Did he ever?
At least, does he love me as much as he hates Lanlin?
Is love as strong an emotion as hate for dragons? For kings?
My hands ball into fists. “Freya.”
He tilts his head. “Are we back to introducing ourselves?”
“Only my friends are allowed to call me Spark.”
Aurelius’ expression crumples. His devastation screams through our bond — a howling pain that floors me — before he slams it shut.
He ducks his head, attempting to hide his reaction. “I would say that was fair. Except, I was bound in enchanted chains. Beaten. Forced to hold an executioner’s blade in my hand, which wept with thousands of fucking ghosts who had all lost theirheads at Hadrian’s hands. Faced with doing the worst thing any Alpha can…executing their own fated mates and dragon riders.”
I boldly meet his gaze. “Daire told me that you would do this. Are you playing the white knight?”
When Aurelius raises his head, his piercing eyes appear to be able to look into my soul; my breath hitches. “I’m the wicked dragon and not the knight. I’ve never pretended to be anything else. I warned you what I was. I came up with a third option, however, one that didn’t mean sacrificing you to the gods or executing you.”
“A third option that means offering me as a bride to a ruthless monster. An option that feeds him Daire’s blood.”
“An option that gives us the best chance for peace, while makingmeemperor.” Aurelius prowls forward, gripping me by the elbows. Sparks ignite from his horns. “The truce buys time. Also, it will lead to Lan’s destruction.”
Is that Hadrian talking or Aurelius?
“Do you know how obsessed you sound?” I wrench back from him. “The question iswhenyou thought of this plan.”
The silence is answer enough.
My guts twist. “These other two kings may be your enemies, but they’remyGolden fated mates.My Alphas. I trust that you worked out the only way to save our lives buttrustme that I won’t hurt one of my pack.”
Aurelius’ lips curl back. “Lan willneverbe pack. The betrayer is my brother’s murderer. I watched Lan feeding on Tarq, before my brother died in my arms. My hands were soaked in Tarq’s blood. I was thrust into a kingship that I wasn’t ready for and didn’t want because my best and only friend assassinated my brother. How can that be forgiven?”
“The vampires slaughtered my entire family,” I burst out. I am shaking. “They massacred everyone in the Orm Court but me. I spent my life feeling like I should have died too. I wasmore at home amongst the barrows with the dead, than in a court where I was treated as the orphanworthless Omega bitch,who reminded everyone of a horror filled grief that they wanted to forget. But I still don’t blame this new Vampire King for the actions of his parents. This war isn’t his, just like it’s not yours. You both didn’t start it.”
“Then I’m finishing it.”
“And Tarquin…” I want to tell Aurelius everything that I have learned about the brother who he reveres.
Tarquin wasn’t the perfect brother. He committed genocide in the First Fae war. He wasn’t a good military commander to his own troops like Aurelius is. Imperial Legate War has made that clear.
Daire has also told me that Tarquin betrayed Lanlin’s mom, when she was their ally, which led to her ambush and death.
If Lanlin killed Tarquin, then I should buy him a fucking drink.
As long as it’s not my blood.
I try to keep that thought off my face.
“Yes…?” Aurelius says, dangerously softly.
His eyes begin to swirl.
I tilt up my chin. “Your brother was Lanlin’s enemy. Your two kingdoms were at war. If Daire had killed him, would you hate Daire this much?”
“What gave you the impression that I don’t?”
My chest tightens. “Daire cares about you, asshole. You share a bond. He’s your dragon rider. I know that you’ve been secretly protecting him from the start. You don’t need to wear this mask with me any longer. I see beneath it.”
