Page 74 of Crown of Slumber

My heart jolted as I whirled toward the door. Shit. Fenn was right.

Tyrone was here.

I wason my feet in an instant, all exhaustion fleeing from my body. But Aurelia, her spine rigid and her face drained of color, shook her head sharply at me.

“Let me answer it first,” she whispered.

“Aurelia,” I growled.

She lifted a hand to cut me off. “If he attempts anything, you have my permission to swoop in and defend my honor with the full force of your lethal charm and unstoppable charisma.” Her voice was flat, her tone full of sarcasm, which surprised me. In spite of the situation, my mouth quirked upward slightly, impressed by her delivery of humor.

A fraction of her unease seemed to fade as she met my gaze. Sparks still danced between us, the lingering effects of our heated argument. But the resounding knock sounded again, jolting us both, reminding us that there was a greater danger than our ire for one another.

Aurelia shot me one last warning look before making her way to the door. I ducked behind the door as she opened it, letting the light from the sconces in the hallway filter into the darkened room.

Aurelia stiffened in surprise. “Callan.”

I stood up straighter, my back against the wall, the door mere inches away from me.Callan?I ran a hand down my face.Gods, he is such a fool.

But as I glanced at Aurelia, her light orange hair tumbling down her shoulders in waves, her cheeks filling with color at the sight of her former lover, I could understand how someonewould be driven mad at the idea of losing her, of never being able to touch her, or kiss her.

Gods, that kiss… The heat of it still cascaded through my body in a violent rush of awareness. I had kissed many women in my lifetime, but none of those experiences had been as intoxicating as kissing Aurelia.

Which was most unfortunate for me, as her eyes were currently fixed on a different prince. A prince other than me. And the softness in her eyes, the gentle parting of her lips, the creeping blush along her cheeks, told me exactly where her heart lay.

My gut twisted, but I forced myself to focus on their murmured conversation.

“He is unwell,” Callan was saying.

“I don’t understand,” Aurelia said.

“Tyrone. He—He seems quite mad. After what happened tonight, he is not himself. He’s paranoid, making wild, outlandish claims that someone is after him, that someone is trying to take his throne. I’m frightened, Aurelia. I really think you should go to him.”

“I’m not sure what you think I can do for him,” Aurelia said, her voice stiff.

“You were always able to calm him when he wasn’t himself. You have a way of reaching him that no one else does. Please, Aurelia. You have to help.”

Aurelia scoffed. “I will do no such thing. I owe him nothing. And I oweyounothing.”

“No, but you owe this kingdom,” Callan snapped. “You promised them a queen.”

“I did not,” Aurelia argued. “No formal engagement was announced.”

“You promised with your actions. You promised that you would serve them, that you cared for them. If you care for them now, you’ll tend to my brother.”

Aurelia inhaled deeply, her chest rising from the movement. Her fists, balled tightly at her side, began to quiver. At first, I worried it was fear that overcame her. But when she spoke next, I realized it was rage.

“Let me make one thing perfectly clear,” she said through gritted teeth. “My first and only priority is to my kingdom. The SummerCourt. Not your brother. Not the Autumn Court. No one else. Do you understand? I don’t give a damn what your brother is going through. He is a beast. A vile monster. And I won’t let him near me again, no matter what he is suffering from. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have had an exhausting day, and I must rest now.”

She moved to close the door, but Callan shoved his boot in the doorway, stopping it. He crowded her, stepping halfway into her room as he loomed over her.

“He is my brother,” he seethed, “and I?—”

In a flash, I shifted, sliding between the door and Aurelia and shoving the prince’s shoulder, causing him to stumble backward in alarm. I forced a laugh. “Oh, sorry about that! You mustn’t linger in doorways like that, or you might get knocked on your ass.” I casually draped my arm over Aurelia’s shoulders. She tensed under my touch but didn’t push me away.

Callan’s eyes flashed as he glanced between us, his nostrils flaring. “The king is unwell. He needs?—”

“It’s not our concern what the king needs. Send for your healers, if you must. We possess no magic to cure any illnesses. Goodbye now.”

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