Page 51 of The Forbidden Dragon King
My shoulders relax. I bet that if Daire has been captured, he’ll be in the same state.
“You’re slurring your words,” Aurelius points out, shaking his head like a dog.
I stop purring and growl, taking a step back, as water sprays across my cheeks.
Aurelius looks too smug.
I wipe my sleeve over my face. “And you’re being an asshole. At least my condition will wear off.”
“By the Shadow Gods, you truly aren’t frightened of challenging me at all, are you? Do you know how many people aren’t scared of me? Or what I may become?”
“An even bigger asshole?”
Aurelius’ lips quirk, as if against his will. “How much did you drink?”
When I hold up my hand, his eyes widen. “Five goblets of wine, already? It’s barely past dawn.”
I glance at my hand, confused. “I only see one hand here.”
“Onegoblet? I’ve finally found someone who is more of a lightweight than I am. Luc is going to be thrilled. I should introduce you soon. You’re going to be the Omega Terrors, I can already see it.”
“I like the wine. It makes me feel warm. It’s been too cold without you. I’ve missed your heat,” I blurt. Fuck, I didn’t mean to say that. “Did you know that you radiate heat?You burn like the sun.”
“A compliment.” Why are the tips of Aurelius’ ears beneath his crown turning red? “You really are drunk, Spark.”
I wag my finger at him. “Nicely tipsy, thank you, Your Majesty.”
“At last, some respect.” Aurelius smiles, despite looking like he’s fighting it. He leans over the table, sniffing the spilled wine. “I’m docking the guards’ salary for fetching you Faler wine; it’s potent. Actually, this is my uncle’s prized stash. He’ll be furious. I shouldrewardthose guards.”
“Good because your guards are my friends. They’ve looked after me better than anyone ever has. Did you know that they brought me honey? I didn’t know that anything could taste this sweet. Wine and honey in the same meal. I’ve always wanted to taste them.” I smile, snatching up a piece of honeyed apple that’s untouched by the spilled wine.
I pop the apple into my mouth.
“I’m glad,” Aurelius says, softly.
Aurelius is watching me with a strange intensity. Hasn’t he seen an Omega eat before? Or is it an Alpha thing? Many of them like to handfeed Omegas, don’t they?
While I was on my knees, scrubbing the floor, I would watch the elite Omegas as they sat on their Alphas’ laps in the Great Hall, being fed prized slices of beef.
“You can handfeed me,” I say graciously, opening my mouth like a baby bird.
Aurelius makes a choking sound in his throat. Then his smile widens into something genuine and fond. It transforms his face.
It surprises me enough to make me snap my mouth shut.
“You have cruel lips,” I say. “But it’s a beautiful cruelty when you smile.”
Instantly, Aurelius’ expression becomes serious. He straightens. His shoulders stiffen.
I don’t like it.
I bang my hand on the table, and he winces. “Drink with me.”
He shakes his head. “I need to sleep. I should be bunking down now but I needed to… I mean, I couldn’t without… I wanted to check that you were all right. Anyway, you should rest too and sleep off this ill-advised morning drinking session. You’ll be sober when you awake. May I help you?”
I turn to him, pushing myself up onto my tiptoes to loop my arms around his neck.
When he flinches, I stare up at his face in confusion.
