“No. Don't move.” I yanked Aras back down to my lap. “Move slowly. Just relax here for now.”
“Ly, I'm fine.” He pushed my hands away and stood up. “And I'm leaving.”
“What?” I gaped up at him.
So much was happening and that fucking stone was still yammering in my head. But, miraculously, the fear of losing my mate had focused me on him, and I was able to tune her out. Except I might still lose Aras. Not to death but my own folly. What the fuck had I done that was bad enough to drive him away? While recovering from a brutal attack and naked as well. Whatever it was, I would make it up to him. I had to.
“No one's leaving,” King Vaxarion growled. “Not before I fucking slaughter them. Then they can be carried out.”
“Shh!” Zixin hissed at his mate. “I wanna hear this.”
I didn't listen to the rest of their conversation. I was too intent on my mate rejecting me.
“I can't do this anymore, Ly,” Aras said.
“Do what?” I demanded. “Us? You don't want to be with me anymore? Because you certainly seemed interested earlier today.”
“I want you. You know that. But you've taken this alpha thing too far. I should have known you would. You're a king. But you made me believe in you. In us. You made me think you could give me what I need and still see me as your equal—at least in bed. But you don't respect me. You're not as invested in our relationship as I am. And I deserve better. I fucking demand it. So, I'm leaving. Get one of your pretty courtiers to fuck you. Just know that no one is going to drill that ass like I do.”
“Oh, shit,” Zixin whispered.
The Sea King and his mate started to have a full conversation while my life fell apart. I ignored them and focused onmymate. “Aras, how can you say that? I've told you things I haven't told anyone else.”
Except me,the Eye said.You didn't tell him about me. And when are you going to fucking claim me?!
Shut the fuck up!I shouted in my mind.
The shout shivered through me and pulsed out of my body. I gasped as the Eye's presence was pushed out with that pulse. It was Aras. All this time, he held the key to my sanity. Only with him at my side could I use the Eye without being used by it.
“Words,” Aras scoffed. “Your actions say something different. There is a difference between dominating someone to sexually please them and suppressing them. Enslaving them. You proved that to me today. All you do is take!” He shook his head. “And all I do is give. I'm done giving, Your Majesty.” My mate turned and walked away.
“Don't go!” I shouted and raced after him. “Please, love. I'm sorry. I was so focused on gaining the Eye that I didn't see how poorly I was treating you. Forgive me.”
Aras spun to point a finger at me. “Don't fucking use that stone as an excuse! You were trying to control me. You wanted to make me jealous. Well, I may not be a king, but I'm the captain of one of the fastest ships on the sea, and I don't fucking get jealous. I don't need you. I don't need anyone. You were a great fuck, that's all.”
Pain shot through my entire body. It shot through my damn soul. So deep did it go that I saw Aras shudder from the echo of it down our bond. I lifted my chin and said, “You don't mean that, Aras.”
“Yes, I fucking do!” he shouted.
“Then why did you save my life?!” I roared back at him.
The question echoed through the room and everyone there stared at Aras, eager for his answer. Aras looked at Zixin. Fucking Zixin! Why was my mate looking at that pirate for help in answering a question about our relationship?
“When you spend your life fighting, it can be hard to know when it's time to lay down your arms and walk away,” Zixin said. Aras started to scowl, but then Zixin went on, “Or when to pick them up again and settle in for a good battle.”
I looked from Aras to Zixin and back again before demanding, “What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means you should fight for the man you love,” King Vaxarion snapped.
“I am!” I shouted at that insufferable Sea King.
“No,” Aras said as he strode back to me. “It meansIshould.” He grabbed the back of my head and yanked me into a savage kiss.
With hope exploding inside me, I grabbed Aras back, locking my arms around him so he wouldn't get away. I wouldn't let him go this time. Not ever again. Aras's crew and my Dragon knights started to cheer. My grip relaxed a little as I realized that Aras wasn't pulling away. This wasn't a goodbye kiss. It was a demand-for-more kiss. A declaration of what he needed from me and what I would give him. And my kiss sealed the agreement. Fuck, I'd give him anything he wanted. Anything as long as he stayed.
As our kiss settled and the cheering died down, I heard the Sea King speaking to his mate. I tried to ignore them and focus on Aras, stroking his precious face. His fur had already filled in and his hair was down to his jaw. It was our bond. It had to be. And he still didn't know about it. He thought it was because that fucking pirate had pulled his punch.
King Vaxarion said, “These men tried to take you from me. One of them tortured you. I vowed to kill him. You have no idea how the urge to fulfill that vow claws at me.”
