Page 223 of The Forbidden Dragon King
“Fuck, yeah.” I reply. “Is it sensitive?”
“It’s like I’ve bared my soul bloody in front of you. You could crush it.”
“Or kiss it.” I lower my head.
My hair sweeps over the scales of his tail, which restlessly shifts.
Then I kiss his warm tail, reveling in the fact that no one has seen it apart from Daire and me.
It’s for us alone.
Daire rests his hand gently on Aurelius’ tail.
“I never thought anyone would want to see or touch my tail.” Aurelius avoids our gaze, even as his tail pushes into our hand and mouth like it can’t resist. “It’s golden. I was taught to hate and fear that. I once tried to?—"
Daire hisses, turning the tail to the side in shock. “You tried to hack it off.” He runs his finger over the missing scales. My heart aches at the thought of a younger Aurelius damaging the most precious part of himself because he’d been taught that it was ugly and he’d never have fated mates to show it to. “Didn’t you hear how bloody beautiful Freya finds you, Aurelius? You’re powerful too. Witha bandit and a thief like us at your side, who can stop you now?”
Aurelius huffs. “So, you finally admit your crimes then?”
He loops his tail around us both in a sudden move that shocks the breath out of me and hauls Daire and me up into the air in front of him.
Daire only laughs, wriggling against me. “Never confess anything. It’s one of the Unseelie rules.”
My legs dangle. I struggle, grinning.
I stare down at Aurelius, who is surveying us with a regal look but dancing eyes. “May I be judged separately?”
Daire shoots me a pretend hurt look. “After everything we’ve been through together.”
Somehow, Daire manages to pull off being held in Aurelius’ tail above the ground, as if he’s simply enjoying a ride on an unusual animal.
“You know,” Daire catches Aurelius’ gaze, “you could fly us all away from here. We’ve committed a lot of crimes. How many rules have you broken now? If I’m no longer a prisoner, then prove it. The featherglass are accepted as part of the army. They’re safe, and I trust them to get themselves out of danger. I trained them, after all. I can serve you anywhere. Freya isn’t safe in Bael.”
The amusement dies on Aurelius’ face. He stands up, and I gasp, as Daire and I are swung even higher into the air.
The end of the tail flicks out shadows, untying Daire’s mask and then ripping it off his face. The mask clatters to the cave floor.
Daire’s eyes narrow. “What’s your problem, dragon?”
“My problem, fae, is that neither of us can leave. Not only am I King, and I know that you would never have abandoned your people or kingdom if I hadn’t conquered you, but my uncle holds too tight a leash on both of us. Or am I wrong?”
I stare at both of them, confused.
What is he talking about?
“Daire is your pet,” I say. “We both are, right? Then you made us cadets. Now, you promised us that we’re your bonded fated mates. How does that give your uncle any power over Daire?”
I don’t ask how he holds power over Aurelius. I’ve already witnessed that.
Aurelius’ gaze hardens. “Do you want to tell her or shall I?”
Daire stubbornly sets his jaw. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“One last chance.”
“Oh, go to hell, you pompous arsehole.”
Instantly, Aurelius’ tail slithers away like a retreat and a loss all at once, disappearing back into Aurelius, as if it had never been there.
