Page 146 of Deadwood
BOWEN
Islipped out of bed, careful not to wake Auria as she slept. It was dusk now, and she’d need food when she awoke. I hadn’t planned to fall asleep holding her, but after nearly losing her, I wanted nothing but to feel her body in my grasp. To hear her breathing unlabored, to see her cheeks the slightest shade of pink as the healing magic brought life back into her.
She’d been so pale when I’d carried her inside, and I swore, on the back of Vulcan, that her breathing had stopped for seconds, minutes. By some miracle, she had survived. When I’d woken at the sound of her whimper, saw her eyes were open, my heart had lit like a torch in the darkest of night, burning brighter than any flame could ever dream of doing. I didn’t want to remember how my chest had felt like a hollow chasm at the thought of her not making it, how rage had flowed through me on the current of smoke tendrils, my veins blackened and my power angry, thrashing, demanding I do something—anything. That if she hadn’t woken up, I’d have to live with the fact that I’d avoided my growing feelings and she’d have never known how I truly felt.
I vowed to change that.
Stealing one last look at her petite form under the blankets, I quietly opened the door, slipping out into the hall. I inhaled a long, full breath after clicking it shut. Auria robbed all the oxygen from my lungs, leaving me breathless in her presence, but in her near death, I wasn’t able to breathe for all different reasons. As I had waited for her to wake, I hadn’t given a single thought to what her father might have done if his daughter had died in my territory. I’d only thought of myself losing her. Of her never experiencing everything she wanted to. I hadn’t thought of my people, and for that, I felt ashamed. Selfish. Now more than ever, with our plan making headway, they needed me focused.
But Auria was a distraction I welcomed with open arms, and I didn’t want to be free of her. Not like I had originally thought I would want to be.
I planned to head down to the kitchen to make her something to eat, but Lander crested the top of the stairs before I moved away from the door, and my entire body instantly went on guard. He was the reason she was hurt. The reason I almost lost her. Smoke licked at my skin, clouds of gray forming around my hands.
“You need to leave,” I ground out before he could make it down the hall.
I’ll end him where he stands, my smoke whispered, its pledge to make Lander suffer clear.
I held it back. I was only feet from where she slept, a thin wall separating us. I didn’t want to wake her if things turned ugly, but I wouldn’t hesitate to rip his head from his body.
“I have a right to see her.”
My fists flexed as my power urged me to strike. It was just as protective of Auria as I was. “Not in my kingdom, you don’t.”
“We’re engaged,” he defended, as if the title made all the difference in the world.
I took a step toward him so as to prevent my voice from drifting into the room. “You were one second away from not having a fiancée at all. If I had found her even one minute later, she would havedied. She’d be dead because you were too much of a coward to take the proper precautions.”
“This isnotmy fault.”
Smoke thrashed in my veins, demanding to wrap ribbons around his throat. I held it back. Barely. “You brought her out there knowing damn well you couldn’t protect her. You didn’t keep her safe, so yes, it is your fault, Prince.” I spit the name like an insult, and he recoiled.
His eyes narrowed, and I wished he’d strike so I had an excuse to rip him apart, piece by piece, letting my smoke have its way with him while I did it.
Give him a reason, my magic purred.Let me loose.
I inched closer, fury radiating off me in waves. “And don’t pretend the two of you are set to be married. I know everything that goes on in this town, including every word that’s uttered. You’re in this for yourself, Bular, and I won’t let Auria get caught in the middle of whatever it is your family has planned.”
His molars ground together right before a creak sounded behind me. Lander’s eyes shot over my shoulder. I looked back to find Auria standing in the hall, a hand on the doorframe. Instantly, I moved to her, offering my hand. She was weak, still healing, and we’d woken her.
“Let’s get you back to bed,” I murmured, gently wrapping a hand around her elbow, the other steadying her waist.
“You can leave us be,” Lander commanded behind me.
I ignored him, knowing if I reacted, I’d likely rip his throat out. The primal side of me wouldn’t leave these two alone with her in this state. So instead, I led Auria back into the room.
“I want to talk to him,” she croaked, her voice slightly raspy from sleep. She leaned into my touch, and I welcomed the feel of her.
Power surged beneath my skin in warning, but I ignored it. “Okay.”
I guided her to the bed, helping her ease down on the edge of it. Lander moved into the room, watching her with a hesitant eye. I gave her space, leaning against the wall at the head of the bed with my arms crossed. I wouldn’t be leaving him alone with her. He hadn’t directly injured her, but he was the reason she was out in those woods in the first place. He might as well have done the damage himself.
I glared at Lander. “Whatever you have to say, get it out and leave.”
“Call off your guard dog,” Lander said to Auria, eliciting a snort from me.
“How do I know you’re not a threat to her?”
Lander turned on me, nostrils flared.
