“You will, of course, stay and continue to guard Zixin until the exchange is made.” Again, I don't know why I said it or why I was acting like this. Of course, he would stay. If he tried to leave, I'd hunt him down and chain him to my bed. Maybe to my wrist. Maybe this was all for Zixin's benefit. Who knows what I was thinking then? My mind was still recovering from going gooey.
Aras's lips twitched. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Good. We must treat our guest well,” I said. “See to it that he remains unharmed.”
“I will.”
“And I will prepare for a royal visit.” I looked Zixin over again. “So pretty. What a shame that I didn't get to sample you before you mated.”
Aras's growl didn't surprise me. No, it pleased me. Greatly. But I hid my grin. Just barely. I think the pirate might have seen a little lip twitch. No matter. It wasn't as if Zixin would tattle on me.
“After you see him settled, come to my apartments, Captain,” I said to Aras. “I need to speak with you.” Then I left the throne room. I had to get out of there before I started laughing. Dear Gods, what the fuck was wrong with me? The Eye was finally in reach and I was back to behaving like an asshole.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
It didn't take Aras long to come to me, but his reaction to my flirting with the Neraky wasn't what I expected. Instead of raging at me or fawning over me, Aras was aloof. I took his hand to pull him into a kiss, and he backed away.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I demanded, forgetting entirely that I had just asked the same question of myself. Then I knew. With rage and horror, I realized that I was right. Aras had been with another. “Ah. I see.”
“What do you see?” Aras asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
“You've gone back to your old lover,” I said as fire rose inside me. I would kill that fucking Hulfrin. Then I'd burn the body. “You've decided you want to be the—”
“Don't tell me what I've decided, Lyrandir!” Aras snarled as he pointed at me. “You have no idea what I want.”
“Oh?” I narrowed my eyes at him. Then, suddenly, I grabbed his throat and lifted him off his feet. “So, you don't want this?” I grinned as he shuddered. When I put him down, his erection was impossible to miss. “It seems I do know what you want.”
Aras shoved me away. “Maybe you know some of it, but not everything. And let me ask you this; do you know whatyouwant?”
“Excuse me?”
“What was that shit with the Neraky? Do you want him now?”
There it was. Finally. I went lightheaded with giddiness. But why? Why was I tormenting my mate? To test him? To be certain he wanted me? That he hadn't betrayed me? I couldn't think straight, especially with him standing there after being away for so long.
“Aras, I—”
“If that's what you want, Ly, go,” he interrupted me. “Go fuck him.”
I lifted a brow. “He's mated.”
“And that's all that's stopping you?” Aras shook his head. “If I can't hold your interest even when I'm standing beside you, maybe this isn't what I thought it was, and it's better that I move on.”
“Move on?” I growled, baring my fangs.
“Yes. If you don't want me—”
I leapt for Aras, all reason abandoning me, exactly as I felt he was doing. My mate. He didn't love me. He didn't want me. He wanted to move on! Roaring, I took Aras down to the floor. His wide eyes and fallen jaw didn't register with me. I kept seeing that other man—that Hulfrin—kissing Aras. In his arms. Bending over for him. Did that fucking beta enjoy submitting tomy mate? Did he spread his ass and display himself to entice Aras? I was going to fucking tear him apart! There would be no piece left large enough for Aras to identify.
“Ly!” Aras shouted.
My knights burst into the bedroom, the non-Dragons holding swords. They stopped short when they saw us.
“Get out!” I roared.
They ran out.
The sound of the door slamming only made me angrier. I lowered my face to Aras's and inhaled deeply. I shoved my face into his fur. Again and again, I smelled him, pushing aside his pretty coat, then tearing open his shirt to bare his body. And I marked every spot I revealed after making sure no other man's scent was there.
