Page 106 of The Forbidden Dragon King
“It is his favorite hobby.” Aurelius’ lips thin. “War and her guards will be even more on the alert to protect me after this spectacle by Uncle Max. I shall ensure that you’re also under the surveillance of Wraith and Vicious to keep you safe from his men.”
“Just what I always dreamed about: constant monitoring by my Alpha.”
Aurelius doesn’t look repentant. “They’ll be discrete when they follow you.”
“Stalk me.”
“Protect you.Did you think that I wouldn’t keep an eye on my new treasure? Especially with my uncle making a display of his power over me. He probably believes that he has made his point, but I have made mine. I have played the obedient boy in his shadow, the role that he demands. Now, however, I know that it will never be enough to satisfy him or save myself. Never be enough to allow me to bond. I have lived by Draca Kingdom’s rules and laws for too long. To survive thewhispers and intrigues of this court, I must become smarter.”
My heart is racing. “How?”
“By making you my secret Queen.”
“No one will know…?”
“Not until I have all the pieces in place.”
I study him.
Daire and Aurelius really should become friends. They’re more alike than they realize.
I run my hand through my tangled hair, before noticing the way that the snowflake is tingling.
I brush my fingers across the mark, concentrating in order to sense my connection through it to Daire.
Cold and agony.
I flinch.
My poor, roguish soulmate.
My expression steels. “Thanks for the day off, but future queen or not, a current servant’s work is never done.”
I turn on my heel to walk to my own room to wash off the worst of the dried wine and honey, then change into a fresh uniform, when I’m stopped by Aurelius’ low voice behind me.
“You’re going tohim, aren’t you?” Aurelius’ voice thrums with a tightly controlled fury. “You touch my fucking wings, then you touch his bond mark.”
I hurriedly drop my fingers away from the snowflake, before twisting back to Aurelius. “This may be hard for a lonely, broody dragon like you to understand, but that’s called being part of a pack. And one of our members ishungry right now and has missed his meals because I was here taking care of you.”
“He’s not vacationing in the dungeons. He did try to murder me.”
“Not very hard. You’re not dead.”
“Apparently we have a low bar for loyalty in our pack.”
“Why do you hate Daire?” I burst out. “Why do you both hate each other, when this war isn’t something either of you wanted? You said as much. You’re only punishing him to save everyone else.”
I’m sure that I’ve read Aurelius right.
Haven’t I?
I’m surprised that Aurelius’ expression becomes thoughtful. “Why do I hate him? Why do youlovehim?”
Love?
Who’s talking about love?
My mouth drops open. I shift from foot to foot.
