“Daemon—”
Daemon shook his head and cradled her cheek in his palm. “I know why you did it. Iunderstandwhy you did. But I almost lost you.”
“No, you di—”
“Yes, my star, Idid. I felt you fading. Felt your body growing weaker with every passing second. If I hadn’t intervened, I don’t know that you’d be here right now.”
Auraelia held his gaze, the rich green in her eyes giving way to their natural slate coloring as she slowly controlled her magic. “What of the wards? Do they stand?”
Daemon shook his head with a chuckle. “Of course, you’re worried about that right now.” When her eyes narrowed on him, he released an exasperated breath and continued. “They do. Andfrom what your brother said, they’re stronger than anything he’s seen.” He paused for a moment, letting the words sink in, but when she opened her mouth to respond, he narrowed his gaze. “You’ve done all that you can do for now, Auraelia. You’ve taken care of your people; it’s time for you to let me take care ofyou.”
Auraelia began to push up from the bed, and Daemon rested a steadying hand on her back, easing her into a sitting position. “Daemon, I can’t just sit here.”
“You can, and you will. I mean it, Princess. You can’t do everything on your own. I know you want to, that you don’t want to risk putting anyone else in danger, but you have to let someone help you. So, you can eitherlet mehelp you, or I can tie you to this bed andmakeyou.” Auraelia turned toward him slowly, her eyes lighting up at his words as her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth. “Oh, no, my star. This would not be the pleasurable kind. If you let me hold the reins for a while, I might make it worth your while.”
With a huff of a breath and a roll of her eyes, Auraelia finally acquiesced.
After a quick dinner, Daemon sent a note to Xander while Auraelia showered, letting him know that his sister was awake and doing well. Once she emerged from the bathing chamber, they returned to bed with the tray of food that Ser Aeron sent Xander for.
Auraelia picked at the fruit and nuts while he braided her hair, a contented silence settling over them. When he finished, he pulled her back into his hold, nuzzling into her neck before leaving a trail of kisses along the slender column. “You need to rest, my love,” he whispered against her skin.
“From what you’ve said, I’ve beenrestingall day.” Her words were punctuated with a roll of her hips against his own.
A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Insatiable creature.”
“Daemon,” she whimpered.
“My star, you’re still recovering from the day.”
“Please.” The word was drawn out into a breathy plea, her hips moving in small circles against him. “You said you would make it worth my while, and it will help me sleep.”
“You’re incorrigible, you know that?”
“Is that a yes, then?”
Daemon hummed as his lips moved along her shoulder, his hand sliding down her side to where the silk of her nightdress had bunched at the top of her thigh. “If I let you come on my hand, will you go to sleep?” His fingers slowly slipped beneath the hem and up over her stomach.
Her head fell against his shoulder, and a groan slipped between her lips. “More, I need more.”
Daemon glided his hand down, his pinky fingering the top of her undergarments. “It’s my hand or nothing, Princess. How badly do you want to come tonight?” Auraelia whimpered as she rocked her hips forward, searching for the friction she knew he would provide. “Who do you belong to, Auraelia?” he asked as his fingers slipped lower.
“You, I belong to you.”
“Who owns your pleasure?”
“You. Daemon,please.”
“Don’t you ever forget that.” Auraelia was dripping by the time he plunged two fingers inside. Every little breathy word that left her lips was a straight shot to his cock. Every moan was a shock to his system. She’d claimed him in ways he didn’t know was possible. Saturating his senses until all he knew, all he saw was her.
Auraelia rode his hand while he nipped and licked his way across her neck and shoulder. His other hand held her flush against him, her hips grinding against his in delicious torture. This wasn’t how he expected to spend their last night together; he had intended to be buried inside her until the sun came up.But holding her while she came apart for him was more than he could have asked for after the day that she’d had.
When her orgasm finally ripped through her, she’d come with his name on her lips before he devoured it with a kiss. Then, true to her word, she curled up against his chest, her breathing even as she drifted back to sleep.
The sun’s rays hadn’t even begun to peek over the horizon line as Daemon slipped from bed the following morning. Auraelia was still fast asleep, only a mumbled groan slipping from her lips as she reached toward the spot where he’d just been. He hated leaving her—everything about it felt wrong—but he also knew that he needed to. Needed to prepare his people and get his council on the same page.
After dressing as silently as possible, Daemon pressed a kiss to her brow and snuck from her chambers to meet Aiden in the front courtyard of the castle.
“Ready to go?” Aiden asked as soon as he approached.
