“That looks good. Can I have some?”
We all froze, turning in surprise to find Aurelius pushing himself into a sitting position in bed.
“Aurelius,” I gasped and hurried back to his side. “Lie down. You need to rest.”
He waved me off, and when he did, I noticed the red welts had almost faded completely.
“I’m fine. That nap did wonders. Can I get something to eat?”
Rasp and Vince nearly ran each other over to bring him food. Aurelius tore into the bread with gusto, eating like it was the last meal he’d ever have. I stared at him, shocked at how hungry he was. Bastien must have starved him.
“Did they give you anything to eat there?” I asked, heat rising to my neck as my fury flared again.
Aurelius shook his head and swallowed, sipping from the water mug he’d been given. “No. Freddy snuck in at one point and gave me a sandwich, but that’s it. Bastien wouldn’t allow anyone to give me anything else.”
“Bastard,” Cassius hissed.
“His parents are actually married,” Vince said. “He wouldn’t technically be a bastard.”
Cassius looked at him with a sort of patient irritation. “It’s a turn of phrase, Vincent.” He returned his attention to Aurelius. “How do you feel, son?”
“A lot better, actually. The healers here did a great job.” He handed the empty plate to Rasp. “Can I have some more? It feels like my stomach has been hollowed out.”
“On it, bro,” Rasp said, rushing back to the tray.
“When can I get out of here?” Aurelius asked. “I’d like to sleep in my own bed tonight.”
“Hold on now,” I said. “Shouldn’t you sit tight? Stay here for at least a few hours?”
The door opened before he could answer, and a nurse stepped in.
“It looks like our patient is awake,” she said, smiling happily at Aurelius.
“Yeah,” he said. “I was actually going to ask when I could go back to my quarters.”
“Let me check your vitals first. See how the potions and balms are doing,” she explained, “then we can make a decision.”
Aurelius continued eating as the nurse went about her work. It astounded me that he could eat so much given what he’d been through. His metabolism must have been even higher than most other shifters.
“The prince looks to be in great health,” the healer said. “The exterior injuries have healed nicely, and from what I can sense, his system has flushed out that poison.” She checked Aurelius’s pupils. “What about your dragon? The stuff they gave you probably suppressed him. Can you sense him?”
Aurelius nodded. “I can.” He sounded absolutely jubilant about that.
“I could feel him before, but he was so weak that I couldn’t really shift. And he was emotionally muted, I guess? I don’t know how else to describe it.”
“If that’s the case,” she said. “I don’t see why you can’t sleep in your own bed tonight.” She glanced at a clock on the wall. “Well, what little night there is left.”
“Thank you,” he said, looking like he’d like nothing better than to lie down and sleep for a year.
“Goodnight, folks,” the healer said as she left.
“We’ll give you a few minutes to get dressed,” Cassius said, and we drifted out into the hallway.
“If you all won’t be terribly offended,” Delphine said. “I’m going to head on to bed.”
She did look wrung out and exhausted. It had been a long day. We’d been up for nearly twenty-four hours straight, and they hadn’t been the most relaxing hours in history.
I hugged her. “It’s fine. You earned it.”
She smiled wanly. “Wake me up for lunch.” She pointed at Rasp and Vincent. “If anyone wakes me before that, I’ll have a very nice dragon hide jacket for this winter. Understood?”
“Damn, got it,” Rasp said, holding his hands up in surrender. “Calm down.”
Aurelius walked out, looking refreshed and only slightly disheveled. The walk back to his room was subdued and quiet. Aurelius was at home with the silence, content with enjoying our company in the quiet.
At the door, Cassius wrapped Aurelius in a tight embrace. “I thought I’d lost you, you dumb kid.”
Aurelius patted his father’s back. “Not this time. Takes more than that.”
“I suppose it does,” Cassius said. “A good quality to have, if I do say so myself. You get to bed and rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Vincent lunged forward and threw his arms around Aurelius. There were no words, just an unspoken understanding. Vincent, who’d been overlooked his entire life, and Aurelius, the man who’d seen his worth and done his best to build him up.
Vincent finally released him, and it looked like it took all his willpower to do so. “I’m glad you’re home,” he said, then hurried after Cassius down the hall.
When they were gone, Aurelius gave me a cocky grin. “And what about you? Are you happy I’m home?”
“Are you really asking that?”
“Admit it, you were thinking about me every minute, weren’t you?”
“You’re an asshole.” I rolled my eyes, then sighed and pressed my palm to his chest. “I did. Not every minute. Every second.”
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply