My. Bonded. Mate.
“I was wondering where you disappeared,” King Noctis exclaims, and with a jolt, my eyes flash open.
He knew. This was the reason for the deal. It wasn’t a political move, he was protecting his son, and maybe even me.
“Oh good, I see you found the lady of the hour,” the king declares with a wide smile, his eyes landing on me for a moment before they begin searching behind me. “And where is…ah…Aeson, there you are!”
I tense and my whole body grows frigid while simultaneously flashing with heat.
Shit.
I’m not ready! I can’t face him yet!
Desperate to escape, I start frantically searching for an exit, but the annoyingly familiar faces of Aeson’s Wing are spread out all around us. I start tabulating which one of them I might be able to get past, and then I feel a large scorching palm against my bare back.
“There you are,” Aeson rumbles, and I wonder if anyone else can hear the menace in it or if it’s just me. “I was just wondering where yousnuckoff to.”
He quickly steps away before the butterflies can get more than a few swipes in, and my skin instantly laments the loss of his touch. His presence is all at once overwhelming, even two feet away, and I know it’s too late.
I’m trapped…in every sense.
My blood is molten lava. My pulse is one continuous beat ofshit, shit, shit. My body is aware of every shift in weight and intake of breath, and my dragon is demanding I close the distance between us immediately. I almost want to laugh, because how the fuck did I not see it before? It’s so damn obvious. I can practically feel the bond snap into place at his proximity, like a tight string on an instrument ready to play the perfect note if plucked, stroked, or caressed just right.
I brave a glance at Aeson’s face, and the second our gazes connect, I’m certain he can read every chaotic, confused, carnal thought careening within me.
You don’t have to fight him.
He’d do anything for you.
You’re not alone now.
Lorn’s assertions rebound through my mind, blocking out the pleasantries the three Noctises begin to exchange.
I study the commander, looking at him as though I’m seeing him for the first time. He’s no longer just my enemy, my captor, the itch I’ve been fighting not to scratch. He’s now the berth I’ll be moored to, the sun my instincts will forever orbit, the future I’m not sure I can ever have.
Lorn wants me to let Aeson in, to solidify this tether between us by giving him my trust, my secrets. But they’re not mine alone to hand over. I can’t compromise all the other vital connections that make up who I am, not even for my Bonded Mate. And that realization guts me.
King Noctis says something that has Aeson grinning and looking over at me with a curious glint in his eyes. “What do you say, Claws? You up for the challenge?”
“I’m always up for a challenge,” I answer evenly, proud that I sound calm and confident when inside I’m a screaming knot of nerves and exhilaration. I have no clue what I just agreed to, but I’m not going to admit that my brain is melting down over this mate shit and I haven’t been paying attention.
“Excellent.” The king nods and then tosses me a wide smile. “Any particular song?”
Song?
“It’s okay, I’ll choose one,” he dismisses and then strides off before I can respond or figure out what he’s talking about.
Puzzled, I turn back to Aeson. “What’s going on?”
His features fill with mischief, and he bends at the waist, offering me his hand like some gallant gentleman. “Ever Tenebrae, may I have this dance?”
Well, fuck.
Chapter 40
“THIS IS A BAD IDEA,” I tell Aeson, who’s standing a handful of feet away from me in the center of the ballroom.
The other dancers have cleared the way, and all eyes are on us as we wait for the music to start.
