Page 98 of The Fallen Fae King

Aurelius’ sharp teeth graze my scent gland.

Possessive asshole.

“Have you earned the right for me to wear your wedding dress yet?” I flood my pheromones over him, worried about the ashen hue to his cheeks. “You made promises.”

Aurelius’ fist curls into my hair, before he drags my lips to his. My heart leaps. My cheeks flush.

Just as our lips meet, however, he murmurs, “Be careful. Maximinus’ spies are everywhere, even here.”

Then he kisses me, and I allow myself to melt into it, even though I know that this is only a cover for our conversation.

He grabs my wrists, pinning me against the tree.

When he pulls back, he searches my face. “Are you with me, Spark?”

“Where else would I be? You have me caged against this tree.”

He clenches his jaw. “I wonder.”

I boldly meet his gaze. “I want our Alphas back.”

“In a month.”

I open and then shut my mouth in shock.

Then I struggle against him, and he lets go of my wrists, but remains close. “Fuck you. I want them back now.”

Aurelius shakes his head. “I needed to make a deal with the Guild of Assassins. Lan has been taken by Wraith to their dungeons. Wraith has been preparing for his arrival for weeks with Taran, the Head of the Guild. She is eager to start their games. Lan will be returned — alive — to us in a month.”

My hand drops to the hilt of my dagger. “If you think that I won’t⁠—”

“What did I just tell you?” Aurelius’ eyes become molten.

Spies…everywhere…

I drop my hand away from my dagger.

Is Aurelius only telling me the official line?

I swallow around my rage and distress. “What about Daire? Why isn’t he joining us? He fucking did what was asked of him. He brought Lanlin back to you.”

Aurelius snorts. “Allow another snake into my nest? He completed my uncle’s mission. It’s Daire’s choice that he’s working against me.”

I storm around Aurelius toward the rosebushes, although I still notice that he called him Daire, rather than returning to belittling him with the pet title of Kit.

“He’s not working against you,” I say, although I don’t altogether believe it. Daire has been scheming against Aurelius from the moment that he was captured, and part of me believes that he always will. “Also, you more than anyone should know that he was forced to become both assassin and courtesan by Maximinus. Your uncle isn’t a man you can refuse.”

Aurelius winces. “My mother had this garden made in the center of the court. She brought these Dragon Blood Roses with her from the only place that they grow in her remote home village in the mountains. Most people think that it was because she was homesick. But really, it was because although the blooms are beautiful, the sharp thorns draw blood from anyone who touches them. Mother was sending a message to her husband’s dangerous brother. Maximinus didn’t listen.” Aurelius falls quiet, before his hands ball into fists. “I shall make him listen. And bleed.”

“Aren’t we meant to be careful what we say?” I arch my brow.

Aurelius’ expression blanks, before he asks, “Are you still my dragon rider?”

This question is easy. I would never reject either my bond or Aurelius’ dragon side.

“Forever,” I whisper.

Aurelius’ eyes light up, before he asks, casually, “Then would you like to go for a dawn ride? You need practice. In a battle, a soldier mustn’t have rusty skills.”