Page 163 of The Forbidden Dragon King
When shadows spark from Aurelius’ horns like ash, I startle. I shuffle closer on the bench toward Daire, until our thighs touch.
“You picked a bad day for all of this.” Aurelius rubs his temples, as the shadows fall around him. “My head hurts, and I’m still… I don’t quite remember what happened yesterday at the banquet but…”
“You roasted some random vampire, a Lanlin lookalike,alive to celebrate your brother’s deathday,” Daire deadpans. “Congratulations on proving the size of your knot.”
Aurelius stiffens in shock. “I did what?”
His horrified gaze shoots to me for confirmation.
I nod. “Your uncle told you that you’d be avenging your brother’s murder and showing everyone that you deserve to be King.”
“Dear Shadow Gods.” Aurelius clutches his golden hair like he’s trying to pull it out.
He closes his eyes. Tremors wrack him.
Daire and I exchange a glance.
Does Aurelius truly have no memory of last night?
When he uses that cursed dagger and becomes wreathed in its shadows, does he become the actual reincarnated Hadrian?
It’s a terrible fate.
When Aurelius slams his forehead against the desk, I jump.
“How can I not remember?” He slams his head down again with a resounding crack. Blood trickles down his temple. He drags ruthlessly at his hair. “Remember. Fucking…remember…”
When he smashes his head again, I leap off the bench and round the desk. I release calming pheromones, hoping that they will break Aurelius out of whatever is going on.
Aurelius glances up at me with anguished eyes. I gently take one of his hands, disentangling it from his hair.
“It’s normal when you get that drunk,” I reassure, even though I don’t believe it myself. “Stop literally beating yourself up, or War will blame us and she’s scary.”
Aurelius wipes at the blood that’s now trailing down his cheek, as if only just realizing that he’s bleeding. “I’m sorry. I don’t feel right this morning. My mind is a mess. Just return to your room. I don’t want you to see me like this.”
I smooth his hair back into place, allowing him to take deep breaths of my scent gland. My pheromones are settling him in the way that they did before.
He’s both touch and pheromone starved. He needs me like he needs air.
Of course, the more that he needs me, the safer I am. Also, the closer that I come to holding secret power in this court.
I’m his Queen.
The fact that being close to him like this causes feelings of love and connection to flood through me, is something that I can’t examine too closely right now.
Aurelius snatches up a blank parchment, crumpling it. Then he dips it in the remaining water and casually uses it to wipe the blood away from his face.
Daire snorts. “Remind me never to go to you for healing.”
Aurelius throws down the bloodied paper. “We’re both soldiers. Since when were we coddled?”
“Never.”
“Then report to the parade ground for your punishment.You can move back into the servant dorms but only after you receive ten lashes.”
“Not more? You’re going soft, boss.” Daire stands with a shrug. “Just don’t make Spark watch.”
Why isn’t he protesting? Was he expecting this?
