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“In case I ever decided to forget.” He scowled. “Now go.”
Aura spent longer in the kitchens than she would’ve thought, watching as Marion baked. Besides not having eaten in days, she supposed she stayed because it reminded her so much of Liana. Marion knew so many secret recipes that Liana would’ve given up her life for them.
After she had a second helping of potato soup, Aura left the palace walls and ventured out into the gardens. The wind ruffled her hair, and the blue of the sky became darker. She hoped Hana was safe now, that Astor would keep his word and take her home. But as long as Aura stayed within the gates like a tamed animal and kept her identity a secret, she believed her family wouldn’t be bothered.
Now that she was alone, the gate inside her mind burst open, releasing a flood of memories about Pax. She’d tried not to think of him, and it had worked until this very moment. Her entire life had been built around becoming the Prince of Starnight’s bride. She hadn’t cared if he’d had lovers in the past, but once she met him, once they started pleasuring one another, it was meant to be them only. For him to lie about everything was far worse than just simply telling Aura that she wasn’t enough for him, that he wanted to spread anyone’s legs when she wasn’t looking.
Blood stormed in her veins and she wanted more than to slap him—she wanted tomurderhim.
“My lady, I haven’t seen you in days. What a pleasant surprise.” A man’s voice drew her out of her raging thoughts.
It was the stable hand—Brix. She hadn’t realized she’d approached the stables. “Sorry, I was held up in my room. You know, sometimes one has to get their beauty rest,” she sniffed, wiping a few angry tears from her eyes.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
Aura peered at this stranger’s handsome face. Since she’d been in the palace, he’d been the only man kind to her, even if it was only for two brief moments. She was exhausted, hurt, and lonely. Most of all, she didn’t want to think about Pax. “Perfect now. You don’t have a lover, do you?”
His brows lifted and the edges of his lips tilted upward. “Not a permanent one.”
“That’s good enough.” Aura grasped his face and brought her mouth to his. There was no hesitation as he kissed her back. Sparks didn’t ignite as they had with Pax, but it still felt good, the way his lips caressed hers, how he tasted of mint.
Brix backed her against the stables and his hardness pressed through her skirt. She wanted to rid herself of Pax. Let another touch her, allow herself to touch them, just so that Pax didn’t have to be the last person who’d pleasured her.
Aura unlaced Brix’s trousers and dipped her hand inside to grasp his length. She stroked him while he groaned. Brix rubbed her mound through the fabric of her dress and she moaned for more. He didn’t leave her begging as he lifted her dress, but before he could dip his hand into her undergarments to touch her heat, a deep voice boomed from behind them, “Touch her cunt and you’ll lose that hand.”
Chapter Eight
Rush
Burn him.
The dragon roared inside Rush.Raged.Coarse hands on her silky skin. Touching. Kissing. Exploring.
Burn him now.
Rush prowled closer to where Aura stood, brushing her skirts down. Heat colored her cheeks. Lips swollen. Chest heaving. If he’d been even a moment later, Brix’s fingers would’ve caressed her silky center. Heard her moan. Made her come.
Incinerate.
Balling his hands into fists, the King of Sin positioned himself between the pair. The scent of smoke filled his nostrils as he towered over Brix. “Off. Limits,” he warned, his voice a mixture of his own and the gravelly snarl of his dragon.
“Forgive me, Your Majesty,” he quaked.
Rush didn’t have it in him toforgiveanything at the moment. If Aura wasn’t at his back, and if he wasn’t in a hurry to take care of court duties, the stable hand would be a pile of fucking ash. “Retrieve my horse.”
Brix darted away the moment the last syllable left Rush’s mouth. Then he spun on Aura. She peeked up at him, part fear, part insolence. She crossed her arms in a silent dare for him to speak.
“No,” was all he could muster without losing his temper.
“No?No!” she shrieked. “You’re the one who told me I could fuck anyone I wanted!”
Rush’s lips curled into a sneer. “And now I’m telling youno.”
She released a wordless, outraged cry, and Rush left her standing there alone. If she spoke another word, she would find herself locked in her room until the spell completed. And right now, he didn’t have time to properly punish her for letting someone else touch what washis.
Bright orange flames crackled in Rush’s bedroom fireplace the next morning. He studied the burning logs as he stood in front of them, soaking up their warmth. His dragon stirred inside him, relishing it just as much. In one swallow, Rush threw back a glass of ale. The golden liquid slid smoothly down his throat, drowning out the image of Aura and the stable hand.
“Don’t pack my cloak,” he ordered his valet, Joff. “I’ll wear it when I leave.”
