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At the fury in Leo's eyes, maybe River should feel guilty for revealing Prudence's name.
But then he remembered how Nora had huddled down in shame, and he decided the bitch had it coming.
River cleared his throat. "So back to us. There are lots of reasons we want to marry, but I think I should explain about what Dark Lord Khan offered."
Once River finished, Leo swore. "At this rate, I'm going to owe Khan my firstborn child to repay all of his bloody favors." He sighed and tugged down his waistcoat. "However, that doesn't matter if it's what my sister truly wants." His gaze swung to Nora. "Maybe you and I need to have a chat in private."
Nora tightened her grip on River's hand. "No, Leo. If you think telling me about how hard it will be, or how you can't protect me, or that I don't understand what I'm getting into, then let me clear any doubts: I do know what I'm doing." She glanced up at River and smiled. As usual, it made him smile back at her. She looked back at her brother and continued, "Even if I can't fully explain it, I feel safe with River, Leo. You know what that means to me."
Leo switched his gaze to River and sighed. "I do." He glanced at each of them in turn. "But I won't allow it until Vale has regained a bit more of his strength. Did Khan say it was okay to train you?" River nodded and Leo grunted. "Good. Because we're going to start it tomorrow."
The vampire male walked up to them and put out his hand. River shook it and Leo stated, "If you fucking hurt my sister in any way, I don't care if you're Yesenia's brother, I'll torture you slowly until you bleed to death, begging for mercy until your last breath. Understand?"
Maybe he should be afraid. But River had no intention of hurting Nora if he could help it. "I get it."
"Right, then the pair of you should rest and freshen up for dinner. I have a feeling Yesenia's going to want to celebrate tonight."
Nora spoke up. "Did Ambrose say he was coming to supper?"
Leo shook his head. "Not that I know of. You should send him a note."
That's right, River would have to deal with her son at some point too. He made a mental note to send a letter asap.
Nora nodded. "I will."
Leo made a shooing motion with his hands. "Now, go. I want to deal with Prudence Hartwell before supper."
They left and as they walked down the hall and up the stairs to where the bedrooms were, exhaustion started to weigh River down.
All he wanted to do was spend some more time with Nora. And yet, he needed to rest if he was going to face his sister over dinner.
He couldn't fucking wait until he was at full strength again.
When they reached his room first, they stopped and Nora looked up at him. "Sleep, River. You need it."
He raised her hand to his lips and he fucking loved how she sucked in a breath at his touch. "I hope I have dreams of you."
She blushed. "You don't need to say such things. I already agreed to marry you."
He leaned over and whispered, "I'm never going to stop sweet-talking you, baby. So get used to it. Because I have yet to lay down my full charm."
Her giggle shot straight to his dick, but River ignored the need to kiss her, and hold her, and slowly undress her. It'd happen soon enough, and he was going to enjoy it when he wasn't fucking exhausted.
Once he leaned back, Nora paused, quickly pressed her lips to his, and hurried down the hallway toward her bedroom.
He grinned. It seemed his vampire was slowly coming into her own, and he couldn't fucking wait to see her finally free of her past and unrestrained.
Not wanting his cock to harden more at thoughts of a confident Nora in his bed, River went into his room, stripped, and splashed cold water on his face. Looking in the mirror above the washstand, he admitted he looked like shit—dark circles under his eyes, mostly healed scars pale against his skin, and a gauntness that could only be remedied with a shitton of food—and needed sleep to heal some more.
As he climbed into bed, River did his best to calm his mind. And as he drifted off, he wished with everything he had that his dreams would be of Nora and not any of his nightmares.
It was something they should've discussed, especially as memories of his captivity could burst forth and cripple him at any moment, but it'd slipped his mind.
He yawned. As long as he talked it over with Nora before they got hitched, it should be fine.
And soon he was asleep, dreaming of the sweet yet sexy vampire he was going to marry.
* * *
