Chapter Nine #2
A muscle jerked along his law. “It’s a standard arrangement between families of royal blood, I assure you—”
She tore herself from his grasp and backed up. Way up. As in…across the room. “Standard in the Dark Ages.”
Devereaux sucked in a deep breath. “It was a…a sort of betrothal.”
Betrothal? She’d read too much about those in the historical romances she loved so much.
“I promised to wed you on your twenty-sixth birthday. Once we were wed, I would share my kingdom with you. You would rule at my side.”
The door squeaked open, then slammed closed as Salvatore finally made his departure.
Lark crossed her arms over her chest. “Doesn’t sound like you get much out of the deal.”
A shrug. “I get you. That’s all I want. Fuck the rest.”
But she jumped on what he’d said. “The rest? What rest?”
His hands clenched and unclenched. “In the event of your father’s death…”
Because the guy was still alive somewhere, and he’d never bothered to find her. Great fellow.
“If he dies,” Devereaux continued doggedly, “then his kingdom will fall to us. You and I will rule all he currently commands.”
A bitter laugh broke from her. “Okay. I get it. You want his kingdom. I’m a means to an end. You want—”
He was right in front of her.
“Stop moving that fast! It makes me dizzy!”
Devereaux didn’t touch her, but he reached out, as if he wanted to do so. “You are what I want. Fuck his kingdom. Fuck my kingdom.”
Okay.
“I wanted you immortal because I don’t want you to die. I want you to live forever at my side. I’ve slipped into your life over the years. I’ve watched you, and I’ve yearned for you. But then, last year, you vanished. You left everything and everyone that you’d known before.”
Because she’d wanted a fresh start.
“I was terrified,” he added gruffly. “So afraid that something had happened to you. I sent every vamp I could find to hunt you. I needed you safe. I needed you alive.”
“So you could double your kingdom—”
“So I could be at your side when the other bastards came hunting you. So I could make sure I stood between you and any threat. So I could be with you.”
He sounded so sincere. But vamps could lie too well. Devereaux had already proven that he was a world-class liar.
“I am sorry for the way you changed. I’m sorry I didn’t explain things to you better.
I was so fucking afraid of scaring you or of driving you away.
Then, when I finally had you—when my cock was buried in you and paradise surrounded me—I didn’t have enough control to explain things the way I should have.
” He released a ragged breath. “All I wanted was to have a chance with you. All I wanted was to have you. I’d intended to introduce you to my world slowly, but those plans were shot to hell. ”
“Slowly?” Lark latched onto that one word. “Just how slowly?”
His gaze drifted over her face. She could see the longing in his eyes, and the need there made her stomach start flipping again. “I wanted to marry you today.”
“That is not slowly.” They needed to talk about the definition of the word.
“The speed is for your protection. As soon as we are bound, the others will stay away. Your protection comes first. Your safety is my priority.” Devereaux squared his shoulders.
“As far as you drinking my blood…becoming immortal, yes, I wanted that. But when you were ready. I wasn’t going to force that onto you.
But things got out of control. I lost my head when I took your body.
You shattered me. I was lost—wanting only you. ”
She might have been pretty insanely lost, too. Her control had been shredded. Had it felt the same way for him? Had he only known that savage, primal need? She swallowed. Twice. “I don’t forgive you.”
A muscle jerked in his jaw.
“But I wanted you so badly I went crazy, too.” She’d never felt such desire. It…the force of it scared her. It couldn’t be safe to want someone that much.
“Vampire instincts are strong.” His voice was low. “When we fuck, the bloodlust rises with the physical lust. I knew that. I should have warned you.”
“I knew it, too.” Vamp 101. “I still wanted you.” Her tongue ran over her teeth. Normal teeth again, fangs gone. “How often will I need to feed?”
“You’re royal. You won’t feel the cravings as badly as other newly transformed vamps. Your blood is very powerful.”
That still didn’t tell her how often.
“Every few days,” he allowed. “The hunger hit you hard when you first woke because your body had just gone through a difficult change.”
“I’m undead.” The technical term. Maybe. Her heart beat. She breathed. She’d just died for a bit. And woken as something else.
Something stronger.
Devereaux nodded.
A shiver slid over her body. “Were there really witches outside?”
Again, he nodded.
“They were trying to burn my home?”
“I stopped them.”
“Thank you.”
His lips twitched. “You are most welcome.” His stare softened. “You’ll realize—soon enough—that I will do just about anything for you.”
“Why?” Had to be because the fellow wanted whatever kingdom her father possessed.
Devereaux offered his hand to her, holding his palm out. “Let me show you what could be. Before you decide I’m the villain of this story, just see what I have to offer.”
She gazed at his extended hand.
“You know that you need an ally. I’ve offered my protection and the strength of my vampires. You will not stand alone in the battles that come.”
“If I…marry you.” Wasn’t that what he’d said before? She had to marry him in order to get the protection of his army?
His hand remained outstretched. “Whether you bond with me or not, I will still protect you.” The words were gruff. “I will not just stand aside while you are threatened.”
Again… “Why?”
A tender smile curved his lips, then he said, “Because I’ve discovered that you matter quite a bit to me. And were something to happen to you, I think the world would be quite…less.”
“That’s sweet…ish.” She reached for his hand because she didn’t have a whole lot of options, and, all things considered, the vamp was her best choice. And also, because—dammit, she just felt safer when he was near. As crazy as that was.
“I will have my men pack up all of your belongings.”
“The things that aren’t singed?”
He nodded. “They will be safe. You will not lose anything that matters to you.”
She just shrugged. “They’re just things.
Things don’t matter, you know?” But she found herself leaning closer to him as she nibbled on her lip.
“I get that you’re big into this whole protection thing, and you think we’re both all immortal and stuff, but I’ve seen vampires die.
I know a stake through the heart will kill you.
” Her gaze searched his. “I know that if you lose your head, you’re done. And I know fire can turn you to ash.”
“Yes.”
“Immortality—living forever—doesn’t mean we don’t die. And I don’t want you to die.”
His dimples winked for her as he gave her another slow, almost tender smile. “I don’t plan on dying.”
“If that’s true, then why did you race outside to fight witches who could wield fire? Why did you put yourself at risk that way?”
His gaze never wavered. “Because you were worth the flames.”
“Don’t do it again.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the back of her knuckles. “That’s not a promise I can make.”
She glared at him.
His smile stretched. “I’m trying not to lie to you. I don’t like lying to you. I want you to trust me. So perhaps it’s just better that you know this—if witches come for you again, I will walk through their fire before it touches you.”
She didn’t get him. “I’m not worth you getting turned to ash.”
And his smile faded. “That is where you are wrong. To me, you are worth everything.”