I nod but can’t muster another word as my insides shudder. I rest my elbows on my knees, trying to stretch my tense back. She clearly doesn’t like the idea, which comforts me. But I told her I’m not anymore, and she still pulled away.
She must really hate them.Finding my voice again, I add, “I’mnota prince or anything else anyone might call me.”
I’ll say anything to keep her. But it’s also the truth. And in my experience, the truth is as fast as a bullet and equally ruthless. It’s better to know it’s coming than pretend it won’t hurt.
“My father disowned me for wanting to follow the old ways of listening to my Storm, my heart, and what matters to me. So now I am just a guard, a soldier, a Rogue. I have no kingdom to offer you, no status, no home. I am not even allowed to orbit our fleet. I have my ship, my crew, and my skills. I am starting over.”
I had thought beingRoguewould be a bad thing. But Jovie doesn’t seem to want royalty. Yet as I look at her now, still shying away from me like I am a monster, I don’t know what to think.
I hang my head, ashamed and broken that I cannot give her more and fearing the consequences of my admission.
“I’m so sorry.”
13: Jovie
Reality is a poorly mounted thruster that breaks free and swings like a pendulum into my body with blackout force.
A Prince. Ahatedprince. A soldier who clearly still loves his people. Aura is confusing as hell, hot as a purple Hades, and suddenly looks more broken than I feel. He’s had and lost far more than I can comprehend.
We clearly have something special between us, but I’m not sure I’m ready for a different kind of misery ofthismagnitude.
A whole fleet? Aura can’t go home? But his people are in danger. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to abandon them. Which means he wants to go back and do what he can. So he might be facing jail for fighting for his people?I pinch the space between my brows as a headache forms.
As much as I had hoped for an easier life, it’s not like I could reasonably expect it with the galactic war against the Nebs going on. But I am bummed to find out the hunky, virile alien that I’m apparently meant to be with has experienced such rejection. I know the feeling well. And my rule of no royalty doesn’t really apply. He’s still just a soldier. But there’s a mess of Royal proportions that we might have to deal with.
Aura stares off into distant space. His eyes dim, and his electric charge wanes beside me. “I just want you to be happy. I understand now that isn’t with me. I’m sorry I’ve put you through this. I shouldn’t have come.”
When he gets up and starts for the complex, I can’t stand letting him go. The misery he has to be in makes me want to combat it with him. He’s defended me. He’s not a bad person. Not that I can see. And I don’t want him to lose anything else. “Aura.”
When he doesn’t stop, I catch his hand with force. “Please.”
He stills and looks back at me, dejection in his eyes.
“I promised myself no royals because I didn’t want an entitled ass that didn’t understand me. But you don’t strike me as that type. You just caught me off guard.”
“What about the other things?” he asks. “The war, the Denarso, being disowned?”
“Everyone is at war. I mean, I worked on military ships. There are people on Earth who steal like Denarso. And I know what it’s like to be rejected, Aura. By my sister, my ex, my mother, and my best friend, actually. They chose themselves overus.”
Aura cautiously faces me. “I would never do that. If you choose me, I will go to the ends of the universe to keep you safe.”
“Because of this energy?” I hover a hand near his chest and admire the pale green jagged lights that reach for my fingers.
“Do you not trust your instincts?” Aura studies me closely, his breath a feathery warmth against my face.
“I do, but my thoughts can get in the way. Are you sure you’re not just picking me because I’m easy?”
“I have refused Amphiran matches for over a decade and met many human females and those of countless other species,” Aura rumbles softly.
His chest heaves with a breath. “I haveneverfelt this way for another. My Storm nearly tore me apart when I tried to walk away just moments ago.
“I have been searching for you since before my father tried to match me. He is desperate for an heir so he can feel validated in the public’s eye. But I do not care for his rules or his way of life. I want a mate who wants me back. I want my people not to have to hide their Storms like they are some form of inherent sin that makes us vile animals. Storms are power.”
And then it hits me. “Are Royal Storms as strong as Rogues?”
“They used to always be more powerful. Lately, it’s hard to tell since displays are banned. Only Royal guards can use them to keep kings and Elders safe. But Rogues often make use of them in the fields, during battle. Why?”
I covertly draw in the light scent of Aura, a blend of light cologne, clean skin, and that new thruster smell, no doubt from his tech and armor. “Just wonder if Royals are losing their edge, so they’re banning the power they can’t control.”
