Page 52 of The Forbidden Dragon King
“I’m not trying to steal your pretty dagger again,” I say.
“Again?” He looks down at me, cooly. “So, you admit that you did before.”
“Don’t interrogate drunk wolf shifters. It should be a rule or something.”
“I am the King. I could make it one.”
“Okay.”
I tease the wet hair at the base of Aurelius’ neck, which is like silk.
It’s strange to finally touch him; he’s hard and muscled. For the last few days, he’s felt like a dancing shadow. I half imagined that I may have dreamed him.
After the confused fantasies in my mind, I needed to be sure.
“I’m happy that you’re back,” I whisper. “I was worried about you, hoping that you weren’t injured.”
Now, I understand why people drink. It lets you say things that you wouldn’t have the courage to otherwise.
I’m reckless most of the time but not with my heart. I tried confessing once with Bard, and he threw it back in my face, mocking me as unworthy.
Then he rejected me.
Please, don’t laugh at me.
“Did you pray to the Shadow Gods for me?” Aurelius is holding himself very still.
“I wouldn’t go that far.” I pull back to trace his sharp cheekbone, drying it with the tip of my finger. “You’re pretty.”
Startled, Aurelius’ gaze lowers to mine. “Am I?”
This close, I can see the tawny flecks in his eyes and the length of his golden lashes.
“Hmm.” I lean against his armor. “As pretty as Daire is.”
I yelp in shock, when Aurelius peels me off him and pushes me down onto my nest. I land on my face in the cushions, before squirming around on my back to get comfortable.
“That fae is a trickster.” Aurelius crosses his arms.
“I know,” I say, merrily.
“A rogue.”
“I know.”
“He has no knot.”
“I…” I blink. “Wait, is that true? None of the stories mention that. His charm probably makes up for it.”
Aurelius narrows his eyes. “To be clear, I have no idea. I don’t make it a habit of examining my prisoner’s cocks. And I would say that my new pet has less charm and more flirtatious sass.”
I watch Aurelius carefully, as he rounds the bed to kneel in front of the silver shrine. “Daire is your prisoner…?”
Well, that’s sobered me up.
“I told you that I’d bring back my old foe leashed and in a cage. He’s not King Daire anymore. He’s no more than my pet, Kit. If you want him to live, then you’ll learn to call him that.”
“I won’t.”
