couldn’t make a move against him. But hewouldpay for this.

Cyrus squeezed her shoulder as though he heard her thoughts.

21

The Fire Between

When they reached the dungeons, Rowan’s men stepped closer in an attempt to separate them.

Cyrus growled at them with a death glare. “Come any closer and—”

“You will do what?” one of them mocked and laughed, the others joining in. “Some great man you are. In those cuffs, you are nothing but a helpless rat.”

Astoria’s blood boiled. “Watch your tongue, filth!”

Cyrus’ arms tightened around her.

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