Page 80 of Gilded Lies

It was just a bunch of stupid insults, and Gullveig, stealing someone else’s, simply wanted to throw them at Aurelius. The shame still cut through him, and he gritted his teeth. “That wasn’t my fault. Someone wanted my ability, and you damn well know why the Zorians took me. I also didn’t let Jari come here-”

“You’re still disgusting. My two men can use you, and if you gild them, I’ll kill you. Or you can die now. Those are your options because you’re above me.”

Aurelius was about to turn him, but his brother spoke.

“Give me the items first.” Gullveig pointed his sword at Aurelius. “I bet you brought them here to hide, so hand them over.”

“Or else what?”

“Do you want to suffocate in gilt?”

“Fine. You want them?”

He flung the pot toward Gullveig who jerked aside. The edge hit the wing with a clang, and the blob of gold landed in the pile.

“I melted the items,” said Aurelius. “Go ahead and touch it. After I kill you, I’m going to deal with myself and end this curse. You can kiss your silly little island Kingdom goodbye.”

Gullveig stared at the blob and gritted his teeth. “You-you fucking melted them?!”

“Yes.”

Gullveig let out a frustrated sound and clenched his fists. He snatched a cup from the ground and whipped it toward Aurelius who sidestepped. “Fuck you!”

He hurried toward the blob like a cat chasing a shiny toy, unable to resist it. Aurelius was about to turn him and end this bullshit.

The dragon’s wing twitched. The simple movement sent money and a few items flying. The sides of the dragon suddenly drew inward and expanded as a low growl came from inside.

Aurelius paused as the eye blinked at him and fully opened to reveal the beautiful iris with a slitted pupil. The entire body trembled as both wings lifted and created a draft that blew back the loose strands of Aurelius’s hair. Gullveig made a strange noise, and the dragon ignored them as he stood on the pileand shook himself. Bits of treasure tinkled down, and the scales rippled in the sunlight from above.

Mammon turned his head, aimed his gaze right at Aurelius, and opened his mouth to reveal glittering teeth.

“Hello, Golden Prince.”

The urge to have a child was suddenly gone from Aurelius’s brain.

Chapter Sixteen

Jari sat by the rail as he watched the shore. After the sun went down, he remained and kept seeing the little flicker of Aurelius’s golden hair before he’d disappeared into the treeline.

Even though he’d stopped crying, and his face had dried, it hurt. Dear Elira, it hurt so fucking bad.

The house, a life with Aurelius, waking up next to him, the feel of his lips and his cool fingers as he touched…all of it…gone. He twisted the serpent ring on his finger. The Queen had tried to protect her son, Eurig had attempted by not sending his son to David until his last demand, and Jari had tried.

They’d all failed before they’d started. Every shred of Jari’s hope had been smashed.

Part of him wanted to get the other rowboat, go to shore, find Aurelius, and drag him back. Anything to have a little bit more time with him. Or to at least be there for him in his final moments. He shouldn’t have to die alone.

He wanted to rage at someone or punch and kick something. Anything to vent his anger at the fucking curse that had been laid on Aurelius’s shoulders the moment he was born. But he remained in the seat as he stared at the island, vague, and indistinguishable in the dark.

Este came to him at some point when it had to be nearly midnight. “Tenth thinksMorianhas wasting disease that hasn’t advanced far enough to make him appear sickly, and we’re staying as a sort of vigil while he ends his pain. I didn’t correct him, and I said to leave you be.”

Jari said nothing. The truth was worse. Wasting disease was a terrible way to go, but it would have been kinder than the damnGolden Touch. At least the majority of Aurelius’s life would have been far better.

Este held out a bottle. “It’s whiskey.”

“Thanks.”

Nothing would make the pain go away, but he took a swig. It must have been Tenth’s, and it was absolutely disgusting as it burned its way down and threatened to set his gut on fire. He’d drunk some cheap, foul whiskey before, but that took the prize for worst ever.

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