“I protected you because you were my friend. My prince,” Aiden said, his voice catching on the last two words.
Ronan’s eyes drifted up to Aiden’s crown and he smiled. “My king.”
Aiden broke their stare first, blinking away tears. “We…we should head back. We’ve been out here too long. My sons…”
“Are actively plotting how they’re going to string me up and drain me,” Ronan finished with a chuckle.
Aiden didn’t laugh. “That’s a distinct possibility.”
“Before we go in,” Ronan paused and licked his lips. For the first time since meeting Aiden in the woods, he looked uncomfortable. “I know you don’t trust me. I don’t blame you. It’s been too many years. And vampires…”
“Aren’t normally trustworthy creatures,” Aiden said with a little smile.
“But can I touch you? Just your hand. I…I’m half afraid that my mind has made this all up. I’ve wanted this, prayed that you were still alive for so long.”
Aiden’s heart screamed to charge across the six feet separating them and throw himself into Ronan’s arms. It had been the very thing he’d yearned to do since he first saw the man. But it wasn’t smart. He was being cautious no matter how much it hurt. Ronan had been gone from his life for centuries. He was working for the European Ministry. He could be safe and smart for a little while longer. Just until he’d gathered some more facts.
Slowly, Aiden stretched out his left hand with his palm up toward Ronan. His old friend stretched out his right. For a second, their fingertips brushed, and Aiden half expected electricity to arc between them. The air around them tingled and sparked with tension and longing. Biting the inside of his mouth, Aiden allowed himself one step forward. His palm slid along Ronan’s rough palm, and his old friend moaned with joy, his eyes falling shut. A pair of tears slid free, slipping down his cheeks, and Aiden felt his heart break in half.
“My Aiden,” Ronan whispered. His name carried with it such a wealth of longing and old emotions that Aiden nearly caved and embraced his friend. Ronan flashed him a bright smile and released his hand. “I need to go.” He started to leave, his brisk pace carrying him toward the house, as he roughly wiped away the tears.
“Wait! When do you leave with the envoy?”
Ronan’s loud laughter echoed across the yard and he spun around. He jogged to Aiden’s side, his expression joyous. He caught himself on a tree and leaned toward Aiden, now only a couple of feet separating them. “Leave?” He laughed again. “Are you insane? I just found you. Nothing in this world could make me leave. Unless maybe you banished me from your kingdom.” Ronan’s smile turned wicked. “And even then, I think I’d sneak back in so I could convince you to forgive me.”
Aiden chuckled. “Go, you madman. You’re not doing us any favors if the rest of the envoy starts to suspect something.”
A heavy sigh left Ronan and he pushed away from the tree, straightening. “True. But we will see each other again. We will talk more. It’s happening, Aiden. Forgive me. I mean, Your Majesty.” He concluded with a deep, elegant bow and a broad sweep of his arm cutting through the air.
Ronan turned toward the house, disappearing into the shadows, and Aiden didn’t mind watching his old friend walk away from him. He believed Ronan’s vow. They would see each other again. They would talk. Aiden wanted to know everything that had happened to him.
And there was a little voice deep within his heart demanding to know if they had any chance at the future they’d been denied when they were human.
Chapter Four
Ronan woke to a noise.
Maybe.
Had he heard a noise?
He lay perfectly still in the hotel bed, his senses straining to figure out what exactly had disturbed him from his sleep. It wasn’t often that he slept in a hotel, and it could have been the maid service making the rounds on his floor. Or it could have been someone checking into a room near him.
No.
He wasn’t alone. Now that he was fully awake, he could sense someone else in the room with him. No, vampires were with him. Very slowly, he slid his right hand up along the soft sheets to his pillow, aiming to grab the knife hidden there.
“Don’t bother,” said a low, hard voice. A voice he knew.
Ronan’s eyes snapped open, but before they could focus on the speaker, both the bedside lamps were flicked on. He groaned and closed his eyes again, wincing against the bright light.
“I must admit, I was expecting something a little more impressive from the European Ministry,” drawled a second voice.
“Be fair. He’s just waking up.” A third voice? How many fucking people were in his room?
Blinking rapidly, Ronan sat up and forced himself to look around the room. Not three people. Six. Six fucking people were arranged around his bed, staring at him as if he were the intruder.