Page 80 of The Forsaken Heir

“It’s amazing. So good .”

“Our numbers are dwindling, but the few that are left? Dad makes sure they have the best training and education. Our businesses are still flourishing, so he spends all that money on our people. He sends the kids to the best colleges. Engineering schools, culinary schools, art institutes. Our people are the best of the best. Which basically means we get really good food all the time.” He shrugged and smirked at me.

“One of the perks, I guess you could say.”

“I’ve noticed.” I put my hand on his, gingerly running my fingers over the healing wounds on his wrists.

“How are these?”

He glanced down. “Pretty much better. A little sore, but nothing like they were. They’d have already faded by now if not for the Dragon’s Blood fibers in the ropes.”

“Good.” I lowered my voice. “I’m still sorry that happened to you. I know I’ve already said it, but I don’t feel like I can say it enough.”

“It’s fine, Elle.” He popped an olive in his mouth. “I’m back now, and that’s all that matters.”

I wondered if I’d feel the same way if I’d been in his position. I hoped so, but I could never be sure. Part of me—a deep, masochistic part—wanted to go through it, if only to prove to myself that I could come out the other side like he had.

When I looked back up at him, he was gazing at me like I was something precious he’d lost and had found again. It made my heart flutter pleasantly.

My lips twitched into a smile. “Have you got something on your mind, Aurelius?”

He glanced around, then raised one eyebrow. “I do. Can you guess what I’m thinking about?”

Images of our bodies twisted together in a sweaty, moaning heap flashed through my mind, and heat pooled low in my belly. “I think I might know.”

Aurelius’s eyes shone with mischievous glee. “Elle?” he said, a scandalized tone to his voice. “I was thinking about how delicious this food is. Were you thinking about something else?”

“The food is good, but I was thinking of something a little better.” I leaned forward, turning my hand and tracing my fingers over his palm. “Or wouldn’t you agree?”

He bowed his head. “I think I might need a refresher course.”

I kept my eyes locked on his even as a shiver of desire ran down my spine. “I think that can be arranged.”

An intense and palpable sexual tension simmered between us as we finished the meal. No matter what, it was always there, right beneath the surface, making every interaction loaded with heat and nearly overwhelming desire.

Aurelius glanced up and let out a little chuckle.

“What’s so funny now?”

“You’ve got a little butter on your lip.”

Before I could wipe it away, he leaned in and swiped his thumb gently across my lip.

Something about the gesture made me swoon.

I imagined his thumb sliding into my mouth, tasting his flesh while I lost myself in him.

It was more than lust, more than desire.

I was completely and utterly in love with him.

It hadn’t even occurred to me that it was more than sex and attraction until the night he was taken.

I still remember staring up at the vacant sky, knowing he was gone, and feeling that deep aching pain of loss.

Did he feel the same way? Could he feel that? I didn’t doubt that he cared about me, but love? Was that bridge too far?

Taking another hunk of bread, I smeared some jam on it and bit down, chiding myself for the thoughts.

Of course, he wasn’t in love with me. He was a prince.

Heir to the dragon kingdom. I was the rejected daughter of his rival, and a wolf shifter at that.

The fact that I couldn’t shift didn’t matter.

Even if both of us wanted more than what we had, it wouldn’t come to fruition.

His duty was to his people, and one of those duties was to provide an heir.

A wolf and a dragon together couldn’t do that—no matter how much Delphine harped about me being safe, I knew it simply wasn’t a possibility.

If there was one thing I’d learned about Aurelius, it was that he was very serious about duty.

Duty and honor. He’d never let his people down, even if that meant forgoing something he wanted.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, nudging my chin up.

Deciding I’d rather not express the thoughts going through my head, I chose a different subject, and hoped he’d buy it.

“I’m thinking about this war,” I said. “The fighting hasn’t really started yet, and everything is already so messed up. People have already died. I’m worried.”

“Don’t be.” There was no hint of doubt. Only strong, powerful confidence.

“Are you serious? How can I not be worried?” I asked incredulously.

“I have faith,” he said, tossing a slice of prosciutto into his mouth.

“Faith? Seriously?”

He nodded once. “Yeah.”

I snorted. “You’re full of shit, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I am.”

Laughing, I poked his side. “You asshole.”

He twisted aside and tickled my ribs.

“Hey, no! No tickling.”

He gave me a lazy grin. “You started it.”

I struggled against him, trying to catch my breath. I even dug my fingers into his stomach, but naturally, he was impervious to tickling. Soon, we were both locked in a mock battle to see who would give up first.

Finally, when we were both out of breath and crying with laughter, he recovered and sat up. His smile faded, and a look of deep concern settled on his face as he looked out over the horizon.

“I am worried,” he admitted. “But there’s nothing you can do with worry and fear.

All you can do is keep fighting and keep living.

That’s what life is. Regardless of whether you’re at war or peace, grieving or celebrating, laughing or crying, you have to keep fighting and living.

That’s what I’m going to do. I’ll figure out a way to end this. I have to.”

Yup. Head over heels. Fuck me.

Aurelius packed everything back in the basket, and we headed back down the stairs. Keeping the blanket around my shoulders, I took his free hand, letting him guide me back through the corridors and hallways of the castle and manor.

“I should probably go find Titus and the advisors,” he said. “I haven’t seen any of them yet today. They’ll all want to talk my ear off. Are you going back to your room?”

“I guess I should check on Delphine,” I admitted.

“You don’t think she’d already be out and about?”

I snorted a laugh. “ Absolutely not. For her, eight hours of sleep is nothing. If I had to guess, I’ll probably need to wake her up in time for dinner.”

“Wow,” he said with a chuckle. “And I thought Rasp liked to sleep late.”

“She has very few vices, but sleeping in would be her biggest. And after being up so late the other day, she’ll probably be trying to catch up for a week.”

When we reached my room, we stood awkwardly outside it, neither of us wanting the moment to be over even though we had other obligations to attend to.

From the way he was looking at me, I got the feeling that he wanted to kiss me.

Despite everything we’d done with—and to —each other, I still had a moment of girlish embarrassment that made it hard to make the first move.

“So, I guess I’ll see you later?” he asked, moving closer.

My breath caught in my throat as I took in his scent, all masculine and intense.

“Yeah,” I muttered.

Right as he leaned forward to kiss me, the door swung open. Delphine yawned and squinted against the light, rubbing one hand over her disheveled hair.

“Oh,” she moaned through another yawn. “I thought I heard people out here.”

“Delphine! I thought you were still asleep. You scared me.”

She shrugged and wiped the sleep from her eyes. “You two were the ones who surprised me. I was sleeping really well. Then there was all this chatter outside.”

Aurelius smiled and backed away down the hall.

“I’m serious,” he said. “I’ll see you later.”

“See you,” I said, waving at him like a moron.

He winked, then vanished around the corner a moment later.