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“I explained to Alejandra when she came to see me that giving you your job back and allowing her to remain unmarried would be like a slap in the face to Sauven. I told her if she agreed to participate in the ceremony and choose a husband, I’d reinstate you. She wasn’t thrilled, but anyone could tell how guilty she felt that you’d lost your career helping her. So, she agreed.”
“Whatever are you doing?” the Queen asked with furrowed brows. “I’m going to the ceremony. I refuse your offer.” With a wince, he turned and gave a quick bow. “Ma’am.”
“Sauven would’ve never agreed to that deal. Queen Dasa hates you,” he remarked coolly, draping his arm over his chair and taking another sip of mott. He’d always loathed authority and politics. The society they resided in could burn to the ground for all he cared. But the twitch of the Queen’s mouth had him curious. She tipped her head at him as though he were a child. “No, they wouldn’t.”
“Mm. Not bad, Majesty.” He nodded approvingly. “Do either of them know that?” “They do not.” She turned to him, clasping her hands in front of her and tilting her chin up.
“God, he looks like shit,” Vanessa grumbled from nearby. Out of instinct, Alex glanced at the person Vanessa was talking about and did a double take, staggering back a step. She stared hard, not quite believing her eyes.
Haggard, out of breath, and more than a little furious, Auzed stalked into the hallway. He glared at the glass as if he could crack it with only the power of his mind and blind fury. She grinned, a goofy, lovesick grin. Her heart throbbed at double its usual pace, and happy tears blurred her vision.
“Unless you go with me, I’m not going. But I’ll do whatever I can to let my family know I’m safe and that I’m completely”—she pressed a kiss to his right cheek—“perfectly”—she kissed his other cheek—“and incandescently happy.”
Dragging her grinning mouth to his, he kissed her slow and deep just as the tar over his eyes softened. She peeled it off and pulled away to look at him fully. With a shriek she stumbled back, falling hard on her ass.
She stared, unable to process what she was seeing. His attention focused on her still on the ground where she’d fallen, and he knelt. She gazed into his eyes. His worried eyes. His black eyes.
She gave a shrug and beamed at him. “Looks like we don’t have to get married, after all.”
She peered down in wonder to where he clasped her hand in his and, sure enough, bright-blue markings started to appear, twining their way around his wrists and up along his fingers.
“What, Auzzy?” He peered up at her, grinning like an idiot. “You’re mine.”
“What was that?” she goaded with a hand to her ear. “You’re mine,” he said again, crawling over her until she was forced to slowly lie back.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “One more time for the folks in the back!” “You’re mine!” he bellowed, then descended on her in a hard, passionate kiss that vibrated along with his deep purr.
“I’m yours,” she whispered, her chest so full it could explode. “And you’re mine.”
