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“How much time do we have left?”
“Someone should’ve been here already,” Hana said, scowling. She stepped out of the tent, and Aura could hear her talking to the guard. “Why hasn’t my father come yet? Are you supposed to take her there instead?”
“Your father is coming to collect Aura once Prince Pax is ready. His Highness was delayed and is running late.”
“Late?” Hana snapped. “What better things does he have to do on his wedding day?”
“I wouldn’t say such things of the prince,” the guard reprimanded.
“Hmph.” Hanna slipped back inside. “I’m going to see what’s going on. Father should’ve at least come already.”
“Unless he was told not to.” Aura shrugged.
“His Highnessbetter have a good excuse. I’ll return shortly.”
Aura watched her sister storm from the tent, unsure what had gotten into her. She’d never been like this when anyone was late. It was Aura’s wedding day, but if a problem had arisen, throwing a tantrum wouldn’t make the situation better. The prince had promised a wedding to unite not only their families, but their love. And she believed in that.
Tapping her fingers against the table, she read over Pax’s words several times, then brushed her digits along each of the flowers as she waited for the nervousness brewing within her to subside. She continued to linger, to wait, to pace, but Hana never returned, and more than enough time had passed.
A scuffing sound followed by a grunt echoed outside and Aura froze. She glanced around to find any sort of weapon. Only a fork rested beside the fruit on the table. Even though she knew it was a poor choice, she grabbed the utensil. Better than nothing.
Heart pounding, Aura clenched the fork and pulled back the fabric of the tent to the night. Torches blazed, lighting the area, the blossoming trees, but the guard was gone.
She took a hesitant step outside into the cool air. In the distance, the instruments continued to play, the area lit with lanterns. It wouldn’t take her long to walk to the garden where everyone would be gathered. But then a shadow slipped out from behind a tree, becoming clearer as he sauntered toward her. He raked a hand through silky black hair that brushed his shoulders. Beneath the bright torches, eyes of molten silver, with a thin black line circling the irises, met hers, and she blinked. She ignored the man’s strong jaw and his lovely features on a ruggedly handsome face. A handsome face that was part of a man who was most likely up to no good.
Aura held the fork out in front of her, feeling like a fool, but it could draw blood if necessary. “Who are you?”
“A guard,” he purred, seductive, alluring, as he inched closer. “I think it’s time I escort you to the garden.”
She narrowed her eyes. This man was a liar, and a terrible one at that. He wasn’t even disguising himself in guard attire—instead, he wore a rumpled black tunic and wrinkled trousers as if he’d just tumbled someone.
“Where’s Hana?” she asked between clenched teeth.
“The last I saw of your sister, she was trying to find out why the prince is sobusyon his wedding day.” He smirked. “And she was about to stumble upon something rather interesting.”
Aura’s heart dropped, dread filling her as she clenched the utensil tighter. “What have you done to Prince Pax?” There wasn’t a sword at the stranger’s waist for him to wield, so she darted forward while aiming her fork at his chest.
He moved fast, knocking the utensil from her hand and pulling her tightly against his firm chest, an alluring smoky scent enveloping her. Just as she parted her mouth to scream, his hand clamped over her lips and he backed her against a tree. “I’ll tell you a little secret, Aura,” he cooed. “The wedding’s off.”
Chapter Four
Rush
Rush leaned in so the tip of his nose grazed Aura’s ear, inhaling her scent, something that he could only describe as starlight. But this woman was nothing like starlight—she had cast a shadow upon him, even if she didn’t know it. A woman who could’ve been the Princess of Moonstone. “You’re mine,” he whispered to her. Her purpose would now be to return what was ripped from his territory. From him.
Aura drew in a sharp breath and clawed at his forearm, her fingernails digging in, tearing flesh. Her pitiful attempts did nothing to loosen his grip. The effort brought a soft chuckle from his throat and he wondered what she would’ve managed to do with the fork. “Now, now, kitten. Play nice.”
She thrashed and shrieked like a banshee into his palm. Not from anger, though she was clearly full of it. Her thin slipper fell from her foot as she kicked his shin, eliciting a small, pained whine from her. Rush straightened to stare down at her. Shewasa gorgeous little thing. Soft hair haloed her head and her violet eyes glimmered with an intense emotion. Oh, anger was not the correct word for what she was feeling. Fury shone back at him. And fear.Good.
A grin spread across Rush’s face. He hadn’t expected her to be so feisty, so … tempting. It would be fun to toy with her. “Youshouldbe afraid,” he said.
The music coming from the garden cut off just in time for trumpets to blare. Either Pax had finished fucking the curvy wedding guest behind the stable, or the king had arrived to witness the ceremony. Regardless, Rush was out of time. Aura’s father could come for her at any moment, given that he was meant to escort her to the ceremony. Everyone would see his dragon eventually, but he wanted to avoid the hassle of a fight.
He tugged Aura away from the tree to give himself space to shift. Aura twisted and turned in his grip, more muffled screams pouring into his palm.
Rush held her effortlessly as his dragon unfurled inside him, a great power anxious to unleash itself. Pressure built beneath his muscles until the dragon broke the surface. The pain that began as an ache quickly became a sharp sting. Rush’s skin cracked and peeled. A flash of agony followed when the onyx scaled beast burst free, something Rush had grown used to. The discomfort only lasted a moment, then power, deep and raw, raged through his veins.
The tent crunched beneath his taloned foot, the ground trembling, while the other wrapped tighter around Aura. Glimmering black scales covered his massive body, and fire brimmed in his gut, his mouth tasting of ash, begging him to release it and burn the entire palace down. But that would only create an unnecessary war, one he didn’t need at the moment when he had a single goal. Rush blinked to adjust to the heightened vision. His long tail swept out, ripping two large shrubs from the ground near the garden pathway. Stretching his dark wings, Rush cast Aura in shadow, and her body went unnaturally still.
