Epilogue 2
Aurora
The charity gala is drowning in gold and the glitter of diamonds, but my gaze is fixed on Michael.
He stands by his father’s side, nodding along with the governor’s words.
Michael is devastatingly handsome—the spitting image of Desire.
Watching his confident posture, the way he holds his glass, I realize he’s already a true lion.
No wonder the daughters of the high-ranking guests can’t take their eyes off my son.
Rain and Eddie have stayed home—at thirteen and fifteen, it’s still too early for them to dive into the subtleties of high politics and listen to fake speeches. Their time will come.
“Thank you for your sympathy, Aurora.” Elizabeth Greebsy, the wife of my husband’s partner, interrupts my thoughts. She’s barely holding back tears. “I hope Dean will turn up soon. The police say there are no leads …”
I turn my gaze to her, filled with the softest, most sincere support. “Without a doubt, Elizabeth. I know Desire has already mobilized all his law enforcement contacts. We’ll do everything we can.”
“Thank you! You’re so kind.” Distraught, Elizabeth moves away, and I immediately forget about her.
Desire approaches from behind, his hand settling on my waist. He nods toward Michael, who is politely chatting with the governor’s daughter.
“Our boy is in demand.”
“Of course he is.” I turn and smile at my husband. “That heartbreaker takes after you.”
“What did Elizabeth want?” he asks, his palm on my waist burning me even through the fabric of my dress.
“She’s worried about her husband. I assured her you’d mobilized all your connections to find him.”
“Let’s dance, my princess.”
He leads me to the center of the floor as the orchestra plays a slow song. I catch his adoring dark gaze. “What do you really think of Greebsy?” I whisper, pressing against his chest and inhaling his cologne.
“I think stealing money from the Kingdom is the most elaborate way to commit suicide.” Desire shrugs, leading me confidently through the dance.
“Is he still alive?”
“Possibly.” His gaze slides to the neckline of my dress.
I swallow, feeling the familiar heat spread inside me. “I want to play with chains tonight.” I smile. “Their clanking drowns out the screams of guilt perfectly.”
Desire smirks, anticipation flashing in his eyes. “You know chains are my weakness.”
“Not only yours,” I whisper, pressing closer to him.
I don’t know what awaits us after death.
Desire believes in hell. He’s convinced we’ll be reunited there too, and the thought doesn’t frighten him—it comforts him.
He believes if heaven has rejected us, the abyss will welcome us with open arms. And if we’re fated to pay for everything we’ve done for our kingdom and our family, we’ll burn together.
He will rule there, in the heart of the flames, and I will stand at his left hand, in the very same chains that, tonight, will be both my shackles and my freedom. And that won’t be punishment, but true happiness.