her knee, though?”
“Why the fuck have you been looking at her knee?” I rip my gaze away from her to glare at my nephew.
“It’s innocent, Uncle.”
“Innocent or not, do not look at her. That applies to you, too, Aiden.”
My son lifts his shoulder. “I don’t take orders, Jonathan.”
“Well, you will now. Is that understood?”
“Does that mean you’ll beat him up? Can I watch? Or maybe participate?” Levi’s gaze sparks.
Aiden flips him off discreetly, but I see it.
“I must admit. I like this side of you, Uncle. It’s more human. You weren’t this way with Alicia.”
“No, he wasn’t.” There’s no maliciousness in Aiden’s voice, as if he merely intends to relay facts. “Is it true that she’s becoming like Alicia? Aurora, I mean.”
I take a sip of my drink, letting the burn settle in before I speak, “How do you know about that?”
“She told me so herself.”
“Since when did you two start to talk?”
“Since I can use her to bring you down.”
My lips twitch. “Maybe in the next life, son.”
“Whatever.” Aiden twirls a knight chess piece between his fingers. “So is she?”
“Perhaps.”
“Well, shit.” Levi’s voice lowers. “Is it genetic?”
“No clue yet, but probably.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t taken her to the doctor.” Aiden kills one of Levi’s pawns with his knight.
“Yeah, Uncle. Doctors are your modus operandi, aren’t they? First Alicia, then Dad, then me.”
“If there’s need for outside help that’s exactly what will happen.” I take another sip of my cognac.
“Why didn’t you do it with her, then?” Aiden motions his head in Aurora’s direction.
“She would throw a tantrum.”
Levi chuckles. “Whoa. Has the great Jonathan King finally met his match?”
“Looks like it.” Aiden gives me an undecipherable glance.
“Don’t you have a game to focus on? Your right is exposed, Aiden. Your queen is in jeopardy, Levi.”
Both their demeanours sharpen as their attention shifts back to the chessboard. Now that they realise the other party is aware of their weakness, they need to give their all to win the game.
The women soon join us. Elsa slides beside Aiden, and her blue eyes sparkle. She’s just like Ethan; they seem demure, but deep down yearn for challenges and wars. Her father is way worse, though.
Astrid sits close to Levi and points at a chess piece. Even though he’s concentrating, he answers each of her questions.
There’s a moment of hesitation before Aurora stands beside my chair. She’s far enough away that her apple scent is barely noticeable. That scent, which I’ve never paid attention to before, has become a fucking addiction. Smelling it means she’s there, close, and all mine for the taking. Having it all over my bed means she’s beside me, holding on to me with her dainty hands as if she needs me.
I grab her by the waist and pull her close. She gasps as she falls at the edge of my chair. She attempts to wiggle away, because in her politically correct mind, she doesn’t like the kids to see us close. She feels like she’s taking a role that’s not hers.
If they have an issue with her, that’s their problem, not mine. Aurora is here to stay. I don’t fucking care what anyone says or thinks.
My fingers dig into the flesh of her waist, and she must realise that there’s no escaping me, because she releases a long sigh and remains still.
Soon, she’ll stop fighting or trying to run away from me.
Soon, she’ll be safe from both the world and herself.
But to make that happen, I might have to take a measure that she won’t like.
17
Aurora
Something is wrong.
This feeling has been a constant over the last couple of days. It could be because Jonathan didn’t spank me hard enough and has disappeared from my side when I wake up in the morning. He’s usually there the entire night, sometimes holding me through the aftermath of my nightmares, and other times staring at me as if he’s making sure of something. What, I don’t know.
Needless to say, after that night at Aiden’s house, I’ve been sleeping in Jonathan’s bed. My room was cleaned up and appears as good as new. However, each time I end up there, even to grab my things, Jonathan grabs me by my hand and leads me back to his room.
Not that I’ve wanted to spend any nights alone after those voices I dreamt about.
He still spanks me as ‘punishment’, but we both know it’s so much more than that.
It’s our connection.
It’s something that fills his eyes with possessiveness and mine with raw lust.
Sometimes, I wake