Chapter 6

Aubrey's POV I dropped onto my bed with a heavy sigh, sinking into the plush mattress as my eyes traced the intricate crown molding on the ceiling. The evening shadows danced across the walls, mirroring the chaos in my mind as I wrestled with the impossible revelation that Prince Knox—my target—was my fated mate. My fingers absently twisted the silver pendant at my throat, a nervous habit I had never been able to break. "You're acting like finding your mate is the end of the world," Aria's voice cut through my thoughts, sharp with disbelief. I mentally rolled my eyes, frustration building in my chest at her willful ignorance. "In case you've forgotten, we're here on Jax's orders. Having Knox as a mate doesn't just complicate the mission—it could destroy everything." "By the Moon's blood, not everything is about Jax!" Aria's voice rose with unmistakable anger. "Face it—you're freaking out about this fucking mission because you've got feelings for him. That's it. That's the only reason." The words hit like a physical blow. "Hey!" I protested weakly, but the defense felt hollow even to me. "Wake the fuck up!" Her voice trembled with fury. "He sees you as nothing but his perfect little weapon. He knows damn well how you feel about him, and he still treats you like some kid sister he needs to protect. I won't let you throw away our chance at real happiness for someone who can't even see what's right in front of his face!" The raw pain in her voice matched the ache in my chest—she only swore when she was truly pissed off at me. I lay there in silence, the cool morning air ghosting across my skin as her words sank in. The worst part wasn't her anger—it was that deep down, past all my carefully constructed defenses, I knew she was right. The truth of it burned like acid in my throat, but I couldn't bring myself to admit it out loud. Unbidden, my mind dragged me back to that day in his office—watching him kiss Ivanka with such raw desperation, like a dying man and she was his last breath of air. My heart twisted painfully in my chest at the memory. Desperate to escape the ache, I reached for a different memory, one that once brought comfort but now felt bittersweet. I jolted awake screaming, my fingers clawing at the sweat-soaked covers. The nightmare still had its claws in me, trapping me back in that blood-stained field where I watched everyone I loved die, the faceless monster forever hidden in shadow. "Easy there, tiger." The familiar voice cut through my terror, and I whipped around to see Prince Jax standing in my doorway—the firstborn son of the king, my savior. Even now, my chest tightened with gratitude for how he took me in when I had nothing left but ashes and nightmares. I had sworn to spend my life repaying that debt. "You're safe now," he murmured, his boots silent against the floor as he approached my bed. "No one will hurt you here. I promise." His presence didn't surprise me anymore. Since bringing me to his manor, he'd been there nearly every night the terrors came, keeping watch, waking me before the dreams could consume me completely, and staying until sleep claimed me again. The depth of his kindness still left me breathless sometimes. "Thank you," I managed, my throat raw from screaming. I tried to push my sweat-dampened hair from my face, but Jax's fingers were already there, gentle despite their calluses. "Nothing to thank me for, tiger." He tucked the wayward strand behind my ear, his touch impossibly tender. "You're mine to protect." His gray eyes held mine, deep and ancient as a winter storm, full of secrets I longed to understand. A small smile tugged at my lips as he eased me back down. He pulled the covers up to my chin with careful hands, gesturing for me to sleep. I let my eyes drift closed, clinging to the memory of those storm-gray eyes, using them as an anchor to keep the nightmares at bay. A sharp knock yanked me from the memory, and the Queen's distinctive scent had me bolting upright, stumbling toward the door. My cheeks burned with irrational guilt, as if I'd been caught in some act of betrayal, even as I greeted her with what I hoped was a steady voice. A sharp knock yanked me from the memory, and the Queen's distinctive scent—roses and vanilla with an undercurrent of power—had me bolting upright, stumbling toward the door. My cheeks burned with irrational guilt, as if she could somehow sense my conflicted thoughts about her son. I smoothed down my wrinkled dress with trembling hands before opening the door. "Hello, dear." Queen Grace's smile was gentle, her silver-threaded dark hair arranged elegantly around her face. I forced my lips into what I hoped passed for a smile. "I came to invite you to tonight's ball. I know it's meant to celebrate Knox's return, and you might have... reservations about him, but if things develop as they may in the future, tonight would be an excellent opportunity to familiarize yourself with your potential court and meet the noble families." "Oh." The word slipped out before I could stop it, my mind racing with implications. "What do you say?" Her green eyes—so like Knox's—sparkled with barely contained hope, and something in my chest ached at the sight. "Sure, why not?" I managed a smile that felt more genuine than I expected, my mind already spinning with possibilities. After all, what better way to help Jax than to position myself at the heart of Knox's inner circle? Still, I couldn't quite silence the small voice, wondering if I was lying to myself about my true motivations.