“What made you change your mind, knowing that doing so would cost your life?”
I swallow the lump in my throat, fighting all the emotions threatening to break through. “She died in my arms last night—” I drop my chin. “—and I couldn’t let her go.”
“I see.”
“It’s no excuse. I betrayed your trust, and I accept the punishment.” I keep my head down, not only out of submission to him, but also to hide the tears forming in my eyes.
“Look up, Ronan McLaren.”
I release a shuddering breath and meet the king’s stare. My cheeks are wet now, but I don’t wipe the moisture from them. Weeping like a little kid in front of the king isn’t ideal, but hell, I can’t seem to shut the lid on my emotions.
“You cry, but not because you fear death. You cry because you think you’ll never see the female you love again.”
“I’ve always known I couldn’t keep her. My tears are of regret. I never had the courage to tell her how I feel, and now I never will.”
He rests his elbows casually on the throne’s arms. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, lad.”
“I don’t understand.”
The king stands and walks over to me. “Rise, Ronan McLaren.” He offers me his hand and pulls me up. “I won’t end your life tonight. There have been too many unnecessary deaths in my inner circle.”
I’m startled as I meet his stare. “You’re not going to punish me? I betrayed you.”
“You did, but sometimes, even kings make mistakes. You did the right thing by going against my wishes last night. And the fact that you came to me to confess and accept a traitor’s death confirms what I knew all along. You are a male of honor, and I’m fortunate to have you in my court.”
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
He clasps my shoulder. “There’s no need to say anything. I do need you to pack your belongings, though.”
My stomach plummets through the earth. He will banish me from his court. That will be the punishment. “Of course, my king.”
“Don’t look so dejected, lad. It won’t be forever. You’re going on a mission with Derek Blackwater. Are you ready to return to your homeland?”
I haven’t set foot in the land of my birth since my family’s death. I’m not sure if I’m ready, but his question is rhetorical. “What’s in Scotland, my king?”
“The Warlocks of Ivern.”
My brows shoot up. Those are powerful beings, immortals who dabble in dark magic, and they keep to themselves. “Do they know we’re coming?”
He smiles. “No.”
Sixteen
MANU
ELLNESARI, PRESENT DAY
Telar keeps his distance from me, and every time I get too close, he walks the wind and appears ahead of me, but not far enough to trigger his invisible cord. He’s leery of me now, but I can’t tell if it’s because he wants to fuck me or is afraid I’ll drink his blood. Besides his odd behavior of doing his best to maintain a separation between us, I don’t detect any changes in his pulse or demeanor. The male is like a robot, not only in the sense that he’s a master of controlling his emotions, but also that he doesn’t appear to be getting tired at all.
Vampires have better stamina than humans, but we do get winded eventually, especially if we haven’t fed in a long time—which is my case.
“Hey, asshole. Do you mean to make me walk all day?”
“Don’t tell me you’re tired already.”
“As a matter of fact, I am. And I’m also hungry. So if you don’t want me to enter bloodlust, you’d better let me rest and find me something to eat.”
He stops and turns around. “Do you want me to procure a poor victim for you to chomp on?”
