“I don’t doubt that.” I pick up her hands and use my cloak to wipe the blood away. “But I don’t want you putting yourself at risk of being hurt again. Next time, you will take a guard with you, or better yet, have me as your escort.”
“What, so you can humiliate me again? No thank you,” she huffs.
“Dahlia, I said I’m sorry?—”
“You’re not sorry, or you wouldn’t have done what you did.” Her cheeks flush. “It was horrible, Tauren. There were so many people in that hall. I’ve been getting dirty looks all week.”
Shit. I’m a fucking idiot. I didn’t even think about how my court would react.
“I’ll deal with them,” I growl. I’ll throw them all in the dungeon if I have to. Making an example of a few will work, though. “And once you’re married to me no one will dare to provoke you. My court respects me. They will respect you too.” If they don’t, fuck throwing them in the dungeon – I’ll kill them all myself.
Dahlia glares at me. “You’re a fool if you think I’ll ever willingly marry you.”
“A fool with magic strong enough to force you down the aisle if I have to.” I tighten the enchantment on her collar, tugging her towards me. “I’m growing tired of your attitude, sweetheart. You may hate me, but no matter how much you pout, you are still mine, and I will not tolerate this disrespect.” I can’t help it, my voice softens. “Dahlia, please. I am truly sorry for how I treated you in my throne room, and I can promise that it will never happen again. I need you to forgive me.”
She rolls her eyes. “Never going to happen.”
My cock twitches at her bratty tone. “Never?” I smirk, tipping up her chin.
“I mean it, Tauren.” She tries to pull away from me, but her collar holds her in place. “Let go of me. I want to go inside.”
The tall hedge maze catches my eye. It’s then that an idea pops into my head – an all-too-tempting idea. “Let’s play a game,” I offer.
“What are you talking about?”
I smirk. “You’re going to go into that maze, and if you can find your way out before I find you, I’ll cancel our wedding.” There’s no way out of the maze, only a pavilion in the centre, but judging by the hope in her eyes, she doesn’t know that. “I’ll count to thirty and give you a headstart. Then I’ll come after you.”
“What if you find me first?” Her brow lowers.
“You let me convince you to forgive me.”
She scoffs. “Not happening.”
“All you have to do is let me try.” I cup her jaw, not missing the way her breath catches as I stroke her cheek. “I won’t force you to forgive me. What do you have to lose?”
She thinks for a moment. “I’ll do it if you count to sixty.”
“I’ll count to one hundred.” I grin. “Now you better run, my darling. Because when I catch you, you’re all mine.”
Her eyes widen, but I’ve already started counting and she knows it. Picking up her long black skirt, she dives into the hedge maze.
I make it to eighty before I give up and stroll after her.
The walls of the maze are made of blushmoons, a rose-type plant with midnight-blue flowers that grows only in my court. String lights drape across the walkways, lighting up the path as I walk down them, my hands in my pockets.
I don’t need to guess which way to go. I can smell the cherry shampoo I left for her in our bathroom. That, and the honey-sweet scent of her arousal.
“I know you’re close, Dahlia.” My voice weaves through the thorns. Following her scent, I take a left and then another. “You better start running.”
Frantic footsteps sound from nearby, and I grin.
I know exactly where she is.
Doubling back, I take a right and sprint down the path. I know this maze like the back of my hand. Maeve and I used to play here as children. Sometimes we’d let Claren tag along, and he’d hide while the two of us would chase after him. So I know exactly which turning to take to access the winding dead end she’s currently trying to back out of?—
Our chests collide. I throw her over my shoulder before she can scream.
“Put me down, Tauren!” She slams her fists into my back. “Put me down or I’ll never forgive you.”
