Rule of the Aurora King (Artefacts of Ouranos, #2)

by Nisha J. Tuli

Using my reflection to anchor myself, I burrow into the center of my soul, feeling for the magic I know is locked deep within me. Where I’ve kept it trapped for so many long years. It feels like the jagged edges of two staircases hammered together. Like a puzzle where someone tried to fit a square peg into a round hole before it got stuck.

That’s when a shadow falls over me, and I look up to find the prince of eternal darkness glaring at Tharos like he’s about to reach into his chest and pull out his beating heart.

“I don’t know what that bastard did to you, but I’m going to help you get your crown, Heart Queen, and I’m going to make him pay. For all of it.”

“You will be the most powerful, Serce,” he said, his words low and dangerous. “And I will stand beside you—my queen, my heart, my mate—and help you take it all.”

But I’ve never felt more at peace than I do right now. I’ve never felt so comfortable in my own body. There’s a disconcerting sense that I’ve found something I’ve lost. Like I’ve come home.

My actual name and I’ve never loved the sound of it more than I do at this moment. That simple, nothing name that was given to me to keep me as anonymous and unremarkable as possible. Somehow, he makes it sound like it’s a name forged in fire and created for a queen.

“Say yes,” he says. “One night. One long, endless night where I promise you more pleasure than you ever thought possible.”

I want her like I want air and the

magic that flows in my veins.

I will wait until she asks. Until she’s clear that she wants it. Then I’ll show her how it can be with someone who worships every inch of her body from their knees.

“Only if we take this slowly,” I say, unable to stop the words as they slip out. He arches one of his dark eyebrows. “So it’s to be torture, then?” His smile stretches into one that reminds me of what an arrogant lion must look like when it knows it’s cornered its prey. “I’ll take you however you’ll have me, Inmate.”

“What if I say no? Now and tomorrow and every day after that? Will you still help me?” “Yes,” he says without hesitation. “That isn’t what this is about. My promise to you has nothing to do with this.”

“I am your worst nightmare, Inmate. But right now, I’m going to make you come so hard, you’re not going to care.”

“As you wish, Heart Queen.”

“I can’t wait to make you moan like that again. And again. And again.”

“Wait. You still have my underwear.” He pats his jacket pocket with a feral smile. “It’s mine now.”

“I think I’ll have him killed.” Nadir takes a casual sip of his drink, and I choke on mine. “Why?” “I don’t like the way he was looking at you. He was watching your ass as you walked away.” I blow out a breath, puffing a lock of hair out of my eyes. “Is this what you’re going to be like now?” “This is how I always was. I’m just not hiding it anymore.”

“You’re going to ruin me, too, Inmate,” he says softly, making me realize I just said at least part of that out loud. “Lucky for you, we’ll go down in the blaze together.”

The royal family wears black. Nadir’s companions wear black. But I am not his conquest. I am not his to claim. I’m not part of their royal line. I have my own family. And I am my own fucking castle.

“You’ll just sit there like a queen while I worship you from my knees.”

“Yes, you can. You’re going to do this because you are the strongest fucking woman I’ve ever met. Because you’re a queen without her crown and it’s time to take it back. Do you hear me?”