Free Flames of Auriel (A Caeles Adventure Book 1) by Erin Bedford

you tripled his work load.”
    “Oh that is rich, coming from you. All you Aurelians know how to do is fight.” He leaned across the table, his nose inches away from hers. “You wouldn’t know peace if it bit you in your pretty little ass.”
    “And maybe if you had a father you wouldn’t be such an ass!” Zoe gasped covering her mouth with her hands as the words came out. Her eyes wide she watched the play of emotions on the prince’s face. Shock, anger, and then resentment.
    “I think we’re done here.” Asher moved away from the table, walking toward the door.
    Zoe chased after him, cursing her skirts for slowing her down. “Wait, Asher. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
    Asher ignored her, glaring at the guard. “Move.”
    “I have strict orders to report to your mother if you leave your highness.” The guard reminded him. The guards face twitched as he tried to remain stern in his defense.
    “I don’t care. Tell her.” Asher shoved passed the guard into the hallway, Zoe trailing after him.
    “Asher –” She started.
    “Go away.”
    “Would you wait?” She picked up her skirts and hurried after him.
    He never stopped as he tossed a response over his shoulder. “Why? So you can point out more of my flaws? No, thank you.”
    “I said I was sorry.”
    “Good, you should be.” Asher paused at the end of the hall, blanking on where he was going.
    Zoe grabbed onto the sleeve of his tunic when he stopped. “Please, wait a minute.” She held on to keep him from escaping again. “This isn’t as easy to run in as it looks.”
    Asher scowled at her, his anger simmering beneath the surface. “You apologized. What else could you want?”
    “I shouldn’t have said what I did. I’m the last person who has any right to judge. I know what it’s like to lose a parent, which is probably why it was so easy for me to hurt you. I know how it feels to feel inadequate. To think, what if I had grown up with a mother? Would I have been more lady-like?” Zoe’s eyes became distant.
    Asher’s anger softened, remembering she too had lost a parent at a young age. It did not make the loss hurt any less, but it was nice to have a kindred spirit who knew what he was going through. His eyes fell on her turned down face, some of her hair falling out of its pins. Before he could catch himself, his hand brushed those strands behind her ear, causing her head to jerk up.
    “We can’t be any more than we are. No use worrying over what could have been.” The hand that seemed to have a life of its own stroked the side of her face. He offered her a small smile. “Besides, I doubt having your mother around would keep you from being any less of a hellion.”
    “Perhaps not.” Zoe fought the urge to lean into the hand warm against her cheek. She smirked up at him in an effort to change the solemn mood. “You’d be bored if I were too agreeable.”
    Asher snorted, dropping his hand. “I could use a little agreeable in my life.”
    “Admit it.” She pushed his shoulder, a teasing grin on her face. “You’d miss me if I was gone.”
    “Of course I would.” Asher returned her grin, enjoying how her face lit up with surprise. “I get tired of winning at chess. Brom has become lazy in his strategies.”
    “That’s not very nice.” Zoe growled, punching him in the arm.
    “Neither is punching your betrothed.” Asher caught her hand in his as she lifted it to hit him again. He should know better than to antagonize her by now, but she was just so easy to rile up. When she did not immediately jerk her hand away from his, Asher had an idea. Locking his gaze with hers he raised her hand to his mouth.
    If the redhead’s sharp intake was anything to go by she was not as unaffected by him as she liked others to believe. Maybe there was a different way to light the fire in his princess that did not involve him getting beaten to a pulp. Taking another chance, Asher placed a hand at her waist and took a step