A Dawn So Dark (Blood Bound #1)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Arden

T he terrace connected to Daemons private living quarters provided a perfect view of Auroras, where she sat in the sun with an all too familiar book cradled in her lap. Her human eyes would not be able to detect me at such a distance, but me? I could consume her every perfect fucking feature from where I stood on the safety of the balcony. I tipped my glass back, praying to the goddesses that the blood would soothe the flames consuming my chest, my mind. It did nothing, as expected. The burning desire I felt for Aurora still burned bright and fiercely. She turned a page, her intense evergreen gaze fixated on the words with such interest. I drew in a sharp breath as she turned her gaze towards the vast forest adjacent to her, the soft sunlight of an autumn afternoon made her auburn hair glow like a hearth. Aurora was mesmerizing. I found myself envying the hair that fell along the column of her neck. Jealous that it got to touch the freckled skin that called to me like a siren. The ache in my chest blazed as I watched her. Her eyes no longer held a desire to flee, even with a guard standing outside her door, and another stationed outside of her terrace. She did not know about the second guard. I assigned Lieth as a second guard because if I did not, I would have sat by her door all night… listening to the sound of her breathing. I was going mad sleeping across the hall from her. I was going mad, period .

“Have you listened to a word I have said?” Daemons growl of annoyance pulls me from my innately primal thoughts of the woman who held the other half of my soul in her hands. I gritted my teeth, fighting my fangs back as I finished my drink, attempting to wash away the desire for Aurora and her devine smelling blood. “Your view is most distracting…” I muttered, still fixated on her, enamored by her mere existence.

“You're worried.” Daemon did not ask, he simply stated the truth. He knew me well, just as I knew him. He was never a man to mask his feelings, but with Aurora here so much had shifted. So much had changed. “I am worried.” I agreed. “I am worried because you and I both know the truth. She's our mate Daemon, and I don't know if she's ready for that. I am worried because there is no chance in the seven hells that Arthur does not retaliate. I am worried because I would gladly wage war for her.” Daemon did not respond. He simply filled a glass of his own and refilled mine before falling in line beside me. The two of us stood there watching her read blissfully, knowing war was on the horizon and peaceful moments such as these would soon be few and far between. “We are going to win this war for her, Arden.” Daemon reassured me. “We just need to show her that she has the power to claim her freedom from Camelot.” I nodded. She had immense potential, the curiosity she showed when attempting to escape us displayed intense motivation and the desire to fight and win. “What do you suggest?”

“That you show her how, teach her our ways so when she claims her fathers life, it is as one of us.” Looks like I was about to relieve Lieth of his duties. Downing the remainder of the amber liquid, I nod in confirmation. I was going to ensure she never had to fear the wrath of her father ever again. She had an unbridled rage that brought me some sort of ease. Our mate was violent and just as bloodthirsty as my best soldiers.

I strode for the door, a rage churning in my chest. I paused, turning back towards Daemon. He knew that training her would give me a chance to connect with her, to spend time with her and satisfy the burning that pulsated through me with every breath I drew. “You need to talk to her, Daem.”

Daemon simply smirked, his glass hovering by his blood tinted lips. “Try keeping me away from our Princess.” I returned his smirk, knowing better than to question his plans. Aurora's room temptingly sat adjacent to mine. I could hear her every movement at night, and smell her warm, glowing scent from where I lay awake. I had not found my rest since she had arrived. Hopefully being near her would help quiet my soul enough to sleep.

The guard stationed outside her room seemed surprised when I told him that I would be relieving him of his shift. I explained that the King had plans for the Princess, no one but Daemon, myself and Noa knew of our mateship. Once the guard was long gone, I found myself quietly opening the door and stepping into the room. Her scent overwhelmed me. Floral and evergreen with notes of whatever cinnamon perfume her maids had readied her with this morning. Her bed was slightly mussed, her slippers discarded by the long mirror that sat opposite of her bed, several books laid askew on the vanity. My lips turned upwards as I took in these small traits. Pieces of herself she unknowingly scattered about the room. She was not as poised and prim as she made herself out to be as a royal. She was unruly, untamed. Turning towards the terrace I saw that she had moved from the lounging chair and had vanished from sight. I chuckled quietly, hearing her heart pound in her chest from behind the pillar. She was more than likely poised to attack from behind the stone, which made desire blaze down my spine in a white hot heat. Aurora knew nothing of our kind yet. She knew nothing of our abilities, power, our desires. I rounded the pillar with speed Aurora couldn't track as a human, a gift the goddesses had bestowed upon us. I stood behind her, her warmth radiating off of her supple form. She held the book she had been reading raised over her head, ready to strike whomever had entered the room.

I pulled the book from her hand, a yelp of surprise fell from her strawberry lips. She rounded to strike me with her now empty hands but I simply pressed her back against the pillar and held her firmly against it, my fingers pressed against her waist.

“What in the seven hells do you think you are doing?” She demanded, her forest green eyes shining bright with rage and disbelief. The fire raging in her chest burned so bright that I could nearly feel it beneath her skin. I chuckled, glancing down at the book with interest. A book that I knew well. “Educating yourself on our history, Your Highness?” She huffed in annoyance, trying to pull herself from my grasp, only for me to push her back with little effort. My hand splayed around her delicate waist, fingers firmly planted against her silk covered flesh. “Unhand me!” Aurora gritted, her fingers moving to pry herself free of my hold. Her fingers brushed mine and the breath left my lungs. Aurora's touch was languid fire dancing across my skin. Her eyes snapped to mine in surprise. She felt it too... She felt it just as we did. This was going to be far more pleasurable knowing she was warming to us. I held her gaze as I swept my thumb across her ribs, eliciting a sweet gasp from her perfect lips. “You're joining me at the training grounds.”

Aurora snapped out of her enamored daze and shoved my hand aside. “You're training prisoners now?” I wanted to laugh. She was fiery, spirited, opinionated. The perfect match for a King and a General. Perfect for us . “I am training you so next time you run into those woods face off with Stray, you stand a better chance.” Her eyes held mine, questions dancing across her features. I wanted to hear each and every one. Especially if it meant she would engage me in any manner. Instead of blowing up, yelling or headbutting me, she nodded. I tucked the book under my arm, tilting my head towards the door. “Come on then.”

“You mean for me to spar in this? Silks aren't exactly battle garb.” Aurora crossed her arms across her shapely bosom, ready to find any reason to fight me. I gestured to her chest of drawers, taking a seat at her vanity. “Do change then, Princess. I don't mind waiting.” Her cheeks flushed pink as I leaned back in the cushioned chair eying her form tiptoeing back into the room. “I will be fine in this.” Aurora huffs, her cheeks still tinted pink as she drops her gaze to her bedside and produces a sturdier pair of shoes, quickly pulling them on. She yanks the door open aggressively and gestures to the hall before stalking out. I laughed. A genuine, real laugh. She was… everything . Our kingdom had been shrouded in darkness, a veil of secrecy and grief from betrayal. Now, even with war brimming on the horizon, there was hope of something beyond that. Something real. I rose to my feet, racing after the woman who had no clue the power she held over this kingdom.