AURORA MOON
"Hang on," said Aurora. "I have to take this call." She stepped back, her arm aching, sweat dotting her brow. "Kellan? Are you all right?"
"Am I all right? Where are you?"
"I'm in the wine cellar trying to kill Aiden."
"What?"
"I'm not really doing that great of a job. I've never murdered anyone before." She studied the bloodied heel of her stiletto. "I think I need better weapons."
"Do not move. Stay away from Aiden. I'll be right there."
Aurora wiped blood from her cheek and smiled at Aiden. "I have to wait for Kellan." She stepped back and obediently waited for her fiance.
He arrived within minutes, looking harried. He immediately went to Aurora. "What were you thinking?" He put a coat around her shoulders. "You're supposed to stay warm."
"I wore socks," she said. "It was hard to wear them and the high heels."
Kellan wiped more blood from her cheeks. "You need another shower. Why are you doing this? You don't have to dirty your hands. Or your shoes."
"It's more satisfying if I do it." She looked down at Aiden who was groaning a lot and bleeding profusely. "Do you think he'll die?"
"Jingyu."
Jingyu crouched down and studied Aiden Cross. "I believe Mr. Cross is going to live." He stood up. "You could perhaps leave him here and see if he dies from blood loss or an infection."
"That's too slow," complained Aurora.
Kellan scooped up Aurora. "Well, you need rest. You'll just have to wait until tomorrow to deal with Mr. Cross."
She snuggled against Kellan's broad chest, her arms wrapped around his neck. She felt his damp hair. "Kellan! You should've blow-dried your hair before coming outside. Do you want to catch a cold?"
"I'm fine."
Aurora held on tight as Kellan carried her back to the house.
"You need to take another shower," he said, taking her into the bathroom.
"Take one with me," she said. "I got blood all over you, too."
Kellan shook his head. "I can't. Aurora I don't think you understand how much I want to be with you. It's as if ... if I unleash what I've restrained for so long ... I might hurt you."
"Then hurt me." She kissed his Adam's apple, flicking her tongue against his skin.
Kellan couldn't put her down fast enough. He deposited her into the shower. "I'll get you fresh clothes." He hurried out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
After finishing her shower, blow-drying her hair, and getting into another set of pajamas, Aurora walked into the bedroom.
Kellan sat on the bed holding a pair of fuzzy pink handcuffs.
She looked at the cuffs, and then looked at him. "What do you plan to do with those?"
"Put them on you." He pointed over his shoulder at the chain dangling from the headboard. "And attach you to that."
"Is that necessary?"
"Either you accept these terms, or you return to the cage."
"Will you sleep in the cage with me?"
"Your bed would barely accommodate the two of us."
Aurora smiled. "You're supposed to keep me warm, remember?"
"I will." He lifted the fuzzy cuffs. "If you wear these."
"If I wear those," she repeated, "you promise to snuggle with me." She pointed at him. "For the rest of the night."
Kellan swallowed hard. But he nodded. "Yes."
Aurora slid onto his lap and offered her wrists. "Okay."
Aiden stared at her, astonishment flickering across his handsome face. "I won't release you. Not until it's time for breakfast."
"And then we get our marriage license." Aurora plucked the handcuffs from him and put them on her wrists. She lifted her arms, and Kellan locked them. Then he carried her to the other side of his bed and fastened the cuffs onto the long, thick chain.
"You can't escape," he said.
"I won't escape if it I wasn't chained to your bed." She fluttered her lashes. "Do you want to do naughty things to me?"
He broke out into a sweat, and Aurora laughed softly. She had never noticed how cutely nervous Kellan was when it came to interacting with her. She'd always been driven by hate and fear, never bothering to listen to him. He'd always been patient, even when furious with her.
She'd punished the man who loved her. It was her fault. But blame should be shared by those who'd wronged her, including Aiden Cross and her bloodsucking family. They would pay the price. She wouldn't allow any of them to live well.
Kellan smoothed her brow. "What are you thinking about?"
"Revenge," she said. "Aiden, Ivy, my family, my boss, and that man at the bakery who always gets my order wrong. On purpose. What did I ever do to him?"
"What guy?"
Aurora chuckled. "Out of everything I just said, all you heard was the part about the guy?"
"No," said Kellan. The tips of his ears turned red. "But that's the part that concerns me the most."
"Not wreaking vengeance on people who supposedly love me?"
"No. Anyone who harms you deserves to die."
"Thank you for protecting me, Kellan," she said. "This time, I'll protect you, too." She wasn't the only one with enemies, after all. She patted the bed next to her. "Get into bed. I'm cold."
She turned on to her side, chains rattling, and Kellan slid behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. She heard him sniff her hair and sigh with contentment.
"Goodnight, little butterfly."
"Goodnight."
***|***|***
At breakfast, Aurora had a difficult time prying her gaze off Kellan. With his wavy dark brown hair and dark eyes, he looked especially handsome in his tailored brown suit with pin stripes and a gold butterfly tie.
Today, she wore two sparkling purple butterfly barrettes---custom-made by an exclusive jewelry designer. The lavender qípáo was edged with dark purple. She noticed that Kellan's gaze hadn't strayed from her for a couple of minutes.
Aurora tilted her head. "Do I have something on my face?"
"No," he said. "It's just that you're so beautiful, I can't look away."
She felt the warmth of a blush heat her cheeks, and she looked down at her plate. Still, his compliment pleased her very much and she smiled.
"You're very handsome, too," she said, glancing at him.
He clasped her fingers. "Are your wrists still sore?"
Even the fuzzy pink handcuffs had left marks on her wrists. She'd covered the light bruising with a purple ribbon on one wrist, and a wide gold bracelet on the other. They'd made great progress in the trust department. So what if she had to wear those fluffy cuffs?
One day, she would convince him that she was his. Completely. Forever. She lifted his hand and kissed his knuckles. "Kellan, can we get our marriage certificate now?"