Page 49

“I need... your skin,” she murmured, her voice quivering from the cold.

Without hesitation, Tristan began to unbutton his shirt, discarding it to reveal his toned chest. He then stripped down to his undergarment, his every action driven by the need to warm her. Pulling her close once more, he enveloped her in his embrace, their bodies pressed together.

Aurora’s voice, soft and weak, broke the silence, “I think... this might be a side effect of Millie’s medicine.” But as she nestled her face against the warmth of his neck, her tense muscles began to relax, the comfort of his presence covering her.

The intimate proximity, the thin barrier of her robe against his skin, sent Tristan’s heart racing. Every beat echoed the depth of his feelings, the intensity of the moment.

Aurora’s soft whisper reached his ears. “Is it time for you to go already?” she asked.

He tightened his hold on her, his voice a low rumble as he said, “Not yet.”

She shifted slightly, her fingers tracing patterns on his back. “Then why is your heart racing so fast?”

Images flashed through Tristan’s mind: the fear of losing her, the relief of finding her, the sensation of her body pressed against his. Out of all the women he had ever held, none had ever stirred such raw emotions within him. “You gave me quite a scare today,” he admitted, his voice cracking.

“I know. Sorry about that.”

Gently, Tristan lifted Aurora’s chin, his fingers brushing against the softness of her skin. The alarming blue hue of her lips had faded, replaced by a healthy pink.

“What happened at the tower?” he asked.

A slow smile spread across her face. “It worked.”

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “It did?”

She gestured around the room, her smile widening. “Look around. The gold is all gone.”

Taking a moment to truly observe his surroundings, Tristan realized the stark difference. The gold that had once covered every corner of Aurora’s home was nowhere to be seen. “Does this mean...?”

She nodded. “The scorpion’s venom cured me of my curse.”

His fingers traced the curve of her cheek, the warmth of his touch making her lean into his hand. “You did it. You got what you wanted.”

Aurora’s gaze locked onto his, gratitude evident in her eyes. “I couldn’t do it without your help. Thank you.”

He chuckled softly. “We made a good team.”

“I think so too,” she murmured, her eyelids growing heavy. But as he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, her eyes fluttered open once more.

“You’re tired. Why don’t you sleep for a bit?” he whispered.

She gave him a weak smile, determination shining through her fatigue. “And miss out on the little time I have with you? Not a chance.” She paused. “So, tell me about the ball. How was it?”

He exhaled deeply, the weight of the evening’s events pressing down on him. “It was going very well until I decided to drug everyone, then electrocute them back to life.”

A soft laugh escaped her lips. “Yeah. Even I thought that was crazy. And that’s saying a lot coming from me.”

The sound of her laughter, light and melodic, warmed his heart, bringing a smile to his face. “You weren’t the only one to think that. My cousin thinks I’m going insane and has decided to lock me up.”

Aurora’s playful demeanor shifted instantly, her eyes widening in alarm. “What?”

Tristan’s expression grew somber. “The sundrop flower has been causing some side effects on me in the real world. My cousin is worried.”

She leaned closer, her voice filled with concern. “What kind of side effects?”

He sighed. “Sleepwalking. Losing sense of time. What feels like only a few hours here, turns out to be days over there.”

“You can’t blame him for being concerned,” Aurora pressed.