Trust

AURELIA

Aurelia lay in bed, waiting for her mate to come back. She could barely feel his presence, like he’d vanished off the face of the earth. But that gave her hope that he couldn’t sense her either.

She let her act slip a little, giving herself a break from the constant pretending. He’d locked her in their room, trapping her once again.

She couldn’t understand why he thought that was a good idea, especially if he didn’t like her act. But maybe he hadn’t thought it through.

The king was reckless when he was angry, which only gave Aurelia more insight into his mind. Despite what she thought he believed, she knew a lot about her mate: his habits and behaviors.

She’d even heard bits and pieces about his childhood, from him, Laurent and Henri, and Cathan.

When she heard the key turning in the lock, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. He’d know she wasn’t really sleeping, of course, but it would keep up the act.

She’d need a spell to convince him she was asleep when she wasn’t, and there was neither time nor need for that.

“I can tell when the little wolf is sleeping,” he said loudly, making sure she’d wake up either way. “And you’re not.”

Aurelia’s eyes flew open in fear, and she pulled the sheets up to hide her face.

He moved closer to her and crawled up beside her. He took her arm, pulling her onto him and holding her there as if his hands were glue.

She buried her face in his side, not wanting to look into his eyes.

Where had he been? He smelled different, stronger maybe, but also different in another way. He hadn’t been around wolves, but a woman. She could faintly smell a woman.

Jealousy surged through her uncontrollably, a wave so big that not even Ellathoria’s spell could stop it from showing. Which meant he’d feel it, too.

He chuckled, as genuine as a man like him could be. It was still full of power and dominance, but the malice was gone. It was a welcome change.

“My mother, little wolf. The woman you smell is my mother.”

She wanted to question that, knowing his mother was dead, but she held back. She figured he’d explain more in his current mood.

“I went to the underworld to visit her.”

His answer brought up a thousand more questions. Her curiosity threatened to spill over like her jealousy had, but she knew the character she was playing wouldn’t be curious.

That character would rather he leave than tell her anything.

“Being a king isn’t easy. There are enemies everywhere, and even your friends can betray you.

“And I’ve survived it all. The wars, the treason, the lies. Now, after hundreds of years, I have a mate. At a time when I have nothing left in my heart.”

Something tugged at her heart. He was telling the truth.

He was opening up, just a little. That was the goal. But it didn’t feel right to use it against him. But that was the price she had to pay.

He didn’t say anything else as they lay there, and Aurelia fell into a real sleep in her mate’s arms.

The weeks passed, and he shared bits of his life with her, trying to make her feel something other than fear.

She kept up the act, letting it slip a little with every piece of information he gave her. And she passed it all on to Ella and her father.

Her father. It was strange to think of him that way. She’d never thought about having a father before. What was a father supposed to be like?

Too much had happened now. She wasn’t sure she could—or wanted to—have a relationship with him.

“Little wolf,” he called out, scanning the room when he saw her standing in the closet. She pretended to be startled, but calmed down when she saw the king.

“My king,” she said, swallowing hard.

The silence that fell between them was deafening, but this happened a lot. It was the king’s plan, to get her to talk more, to start a conversation.

He wanted her to be the way she used to be. He’d rather have her defiance than the shell of a person she was pretending to be.

“I-I-I...” Her heart pounded as he kept staring at her. This time, her anxiety was real.

His eyes were focused on one thing. The dark circles under them showed he hadn’t been sleeping. The faint traces of blood under his nails told her he’d been violent.

But not towards her. Interesting...

She’d been told that the act should end soon, that she’d slowly drop the pretense until she was back to being the obedient, caring queen she’d tried to be before.

This time, she’d succeed.

“I-I...”

“Speak your mind,” he ordered.

He couldn’t change. She knew he wouldn’t. He didn’t want to. How could she have asked that of him? And if he wouldn’t change, why was she his mate?

He’d told her that he’d traded his soul for his immortality, the very thing that was now the bane of her existence. It wasn’t just his decision, but his predecessor’s too.

She felt sympathy for him, as much as she didn’t want to. There were very few decisions in his childhood that were his own. Yet, Cathan had held a grudge because of the king at that time.

There was still one important topic they’d barely touched on, and until they did, she wouldn’t drop the act.

“I-I heard... um... I...” He was getting impatient with her, as usual.

“Speak!”

