KELLAN WARD
Kellan covered her mouth. "Hush."
She kissed his palm, and the soft press of her full lips made his paper-thin control tear. How easily he could lose himself in her. For years, he dreamed of loving Aurora Rose Moon.
But this Aurora was ... different.
How could a woman change so drastically between morning and evening of the same day?
What's the situation? he thought. He put his hand against her forehead. She didn't feel hot.
"I'm not sick," she said. "I want to marry you. Tonight. No, the Civil Registration Bureau is closed. Tomorrow. First thing in the morning. Promise me."
"I want our wedding to be special," said Kellan. "I want you to feel like a princess. I can't just marry you all," he waved his hand, "you know, willy nilly."
"We can plan a beautiful wedding. But first, let's make it legal. Marry me, Kellan."
Panic welled. Was she serious? Her words were making him happy. Too happy. Kellan pried her off his lap and stumbled away from the canopy bed. "We'll discuss this later. I'll bring you dinner soon."
She sighed. "Okay."
Okay? Just ... okay? No name-calling? No screaming? No thrown objects?
He watched her sit cross-legged on the mattress and lay her chained wrists on her lap. Her white nightdress pooled around her, and he saw one foot with lavender-frosted toenails peeking out from under the nightie's lace edge.
Desire struck him like lightning.
"Be good," he said. He was actually giving himself that advice, but Aurora heard him, too.
"I will," she said. "I promise."
***|***|***
KELLAN WARD
"Call Dr. Monroe," he said to Jingyu as he locked the basement door. "There's something wrong with Aurora." He strode down the hallway with Jingyu close behind. "She doesn't eat well. Perhaps we should hire a nutritionist."
"Have you considered not keeping her in a cage?" asked Jingyu in a neutral tone.
Kellan stopped, wheeled around, and stared at his assistant. "What's wrong with the cage? I built it spacious. I put all of her favorite things in there. She's safe now." He held out a hand and counted on his fingers. "If there's a fire, a tornado, an earthquake, or any man that's not me, she's out of harm's way. The entire basement is reinforced and has the latest technology. I designed everything to protect her."
"Did you ask if she wanted to be protected?"
"Jingyu, are you her assistant or mine?"
"Yours, sir. Until I die."
Kellan nodded, satisfied. "I'm going to the kitchen to cook her favorite egg noodles. Also, call our top designer. My little butterfly needs new princess clothes. Her favorite color is purple. Tell the designer to keep that in mind."
"Yes, sir."
***|***|***
AURORA MOON
In her past life, Aurora Moon met Kellan Ward on the first day at university. He was shy and awkward, but very good-looking. Even though his social skills were ... well, awful, his face and body drew the attention of many girls.
But he only had eyes for her.
It was only later, when he built Butterfly Villa for her, that she understood he'd stalked her since high school. They didn't attend the same campuses, but apparently he showed up on the regular to watch her and take pictures of her.
Unfortunately for Kellan, Aurora had been in love with Aiden Cross since the day he rescued her from a wild rosebush. It was the same day her mother died, and she remembered collapsing into his arms and wailing like a broken-hearted banshee.
In the last moments of her past life, Aiden revealed the truth.
"You always thought I was the one who plucked you out of that rosebush. You're so stupid, Aurie. Kellan extracted you from the thorns and held you while you cried for your mama." He laughed. "How could you give your heart to me?"
Her half-sister joined in his laughter. "Here's one more secret before you meet the King of Hell," she said, grinning. "Your mother's death wasn't accidental. My parents killed her."
"Daddy loved my mother!" she yelled. "He would never hurt her."
"He loved my mother," snapped Ivy. "Yours was just in the way."
Reliving these memories, Aurora cried herself to sleep.
***|***|***
KELLAN WARD
He carefully put the steaming bowl of egg noodles on the table next to Aurora's bed. He placed the chopsticks across the top of the bowl, and then sat down next to his little butterfly.
"Aurora," he said softly. He withdrew a brass key from his pocket, unlocked the manacles, and gently removed the metal cuffs. After he placed the chains at the end of the bed, he noticed how red her wrists had gotten. Guilt speared him.
"I shouldn't use manacles," he whispered. "They're too harsh for your delicate skin." He rubbed the redness then tenderly kissed each hand. "I'm sorry."
Aurora murmured in her sleep. Unable to resist, he kissed her forehead. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "You're too thin," he said. "If you eat all your noodles, I'll bring you cake."
She sighed in her sleep, her lips curving slightly, and he was drawn to her cherry mouth. He'd never kissed her on the lips. She fought even the briefest of his touches when she was awake. The only time he could show her any affection was when she was unconscious.
"How I wished you loved me, Aurora Moon."
Her eyelids fluttered, and panic shot through him. He grabbed the manacles and hurried out of the cage, locking it tightly before taking off across the basement to the stairs.
He shut the door and leaned against it. "Whew," he said. "That was close."
***|***|***
JINGYU
"Would you like me to take your chains, sir?"
"Aah!" Master Ward startled, his dark gaze narrowing. "Jingyu, what have I told you about silently creeping up on me?"
"Not to do it, sir." Jingyu bowed. "My apologies, Master Ward." Jingyu nodded toward the manacles. "Would you like me to put the chains into the bondage room?"
"Don't call it that!" Master Ward handed over the chains. "It's a storage room, Jingyu."
A storage room that held every kind of binding ever made, thought Jingyu. There was another room for the torture devices and tools Master Ward used on his enemies. And anyone who looked sideways at Miss Moon.
His employer's obsession with Aurora Moon had begun at the age of twelve. Master Ward would never love another woman. In his eyes, not a female on this earth compared to the beautiful fairy he'd locked into a golden cage.
It was a shame Master Ward's soulmate didn't love him at all.