Page 50 of The Forbidden Dragon King
Knowing what?
That Aurelius isn’t wounded?
Daire isn’t dead or captured?
If Daire is in the grip of the dragons, should I try to free him? If I become his savior, then his entire kingdom will owe me. What kind of deal would the fae make me then? I’d have a new home for life in the Unseelie Kingdom.
Would Daire also turn those enchanting, otherworldly eyes on me? Fly me away held not in sharp claws but rather, his soft, raven wings?
I take another swig of honeyed wine. My mind starts to swim. My gaze is blurry, as I collapse to rest my head on my arms.
“Daire,” I murmur, smiling. “My silver haired rogue.”
I imagine the fae’s plush lips lowering to kiss mine…
Finally…
I edge my hand beneath my leather dress, feeling how slick I already am.
I purr, touching myself higher up.
To my shock, the twinkling lavender eyes in my pleasurable fantasy turn to cold amber.
Then suddenly,piercing red-wine…
I gasp in horror, pulling back my fingers. I stand sharply.
I flail around in panic, as my nighttime nightmare breaks into my daydream, knocking over my goblet. Thewine spills across the table, spoiling the food and pooling across the floor.
“Fuck,” I whine.
“You’re drunk,” an icy voice says behind me.
“I’m not,” I reply reflexively.
The lie is revealed by the way that I stumble as I spin around.
Aurelius is standing in the entrance to the tent.
Water drips off his strong shoulders and his gleaming armor. His hair is plastered to his head and neck. His expression is mask-like.
Excitement rushes through me, along with a joy that I don’t understand.
I rush toward him.
I scan Aurelius greedily, checking him for injuries. He doesn’t look any different from when he set out. His armor is just as immaculate. His tight leathers aren’t even torn.
I frown.
Did he fight at all?
The only differences are the purple shadows underneath his eyes, as if he hasn’t slept for days, and a haunted look that is lurking behind his eyes.
Aurelius isn’t even covered in blood, unless the rain washed it away.
Why was I worried? Perhaps, kings in the Draca Kingdom are raven starving cowards who don’t fight their own battles or get their hands dirty.
I should have known not to trust the legends.
