Page 28 of The Forbidden Dragon King (Shadow Kings #1)

“I could advise the Council for you to be held in the dungeons next to your fae pet,” I hear Maximinus say.

“Collared and manacled in enchanted chains under my direct control. How would you like to live your long life alone in the dark? If you can’t accept that you are forbidden to bond, then you will destroy us all. ”

Forbidden to bond…?

Lucius told me that about Aurelius.

Why is Aurelius trying to break something now that he’s accepted since he was young and had that crown of roses and thorns placed on his head?

“Fool,” I whisper.

Why is Aurelius risking the same fate as Daire?

Do these two assholes both expect me to save them? They’re lucky that I’m here.

“I won’t,” Aurelius swears.

“A wicked beast like you will always give in to temptation. It’s destined. An evil Golden Dragon is nothing but wrath and fire. Obey me, or I will direct the Council to give you the same fate as Emperor Hadrian. They will burn you to ash on your own dagger.”

I can’t hold back my gasp.

Plus, wicked beast…evil…?

I’m beginning to understand some of Aurelius’ behavior now. Some of how he talks about himself .

Perhaps, he was never my true enemy, nor Daire’s. Perhaps, the weapon never is, but rather, the one who forges and holds it.

All of a sudden, it goes silent in the study.

“We have a pet who thinks that they’re a spy.” Maximinus sounds amused. “This is treason.”

Fuck.

Adrenaline punches through me, as I push out of the alcove and turn to run.

Two wings of black shadows, however, rush out of the open study door, encircling me in their ashy hold.

“Let go.” I struggle, hyperventilating with panic.

It’s like being touched by death.

The air is pushed out of me, as the shadows wind around me in coils from my ankles to the tops of my arms, dragging me down the corridor.

I frantically look around the corridor, but it’s empty.

I wanted to have my questions answered about how the Shadow Court ran.

Congratulations, Spark.

Now I know more than I should but I can’t find myself regretting it, even if it means having the life wrung out of me by shadow serpent coils.

“Stop,” Aurelius rasps.

Instantly, the chains tighten at his throat, blocking him from even drawing breath.

Pain rushes through me.

I howl, tearing at the shadows. They only reappear, however, even stronger .

I’m dragged past Aurelius, who meets my gaze. His expression is unreadable.

My feet painfully scrape over the colorful mosaic floor inside the study.

Maximinus won’t execute me right here…?

It looks like there has already been a fight in the study. What the fuck has happened?

Ancient scrolls are cast off the shelf onto the floor. Pottery shards of relics and talismans are scattered in front of the desk.

And is that blood on that letter…?

Yet Maximinus is sitting calmly behind his large writing desk, running his hand over his bald head, as if dealing with me is a minor inconvenience.

The shadows surge from him, pulling me forward until I’m just in front of his desk. Then I’m hauled up into the air; my feet dangle beneath me.

My shoes fall off, hitting the floor.

I hear a desperate gasp behind me, as the collar must have loosened around Aurelius’ neck enough to allow him to take in desperate lungful’s of air.

“Enough,” Aurelius commands. “I asked my pet to meet me here. She’s not a spy or a traitor. She was only following my orders, Uncle Max.”

“ Uncle Max. How interesting the times that you choose to call me that.” Maximinus opens a file on his desk, pretending to read it for a long, excruciating moment. I struggle, kicking my feet. “When did you learn to lie to me, boy? Or have you always lied?”

My breath catches .

I didn’t intend to get Aurelius into trouble for me. But then, I didn’t expect that he’d cover for me either.

Yet isn’t that what he’s been doing from the start? Have I missed a hundred small moments like this? Has Daire?

“She’s my pet,” Aurelius replies, icily. “Let her go.”

“Why should I? The sentence for eavesdropping on the royal family is death.”

“Technically,” I say, “the door was open. I was more accidentally overhearing.”

“She has a point.” Aurelius’ eyes gleam. “You opened the study door. You planned for me to be seen like this. You want word of this to spread. So, let us both go. Lesson learned. You’ve made your point.”

“Is it made?” Maximinus is still not looking up from the official paper, which he is now scrutinizing like it’s the most important document in the realms.

“You’re only trying to execute her because she’s…” Aurelius stops.

Because I’m what?

What was he going to say?

Finally, Maximinus looks up. “I’m saving you, insolent boy. Of course it’s only because it’s her.”

When the shadows around me begin to heat, singeing my clothes, I yell out in alarm.

“Aurelius,” I scream. “Please…”

Behind me, a roar echoes through the study, which shatters the windows and knocks the remaining scrolls and magical items tumbling to the floor.

It’s the roar of a primal dragon in deep distress .

One who is close to feral.

Shocked, Maximinus drops the shadows that are holding me. I fall hard to the floor. I yelp, as my hip cracks against the stone mosaic hard. My ass will bruise. Then I scramble around, cowering back against the desk.

I turn to look up with wide eyes at Aurelius…or who he has become.

Aurelius’ eyes are molten, swirling amber.

His curved, golden horns have grown even longer. Sparks ignite like dancing fireworks along their length. His canines are elongated and gleaming.

Powerful golden wings have burst out, ripping through his tunic. He flaps them, threateningly.

I’ve never seen a dragon who is partially shifted like this before.

He’s both terrifying and glorious.

“Release me,” Aurelius growls in a voice that’s deeper and more rumbling than before.

Maximinus is shaking. His tunic is steeped in sweat.

He shoves himself out of his chair and stumbles as far as he can to the back of his study, crunching over the shattered glass of his blown out windows. “This is why you need to be collared.”

“You hurt my Omega.” Aurelius’ piercing gaze settles on me. “Every Alpha will understand my right to defend her. You’re the one who is committing treason.”

Maximinus gives a nervous laugh. “She’s not yours.”

“I am,” I say, quickly.

It feels good to say it out loud .

Also, the only way that it appears I’ll make it out of this study alive.

Between these two monsters, I know which one I’ll choose.

Aurelius’ expression is painfully hopeful. “She’s my treasure if she chooses to be. You won’t take her.”

Maximinus’ gaze hardens. “Have you forgotten who is in chains?”

Aurelius grins, devilish. “I’ll burn down this study, palace, capital, entire fucking kingdom , if you hurt her and don’t release me now.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“You have no idea what I would dare for my fated mates. I would tear down my entire world for Freya’s sake. My only desire — dream — is to bond with her. Deny it forever, Uncle, and see what I dare . See who is turned to ash first .”

Maximinus blanches

He waves his hand and the silver chains fall away from Aurelius’ reddened neck, as well as his ankles and wrists.

Maximinus turns his back, as if he’s not bothered, but tremors are running through his shoulders. “You are evil, wicked, and ungrateful. Take her then. But this changes nothing, remember that.”

I stare up at this wicked beast , as the King prowls toward me with his wings extended.

Aurelius may be everything that Maximinus has just called him. But in the haze of his golden light, spellbound by his amber eyes, all I know is that he has just risked sacrificing everything, his entire kingdom, to save me .

When Aurelius holds out his hand to me, I take it. He pulls me into his smoke and leather embrace, wrapping his golden wings around me.

“I won’t lose you,” Aurelius murmurs. “Let’s return to our nest.”

Our nest.

My heart leaps on the our .

It’s thrilling to be held so close by someone who has the power to burn the world, and know that you’re the spark who can ignite them.