Page 231 of The Forbidden Dragon King
Daire struggles for breath, unable to recover because of the chains around him.
Aurelius growls, trying to stand up, but Maximinus weights the chains around Aurelius’ wrists with a single gesture, keeping him on the throne.
“These are the two uncivilized creatures who you’d bond with, boy?” Maximinus shakes his head. “Both insolent and uncontrollable. You always were poor at decision making.”
“I am devastated to have disappointed you, Uncle,” Aurelius deadpans.
Maximinus lays his hand on Aurelius’ shoulder, making it look like a reassuring gesture. Aurelius hidesthe pain well, but I can see how hard Maximinus is clawing in with his nails.
“You rejected a match with my perfect daughter, Liviana, for these outcasts and criminals…?” The Head of the Council punches Daire again.
I struggle, but there is nothing I can do.
Helpless, I look at Aurelius. “Please…”
For the first time, his gaze flicks to mine.
My heart drops at how cold it is.
It is as emotionless as ice.
Except, now that I am looking more closely, Aurelius’ hair is a mess beneath his crown, rather than neatly combed as normal. There is the smudge of a bruise forming along his sharp cheekbone, as if he’s been backhanded.
My brow furrows at the memory of the Omega who would flirt with Aurelius and waltz into his bedroom like she owned it and him: a pretty silver winged Omega, Liviana.
Daire appears to understand the danger of the connection at the same time that I do, becoming ashen.
If the Head of the Council is Liviana’s mother, then she has a motive to want us killed.
We took the Alpha who her daughter had set her sights on, whether because she loved him or for ambition.
“Decima,” Aurelius says through clenched teeth, “any Alpha would be lucky to match with your daughter. Between us, it would have been a purely political arrangement, however, without bonding. But I have told you repeatedly that I rejected the match, no matter how manyshady deals you made to improve your political standing here in the Council in order to force me.”
Decima pales, twisting back to the other members on the raised stage. Her gaze darts to Maximinus.
Well, that exposes one of the co-conspirators.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Decima tilts up her chin. “You have a duty to my daughter, however, and she has waited long enough while you played at wars for three years.”
“Played?” Aurelius’ eyes flash. “My soldiers bled so that fucking nobles like you could sleep safely in your beds and call itplaying.Tarquin had a duty to her. I don’t. How could I match and make Queen someone who I not only don’t love, but every time I look at them, I see the dust of my own brother?”
Decima’s lips thin.
“You would learn that it is better than seeing the dust of a destroyed kingdom.” She marches into the center of the basilica, raising her voice until it echoes in judgment. “The two choices before us for those who illegally bonded with our King, leading to our city being vulnerable to attack during wartime, are death by fire or sacrifice to the Shadow Gods.”
“Can I vote for neither option?” Daire calls.
I’m trembling. My pulse is roaring in my ears.This is really happening.
I glance at Aurelius, desperate that this time there will be warmth —something— in his look, anything apart from that lifeless cold. I’m shocked, however, that his eyesare blazing with the same swirling fury, as when he transformed into Hadrian.
Aurelius still seems to be in control, however, even as he yanks hard enough on the chains that he bruises his wrists and blood trickles down to pool on the throne. “If anyone votes for either option, then I will hunt them down and tear off their wings myself. Now let me up right now, or by the Shadow Gods, I will find a way to bring down this gaudy building on all your heads.”
The Council members back away from Aurelius with terrified expressions.
Maximinus merely looks bored, flicking his wrist to free Aurelius of the weight but not the chains. “Are you a tyrant now then?”
Shit, this is a trap. Was this never about Daire and me to begin with?
