Page 85 of Imprisoned with the Vampire King

"My plan failed, and I can agree that the situation wasn't ideal, but⁠—"

His nostrils flared. "Not ideal?"

"Obviously."

Dante didn't say a word as he sat up slowly, taking me with him. His gaze was still locked with mine. "You almost died."

"I didn't, though."

He closed his eyes for a long moment before opening them again. "We've got a fucking big problem, Angel."

"I know the prison is a shit show. You don't have to tell me again, I⁠—"

"Not the prison. Us."

My stomach clenched. "What do you mean?"

"You don't see us as legitimately mated. You think I could replace you if you died. You don't even fucking believe that I enjoy the taste of your blood."

I didn't try to argue with him. There was no point. He was right about all of those things, and we both knew it.

"I don't think our situation is that important in the grand scheme of everything else that's happening," I said instead.

"I can tell."

Once again, I tried to climb off him.

His grip on my waist tightened, holding me where I was. "We're not done."

"There's nothing else to say."

"Like hell there isn't. You don't find our situation important, but I do. I spent centuries looking for a mate. It would've been better for me and my family if I had settled down a long time ago, but I wasn't willing to spend the rest of my immortal life in an unhappy mate bond. I tried to give you space to come to terms with the bond between us, and in return, I almost fucking lost you. I'm done."

"What do you mean, you're done?"

"There will be no more space," he stated. "I'll be living here with you. Sharing a bed with you. Sharing a fucking life with you."

I blinked once.

Twice.

My forehead finally creased. "You're going to move in?"

"My things are waiting just outside the door."

I shook my head. "That's not going to work for me."

"Is that a challenge?"

"No," I said quickly.

"It feels like one." He lifted his fingers to my throat, dragging the pads of them over my bruises lightly. If his touch had been any rougher, I was pretty sure it would've caused me pain.

His voice was soft as he said, "If you ever risk yourself without me there to protect you again, I will lock you in this house, consequences be damned. You're not the only one who can build a prison."

The threat shouldn't have made me hot.

It did anyway.