“The-the w-warriors... I h-heard them s-s-speak-k of w-war. I-I...”

He scoffed, understanding what she was asking. Aurelia was relieved she didn’t have to stutter through the rest, as she was getting impatient with her own act.

Pretending to be so weak and pathetic was getting tiring, especially knowing her true power.

“You’re scared. Of course you are,” he said bitterly, dropping his usual kingly demeanor.

He sighed and pulled her onto the bed with him. They sat facing each other, the king lightly touching her leg.

“The war never ended, Aurelia. Despite what others think. Everyone’s heard stories of the fae. The fae who were supposedly all killed by the wolves.

“Some managed to escape. They crossed a boundary no wolf can cross, and now they’re waiting.”

“W-Waiting?” she stuttered.

“Your fear is a good thing. You should be afraid of them. You’re a queen now, a target, an easy target.” Her eyes widened, the only response she could muster to the news that her life was in danger.

“I’m stronger than any of them, but they’re crafty, strategic. They’ve had plenty of time to plan their revenge.”

She knew this was true. She’d encountered vengeful fae before. “I’ll protect you, little wolf. As long as you listen to me.”

Slowly, she nodded. His lips curved upward, the faintest hint of a smile. But to her, it was clear. And fleeting. The more she focused on his lips, the harder it was to look away.

On impulse, she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. A wave of tingles surged through her body, radiating from her stomach down to her core.

This was the mate bond; but her mind didn’t seem to care. She’d been without him for too long. She needed him; her wolf needed him.

And she knew this was how to end her act, the grand finale of the performance.

There were so many reasons to go through with the idea swirling in her mind. But only one was necessary. It hurt to know which one.

He laid her back, maintaining the kiss. His hands roamed her dress, soon tearing it clean off. Her naked body was his to see, and she felt no embarrassment.

She should have felt some shame, but her eyes were captivated by the bulge in his pants. His belt was quickly discarded as he followed her gaze.

But then, he stopped. And smirked. And then his gaze hardened.

She felt cold without his touch, even though it often burned her. His desire for her was so intense that it ignited a fire within him. And his touch was the spark.

A soft whimper slipped from her lips, surprising her. She was lusting for him. She was... desperate. She should have been disgusted by the thought, but her mind was foggy now.

He shrugged off whatever was bothering him and continued to caress her body.

He nibbled. He bit. He kissed. He sucked. Little red marks dotted her upper body.

“I can smell your arousal,” he growled huskily against her lips as he roughly positioned her legs on either side of his hips.

He was not a gentle man. But she wanted him just the way he was.

“I like that smell. You have it when I make you nervous or scared too. You try to resist it, but every part of your body craves me. Right, little wolf?”

She had to remember to be obedient, she reminded herself, trying to keep her head in the present.

“Yes,” she breathed out. Her sex throbbed with need and a desperate longing.

This was not like the first time. Not at all. Even though she still wanted to betray her mate, a part of her clung to the opposite idea.

The man on top of her was someone she could possibly live with. He was the same ruthless, unforgiving man she’d met. But now, she knew him.

He thrust into her abruptly, a loud gasp escaping her lips. What surprised her were his next movements. They were slow. They were deep. They were sensual.

He moved in and out of her slowly, gradually building the tension in her body. He was saving the roughness for another time. This was something different.

His hands massaged her breasts as he groaned. His face was shadowed with passion.

His goal was not just to satisfy himself as it had been before, but to pleasure her. Why? He couldn’t answer. And he wouldn’t answer. Not now.

His mouth latched onto hers, his tongue exploring her mouth, savoring her taste as if it were the last he would ever have.

She was so soft, any part of her he touched melted into his hands and pleased him. Her moans filled his ears, sweet sounds that imprinted on his mind.

This was real. She was real. And she wanted him. Truly.

Her body squirmed with panic as she found herself climbing higher than she ever had before.

She was afraid of losing control. She was afraid that her world was in his hands. She was afraid she had to trust him, even for a moment. And at that climax... she felt no fear.

Bliss. One word. He took it all away in that moment. He stole her thoughts. He blocked out her doubts. He made her forget everything, all he had done. In that one moment... pure bliss.

“You aren’t scared of me anymore.” Her facade had crumbled along with her sanity. But if their plan had worked, she didn’t need the mask for him to speak openly with her. To trust her.

Trust. That was the goal of the game.