Free His Highness the Duke by Michelle M. Pillow Page A

platform on thrones.
    Bron paused, turning to her. ―What is your family name? Your people?‖
    ―Ah, oh, Aeron Grey. My people are,‖ she hesitated.
    When she didn‘t finish, he took her arm in his. To his aunt and uncle, he said,
    ―Queen Mede, King Llyr, may I present Lady Aeron Grey.‖
    ―You must be eager,‖ the king said, laughing. ―You are the first to arrive.‖
    The queen began speaking in the Qurilixian tongue to her husband. Bron hid his
    smile. When she finished, the king looked properly chastised, though hardly sorry for
    his teasing. Queen Mede was a rare Qurilixian-born woman, but that was not how she
    came to be married to the king. Their match was fated just as everyone else‘s was.
    ―Proceed,‖ the queen ordered.
    Bron bowed, took the crystal from his neck and handed it to Aeron. She stared at
    it, rubbing the glowing stone. ―Break it.‖
    ―But,‖ she whispered, ―it is so pretty.‖
    ―Smash it,‖ Bron insisted.
    She frowned at him and curled her fingers around the stone. ―I don‘t want to. I
    want to keep it. It‘s pretty.‖
    ―High Duke?‖ the queen asked.
    ―One moment,‖ he said. The crowd that gathered to watch began to chuckle and
    whisper amongst themselves. He grabbed Aeron‘s wrist and hissed into her ear. ―What
    are you doing? We are in public. Smash the crystal!‖
    ―No!‖ she protested, trying to get her wrist free. ―Let go. I want to keep it.‖
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    ―God‘s Bones! Smash the crystal, Aeron.‖ Bron swore, well aware that those
    around them could probably tune in to every word. Glancing up, he saw the shift of
    yellow in the council‘s eyes. Yes, they were definitely listening in.
    Bron squeezed the tendons in her wrist forcing her to loosen her hold. Shaking
    her hand, he made her drop the crystal. Aeron gasped in protest and moved to pick it
    up from the red earth with her free hand. He pulled her captured hand higher, stopping
    her. Aeron‘s eyes met his as she was forced to stand tall. He expected her to fight him.
    Instead, she smiled. The look momentarily took him off guard.
    Aeron took advantage of his stunned state. Lifting on her toes, she grabbed his
    face with her free hand and kissed him. The crowd laughed and cheered, calling out
    provocative suggestions to the couple. Bron detected the faint smell of liquor on his
    people and knew they were still rowdy from the night before. And Aeron was giving
    them a show.
    He was about to pull her away when her tongue touched his lips. He realized
    this was the first time they‘d really kissed. A low moan left him. He felt the crystal
    pulse at his feet, as if it cocooned them in its power. His hand loosened on her wrist.
    Her fingers wound into his hair, pulling him closer.
    ―Lord Bron.‖ The queen‘s voice came from outside the fog of his pleasure so he
    ignored it. ―High Duke!‖
    Aeron‘s kiss deepened. Her mouth slid against his, instinctively finding a sweet
    rhythm with his mouth. Her body slid next to his suggestively.
    A hand bit into his arm and shook him hard. ―Bron, control yourself, son.‖ Bron
    jerked his mouth from his wife. The king glared at him. In their shared language, he
    said, ―Make her finish it. Now.‖
    Aeron‘s mouth moved along his neck and jaw, trying to entice him back to her
    kiss. Bron fought her spell. He kicked the crystal toward her foot. It hit the side of her
    slipper. Taking her arms, he lifted her and dropped her foot lightly on the crystal. It
    shattered like glass.
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    The laughing crowd cheered, some of them making sounds of disappointment
    that the show was over. Bron ignored them.
    ―Bron?‖ Aeron looked down at her foot and then to him. Confusion filtered
    through her gaze. Her eyes began to clear of the crystal‘s influence. She swayed weakly
    and he had to hold on to her to keep her upright.
    The Queen announced, as was customary, ―Welcome to the family of Draig,
    Lady Aeron. I hope you will