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My home lay beneath the earth, a place never meant for humans. She wouldn’t last a day without me. Nor would she ever make it as a slave.
No one spoke of this Realm—not out loud.
“This is your home?” Kiam asked, perusing the contents of my bedroom.
His gaze lit on a pile of scrolls, and I had to give him credit for not touching a single one. He likely knew he’d pushed me to the edge. “It is. You will not be staying here.”
A flicker of unease ran through the normally composed man. His steady aura was one of the things that first drew me to him—and stopped me from killing him when we first met.
Truth be told, he stopped me from killing several people when I was awakened.
The air tightened as he reinforced his energy field. “I will find somewhere.”
What he’d find is extinguishment if I didn’t do anything to assist. I was sorely tempted to allow him to flounder about and meet his demise. It was telling that the transition left him intact. He seemed no worse for the wear, but he wasn’t my main concern.
“I will arrange something for you.” I smoothed Cassia’s hair from her forehead and placed a blanket over her. “But that does not mean I forgive your flagrant disregard for my authority.”
His lips pressed together, and he took a deep breath. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Motioning him towards the door, I closed it behind us and locked the room with a ward. No one could touch her with my magic keeping her safe. No one would dare.
I hadn’t marked or claimed her. We hadn’t shared so much as a single kiss, nor had I fucked her and drank from her veins. That would be remedied, and soon, once I gave the order that she was untouchable.
As a vampire considered one of the Ancients, my actions were unheard of. None of us went to the Third Realm, the world of humans. Humans were either brought to us by other humans or the demons we employed and used for sustenance and service.
Kiam followed me down the hallway, noting everything we passed. Doorways, chambers, gathering spaces. He didn’t miss anything.
Before we reached our destination, Kalix stopped us. “Annalise is looking for you.”
The man was nearly as tall as I, but his skin had a golden tan that made him very popular with humans and not so much with our Queen. “Very well,” I replied.
“Keep Kiam company for now.”
Leaving my friend with the man, I heard him ask who Annalise was. I was going to have to tell her about him as well as let her know about the woman. Our Queen didn’t take kindly to change, but she would have to accept Cassia.
The Queen’s guards ushered me into her quarters where I found her eating chocolate truffles filled with sugared blood. When she saw me, she tilted her face toward a comically muscled and very young male she’d acquired from one of our territory’s villages. He dabbed her mouth with a bright white tissue.
“Lukas,” she purred, “you came back to me.”
Kneeling before her, my forehead touched the ground and then I stood. “Yes, my Queen. Where else would I go?” It had infuriated her when I left.
“I was beginning to think you were gone for good.” She tousled the ends of my hair as she circled. “You didn’t dye it.” She giggled.
“No.” It took me a moment to realize. “You wanted my hair blond and my eyes green to match yours, did you not?” The change was a personal curse by her.
She huffed and then smiled. “I’m flattered. And impressed by your appreciation.”
“Of course, my Queen. I do have business to discuss.”
She strode away, her bare feet gliding over the marble flooring. She patted the sofa and I sat. “Tell me,” Annalise said, her liquid jade eyes appearing truly interested.
“I have found a wife. Her name is Cassia. No one is to touch her under pain of extinguishment.”
Her smile fell as she peered at me, her glacial beauty hardening to the point it could crack if I touched her. “You’re not asking me, you’re announcing your intentions.”
“Correct, I am. I will get her settled in and instructed.”
A sly smile spread across her face. “You haven’t claimed her yet. I want a taste.”
