“Don’t push it, my love. That bitch is not getting away with this. I will ensure it,” I say suddenly, forcefully.
He blinks at me. “How so?” he asks curiously.
I explain that I will be taking over her care and that Devon just needs to hang around. ‘Furious’ is probably the word I would use to describe his features, but I put my hand to his lips to stop his outburst. “Don’t, my love. My mind is made up. Devon is her sire in name only. Everything else is for me to take on. He doesn’t want this, and I won’t force him to be something he is not.”
He looks like he is about to argue with me again, but I silence him with a kiss. “Two hours,” I say and make my way to the door. Over my shoulder, I call back, “And make sure Sebastian is here with his apology.”
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE
I debate with myself, on my way back to Xane’s office, whether or not I should tell CK about my knowledge of Sebastian. Knowledge is power, but then, do I really need another secret to hold on to? Look how well that has turned out so far. I sigh as I mount the steps, but all my Vampire troubles go away as Xane opens the door with a flourish. “My lady.” He beckons. “Shall we?”
I take his hand. “We shall.” He Astraports us to his family’s home.
“Are all the houses like this here?” I ask him.
“I will take you on a small tour in a moment. There is something we need to do first,” he says. I take a moment to look around the room we are in and turn back to him. “Xane,” I complain loudly, “why did you bring me to your bedroom?”
“Who says it’s my bedroom?” he says slyly.
“I can’t imagine you would bring me to anyone else’s.”
“True. You’ve got me there. Do you like it?” he concedes easily.
I have another look around; I do like it. Whereas mine at home is all medieval, Xane’s is exactly how I would have pictured it: gothic and dark. There is a massive wrought iron, black, four-poster bed with spikes on every corner, and black silk covers. There is a huge iron chandelier hanging from the ceiling with candles, not light bulbs, and again I wonder if we are somehow back in time. A thick black carpet covers the floor and heavy velvet drapes are half pulled across stained glass windows. “I love it,” I say, meaning it. “It’s very you.” I’m conscious that I said those exact same words to Cole when he showed me his room. I fiddle with my rings uncomfortably. I shouldn’t be here. “Can we go to your office?” I ask.
He points to a corner where there is a massive desk and chairs. “This is my office. At least my informal one. The other one is too…” he waves his hand around, “grand,” he says finally.
“I like grand. My own at home is very similar to yours.”
“But I bet you have an office space in your bedroom,” he says. “No, wait, let me guess: in a sitting room that leads off your bedroom.”
I stare at him in surprise. “That’s very specific,” I say to him.
He shrugs. “Your bedroom is a sanctuary for you. But you are also too involved with your work to not have it close to hand.”
“Astute,” I say and turn around to hide the small smile playing at my lips.
“I am. Especially about you,” he says from right behind me.
“Xane,” I say, turning around, then stepping back from his nearness. “Can you please tell me what you meant yesterday about the ‘with whom I am trying to procreate’ remark?”
“Exactly how it sounds.”
I frown at him and he elaborates, “You are not just a Vampire anymore, your Dragon self is active, your Demon self is active. I assume you have tried Shifting to a Wolf?” He doesn?
?t let me answer 'no' – that hadn’t even occurred to me yet – and continues, “All of these creatures procreate, as you put it. Babies are born and they grow up being what they are. There is no chance that you would have a baby Vampire, but baby Pups or baby Demons or baby Dragons? Yes, there is a strong possibility. You are Queen now. You will be expected at some point to reproduce.”
I am frozen to the spot and my face must show it as he says, “Terrified, aren’t you?” and chuckles. “As it happens, there is a curse you can use to prevent such occurrences. I have used it on myself with great success. Page 152 of the Grimoire,” he says, tapping a finger to my temple and it unfreezes me. I just stare at him in my apparent terror as I mentally sift and come up with page 152. I frown as I can’t read it.
“Just sound it out,” he says but doesn’t give me the chance to do anything as he drops his mouth to mine and pulls me into his arms. I struggle for a few moments with my hands on his chest to push him away, but I feel it again. The heat. The normal heat that is radiating off him, I can feel it. It feels amazing. I want his arms wrapped around me, warming me.
“Don’t tell me you can’t feel it,” he whispers before resuming his kisses.
“Oooo, Uncle Xane is kissing a girl,” a child’s voice says from the doorway.
I jump away from him like a scalded cat.
He sighs and turns to the child. “Xaria. Mind your own business,” he chides the girl who looks to be about eight in human years but who can say how old she really is? “Where is your mother?”