AURORA MOON
Aurora ran. Her bare feet splashed into puddles, scraped across stone. Her white lace dress, custom-made by Kellan himself, fluttered around her. Ahead of her, a man clutching her hand held a flashlight. Its thin blade of light barely sliced through darkness.
Didn't I die? Is this the afterlife? She was panting, her heart slamming against her rib cage. Her bare feet hurt.
"Hurry, Aurie. We're almost there."
Almost where? She looked around, and saw that she was in the garden of Butterfly Villa, running toward the back gate.
Realization hit her.
I've been reborn.
She was somehow back to the night Aiden and Ivy had "rescued" her. Tomorrow, Aiden would marry her, steal her inheritance, and then he and Ivy would torture and murder her.
Aurora yanked her arm free and stopped running.
God had eyes. The heavens had seen her suffering and given her a second chance. She still had time to change her and Kellan's fates. She wouldn't waste the opportunity.
Aurora turned, intending to return to Butterfly Villa, but Aiden grabbed her wrist and spun her back around.
"What are you doing?" he asked. "We'll get caught."
"Good." She slapped at his hand, but he refused to release her. "Let me go!"
"What's wrong with you? We have to go now, or Kellan will catch up with us."
"I want him to," she said, trying to pull her arm from his grasping fingers. "I want Kellan. Not you."
Shock bloomed on his sweaty face, and Aiden released her.
She wheeled around. He grabbed her again. Before she knew what was happening, Aiden picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder.
"Stop being crazy," snapped Aiden. "You actually want to be with that psycho? He's brainwashed you."
Aurora was repulsed by Aiden's closeness. Liar! Cheat! Asshole! She slammed her fists against his back. "Let me go!" she screamed. "Let. Me. Go!"
She kicked her feet and smacked him repeatedly. He lost his grip and Aurora fell onto the grass. She ignored the aches and pains and climbed to her feet.
"You are so weak," she spat at Aiden. "Weak and pathetic."
"What's wrong with you? You've never insulted me before."
Well, that's what you get for murdering me in my previous life, thought Aurora. "I'm going to marry Kellan. Not you. Never you."
Aiden stared at her, confused. But she knew his emotions were fake. His concern, his love, his promises ... all fake.
"Aurora Rose Moon!"
Aurora turned and saw Kellan Ward. Tall. Muscled. Gorgeous. A dangerous glint in his dark eyes. He looked amazing in his gray suit pants. His white dress shirt was unbuttoned at the top and the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.
How could she have ever thought Aiden was handsome? He was a troll compared to Kellan Ward. Behind Kellan marched two rows of bodyguards dressed in black suits. Two of the men came forward and grabbed Aiden.
"Kellan!" She ran straight to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "That awful man tried to steal me."
Kellan went completely still. He gripped her arms and pulled her away. "Didn't you go with him willingly?"
"No," Aurora said, pouting. "Look." She showed him her cheek. "He slapped me. And look at this." She lifted her wrist. It was still red from where Aiden had yanked her. "It hurts."
Kellan's black gaze flicked toward Aiden. The man had gone pale as he was forced to his knees, his arms pulled behind him.
"Break his hand," said Kellan.
One of the bodyguards complied. Pop. Crack. Snap.
Aiden screamed.
Then he fainted.
Kellan lifted Aurora's chin and tilted her face to study her cheek. Fury etched his features. "Put him in the wine cellar. Wake him up and slap him fifty times."
"A hundred," said Aurora. Her lower lip quivered. "He put his hands on me, Kellan. And he hurt me."
"You heard her. A hundred times." With one arm, Kellan picked up Aurora and carried her back to the villa.
Aurora rested her head against his chest. This time, she silently promised him, I will love you with all of my heart. And I'll protect you with the same fierceness you protect me.
After a shower and treating the wounds on her feet, Kellan carried her to the basement.
To the gilded cage.
The manacles were thick. Heavy. He snapped the cuffs around her wrists. "Be a good little butterfly," he whispered into her ear.
She looked up. Kellan. Her imposing, handsome fiance with black hair just a little too long and dark, dark eyes.
She lifted her arms, but the manacles rattled, reminding her that she was imprisoned. She didn't like the gold cage Kellan had custom-built for her. Her heart turned over in her chest. A prison was a prison, no matter how luxurious, and she didn't want to live in this one.
"You can't leave me, Aurora," he said, his voice hoarse, his expression filled with pain. "I know your hatred is a blade. I will suffer every wound. I will bleed for you, little butterfly."
The image of Kellan cutting his own neck flashed into her mind. Panic made her whole body shake and she sat up on her knees. "No! Please! Don't hurt yourself."
His brows slashed downward as he stumbled back. "What? Don't ... don't hurt myself?" He looked stunned, and she realized she'd rarely said kind words to him. Every moment in his presence was an opportunity to spit vitriol at him. To make it clear she didn't want him. To hurt him as viciously as she could. All to make him dislike her enough to abandon his love for her.
But he never did.
Not.
Once.
"I'm sorry, Kellan. I'm truly sorry. Please forgive me."
He moved further away. "What game is this, Aurora?"
"It's not a game." She collapsed to the bed, tears dripping down her cheeks. "I'm so happy to see you."
"Happy? This morning you wished me dead. You swore to leave me. How can you be happy now?"
"I'm an asshole." She burst into fresh tears. "I'm horrible. Why do you even like me?"
"Aurora, don't cry. It's ... okay?" He sounded unsure, and it was so cute, she cried even harder.
"No, it's not okay," she wailed.
"Don't cry. What can I do? How do I make you feel better?"
"A hug."
"You want me..." He pointed at himself. "...to hug you?" He pointed at her.
Aurora nodded.
Kellan approached the bed as though it were filled with scorpions, but he sat next to her. She wasted no time crawling onto his lap. She snuggled against him and laid her head on his chest.
She heard his racing heartbeat, and smiled.
Yet, he still didn't put his arms around her. She sniffled into his suit jacket. "Don't you want to hug me, too?"