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“Of course, I’m pouting. I’m insulted that you’re not pouting!” Rei snapped, shoving a branch out of his way.
“What? Why should I be pouting?”
Rei huffed. “Really? You’d rather be out in the woods where we are being watched by my brother’s soldiers as we slog to this stupid meeting place just hours before sunrise?”
To his credit, Yichen possessed the best “Are you fucking crazy?” expression he’d ever seen. The vampire had stopped walking and was now staring at him over his shoulder as if he’d lost his damn mind. That helped a little.
“Not only did we get dragged out of bed, but I didn’t get to wear any of the pretty clothes my Yiyi bought me,” Rei continued. Why not? He’d already dug himself this woe-is-me hole—might as well wallow in it.
Yichen lifted his empty hands to the forest that surrounded them with its bushes full of thorns, closely growing trees, and damp, muddy ground. A blanket of leaves blotted out the night sky, leaving them walking in near perfect darkness while also holding in the day’s humid heat. Whichever human storyteller had come up with the idea that elves didn’t sweat was a damn madman. His T-shirt was drenched and sticking to his skin. He wished he’d pulled all of his hair into a messy bun or at least a long braid.
So yes, Yiyi had a good point. This trek would have ruined his pretty new clothes, but that meant Trin should have come to them for a civilized conversation somewhere air conditioned and with tea.
Holy shit! These vampires and their obsession with tea was the best thing!
All conversations now needed to be had while holding these small handleless cups filled with steaming herbal tea. It made everything better. More manageable.
As he reached Yichen, his lover grabbed his wrist and pulled him in close to kiss the underside of his jaw. Okay, so maybe that made things better as well. “It’s one brief meeting that could help us a great deal,” Yichen murmured as he continued to kiss his way along Rei’s throat. He paused over that beating pulse point, his lips teasing as they brushed back and forth as he spoke. “When it’s over, we’ll go home, find some lube, and I’ll fuck you properly. No one will make us get out of bed for a very long time.”
“And you’ll bite me,” Rei urged, his voice rough as the bark on the trees surrounding them.
“Rei.” His name was nothing more than a warning growl.
“No, I want one more time. I know we have to break the blood bond, but I get one last time with you. Please.”
Yichen remained still for a second, his lips close enough that Rei could feel his breath caressing his flesh, sending goose bumps down his arms. When he moved, it was to press another kiss to the perfect spot on Rei’s throat for a bite.
“As my prince wishes.”
Rei had heard that phrase from hundreds of subjects, sycophants, and liars over hundreds of years, but Yiyi was the first person to say it with warmth, kindness, and devotion. He was the first person to make him feel beloved. And from now on, Yichen was the only person permitted to utter those four words.
The crack of a branch snapping echoed through the nearly silent forest and Rei groaned loudly, letting out all of his frustration. It wasn’t fair. It was impossible to get enough Yiyi private time and he’d known the moment they’d left the car that they weren’t alone in the woods.
Stepping away from Yichen, he moved in front of the vampire as he turned to face the elf who’d stepped out of her hiding spot to confront them.
“Did you need to wait so long?” Rei grumbled.
“If I waited any longer, I’d start retching from your disgusting behavior,” she complained.
“Always a pleasure, Aire.” He chewed on the greeting, barely resisting the urge to shoot an arrow into the woman on principle alone. She’d knifed him a couple of times over the years in the name of supporting Trin. The only positive was that she was smart enough to avoid the critical areas. He tipped his head toward Yichen, who’d annoyingly stepped around him to stand on his left. “I don’t think you’ve been introduced. Prince Wu Yichen, this is Aire Bira, my half brother’s right hand. She’s also hopelessly in love with the idiot. Thankfully, Trin doesn’t possess enough brain cells to stand against the king and notice her lovesick looks. Otherwise, he would have already made a fearful mistake with her.”
A bright flush painted her pale cheeks, and her icy blue eyes widened for half a second before she unshouldered her bow and fired an arrow straight at his chest. He’d expected that. As she reached for her bow, he’d moved his right foot, preparing to pivot out of the way of the arrow’s flight.
But Yichen moved faster.
His blade flashed out as if by magic and deflected the arrow, stopping it from coming close to Rei. The vampire pointed the sword at Aire, eyes narrowed in deadly determination. “That was your one. You will not get another chance to harm him. You will be dead. I promise it.”
Swoon.
How could a person not swoon when a sexy, sword-wielding killer promised to protect them?
They were so fucking the moment they got home. He was willing to fuck Yichen right here in these woods, but yes, meeting. The end of the world. Killing his father. Blah. Blah. Blah. That had to come first.
Rei draped an arm across Yichen’s taut shoulders and rubbed his head on Yichen’s while the vampire stood almost statuelike, threatening the other elf. “Aire, dear, do you remember Yichen? This is my lover, my mate, my everything. You should keep that in mind when you threaten either of us.”
Harsh, high-pitched laughter broke from her as she placed her bow on her shoulder again. “You have tossed aside all your dignity. It was bad enough that you claimed him as a pet and then dared to protect him against your parents and the court. But now you’re saying he’s your mate? That’s too much.”
Rei’s smile didn’t waver under her mocking. What did he care of those who looked down on him? He’d found a happiness they would likely never know. He turned his head and brushed a kiss to the side of Yichen’s head. “It’s okay. She’s jealous. So jealous that if she doesn’t let it out as laughter, her self-loathing and rage will choke her.”
