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As he gazed at her long lashes, her beautiful lips, the lips he wished would move, would curse him for what he’d done to her. He knew with complete certainty that he was in love with the woman he’d once loathed.
“I love you, kitten. Now wake for me,” he whispered and pressed his lips to hers.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Aura
Beneath the surface, water sloshed against Aura, her pulse pounding in her ears. She closed her eyes—she didn’t know how many times she’d died but believed it didn’t matter anymore.
Then something soft brushed her mouth. A delicate caress. Her lids flew open to familiar molten silver eyes as he peered down at her with a furrow between his dark brows.
“You’re safe now. The spell is broken,” Rush whispered.
Aura gasped for breath and jolted forward in his bed, drinking in all the air she could, air that she hadn’t known if she would ever have again. All the moments before her horrific dream stormed back through her, and she screamed.
“You left me locked in my room!” She sobbed, slapping Rush’s chest, remembering Pax carrying her out the palace gates, how she was uncertain if the king was alive. “The prince, he—”
Rush’s arms folded around her, keeping her from lashing out. “I killed that fucker. I made sure he would never harm you again.”
The news of his death didn’t stir any melancholic feelings. Not satisfaction. Not remorse. Nothing. Because he wasnothing. But then fear crawled through her at what could come next. “Starnight will—”
“Do nothing. The prince had me bound with every intention of ending my life. He already killed my sisterand no one will blame me for protecting the royal line. The King of Starnight will not touch my court unless he wants his ripped apart,” Rush growled, even though his fingers gently combed through Aura’s hair.
She thought about it, the guards he’d attacked. He was right—the king wouldn’t be foolish enough to start a war with a dragon king after all the things Pax had done. “Is Astor alive? Tanix and Laird… And Pax wasn’t alone—there was a sorceress helping him.”
“Astor is fine. The guards and servants who were unconscious have woken. As for the sorceress, she and I worked out a bargain.”
“I hope the bargain was worth it.” She wondered what the sorceress offered for him not to have killed her.
“It was,” he murmured, not taking his eyes off her. “My sister aided in breaking the spell. Sorcha wanted you to know that she’s so very sorry for everything.”
“You spoke to your sister again?”
He nodded. “Sorcha woke this time and was the only one who could snap off the spindle to end the curse. She didn’t want to remain here, knowing her child wouldn’t awaken too, nor did she want you to stay under a spell. Astor and I gave her a proper send-off for a royal, but we must keep it between us. There would be too many questions and those who would want to bring their loved ones back from death.”
Aura’s chest tightened. Her life wouldn’t have woken the both of them, only the princess. Sorcha had a chance to live again, and she chose not to. Not only for her child but for Aura too. Aura hoped Sorcha could release any guilt she had about her relationship with Pax. A heart couldn’t help who they loved, and Pax was the one who’d preyed on the princess. One day, Aura hoped to thank her when the gods decided her time in Grimm was finished.
She took Rush’s hand in hers, squeezing it gently. “Your secret is safe with me. I’m so sorry you had to lose her again. Is there anything I can do?”
“I don’t want to talk about her anymore. Maybe one day. But not now.” His voice wasn’t harsh, only exhausted.
Aura shakily shifted to the edge of the bed, her pink dress hugging her body. She was grateful that it wasn’t the same color as the one she’d worn when she’d died beneath the water. “I need fresh air.” Even though she could breathe now, she wanted to get the brackish taste of the water from her mouth, her tongue, and her lungs.
“I’ll take you to the gardens, kitten,” Rush said softly, staring at her in a way he never had before, as though she might break.
She stood from the bed and stumbled, her legs weak.
“Hold onto me,” Rush murmured, wrapping his arm around her waist as he walked her out of his room into the hallway.
Two guards she’d seen around the palace now hovered near the walls. Her heart plummeted at the sight—she’d gotten used to seeing Tanix and Laird’s familiar faces, and the space seemed empty without them. Not a drop of blood lingered on the floor as if it had never been there at all.
The servants and guards walked with brisk steps or stood stiffly in their assigned places. Fear shone in a few of their faces, not a hint of their normal relaxed states.
As they went outside into daylight, a light breeze ruffled her hair. Her muscles regained their strength, and even though she enjoyed Rush’s touch, his warmth, she leaned away from him to breathe a little freer.
They walked in silence to a willow tree near the large area where he would land when in dragon form. Aura rested her back against the trunk, drawing in breath after breath, promising herself she would never take something so simple for granted again. Rush studied her, his gaze intensifying by the moment.
“Remember, you swore you wouldn’t lock me in a room ever again. Are you going to keep your word?” She arched a brow.
