Cruel Union (Brutal Universe #1)

10. Aurora

10

AURORA

“ S o …your family seems nice,” I offered tentatively as the ship whizzed with what felt like reckless speed through the air. Slade hadn’t said a thing since we’d left the Holy House and his face was like a thundercloud.

“ Yeah , really fucking nice,” he growled, scowling at the viewscreen. Then he took a deep breath and seemed to make an effort to shake off his bad mood. “ Sorry ,” he apologized. “ It’s my stepmother—she makes me fucking crazy.”

“ She did seem rather…opinionated,” I said.

He nodded.

“ That’s a fucking understatement. She’s a snake—you’re better off staying away from her.”

“ All right.” I nodded. I didn’t have a problem keeping my distance from the other woman. “ Was what she said about my dress right, though?” I asked anxiously. “ Is it too old fashioned for this place we’re going?”

“ It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful,” Slade said firmly. He turned his head to catch my eyes. “ I’ve always thought so. For years.”

“ Really ? You’ve been uh, thinking of me like that for years?” I still couldn’t quite believe that. “ Why didn’t you say anything before?”

He shrugged.

“ What good would it have done? You weren’t fucking available— I had to wait for my chance.”

“ My father would never have let me marry you,” I pointed out.

“ I know.” He nodded. “ It’s a good thing for me that your brother isn’t the male your father was.”

I opened my mouth to protest…and then closed it again. I still loved him but my brother had allowed me to sell myself to pay for his own foolish debts. My father, may the Goddess of Mercy rest his soul—would never have done that.

Sooner than I thought possible, Slade was flying our ship into a huge horizontal slit in the side of an impossibly tall skyscraper. He landed just inside the building and got out.

I was about to open the door and try to get out myself— I didn’t need his help every time, even though the step down was pretty high—when it opened on its own.

“ Greetings , my Lady ,” a male in a dark green vest said, bowing. “ I’m here to park your ship. Would you like a hand to get down?”

He held out his arms to me as though he would lift me down from the ship. I didn’t like the idea of a strange man handling me that way but I was afraid refusing might be rude. I was about to allow myself to be lifted down when Slade came around the other side and saw what was happening.

In that moment, something happened to the big Brute . I saw his golden eyes go pure black—not just the irises but the whites of his eyes too. It was like some shadow inside him was rising to the surface. A low rumbling sound came from his chest and he seemed to somehow get bigger.

“ Hands off my wife,” he growled and his voice was even deeper than usual.

The overly-friendly parking attendant gave a startled look at Slade . His face went abruptly pale when he saw Slade’s pure black eyes and curving golden horns.

“ Forgive me, Enforcer !” he exclaimed, backing away. “ I was just trying to offer some help.”

“ Well fucking don’t,” Slade growled. “ No one touches my wife but me.”

I got a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach, hearing him call me his wife. It seemed so strange and impossible that I could be anyone’s wife, after believing all my life I would never be allowed to wed. And it was especially strange that I was now married—or “ Bound ” as the Brutals said—to Slade .

Also what in the Goddess’s name was going on with his eyes? Should I even ask, or just keep my questions to myself?

Just as I was wondering that, the parking attendant scurried away and Slade’s eyes went back to their normal gold. He seemed to go back to his regular size too, as he put his hands on my waist and lifted me down easily.

Again , I was impressed by his strength. I couldn’t think of a single human male back on L’Crist who could have lifted me so effortlessly. I had let myself go a bit in the past few years—being condemned to spinsterhood had made me feel rather hopeless and I hadn’t been watching my figure like I did when I was younger.

But Slade didn’t seem to mind that I was curvy. I remembered the look in his eyes when he’d told me I was beautiful…and the way it had felt to kiss him. The memory made my heart flutter in my chest.

Stop that right now, I lectured myself. He’s the enemy and you’re not going to be with him very long. Just six months so don’t lose your head!

Slade threw the keys of his ship to another attendant in a green vest and then offered me his arm.

“ I hope you like Likrum cuisine,” he rumbled as he tucked my arm into his. “ It’s light and delicate—not too heavy. I thought it would be a good meal to have before we go back to my suite at the resort.”

I felt my stomach drop at the mention of the two of us going back to his suite. I knew what would happen once we got there.

“ It sounds delicious,” I said, trying to keep my voice light. I didn’t want to let him see how frightened I was about tonight’s ultimate conclusion.

I’ll just have to delay as much as possible, I told myself. Maybe I can tire him out so he’s not interested in that.

I hoped, anyway. For now all I could do was follow him into the restaurant and pray for the best.