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“Yes…it is.”
“When I return, I’ll accept whatever answer you give. You should have the opportunity to consider your options without my distraction.” A subtle smile moved on to his lips. “And we both know how distracting I can be.”
The same smile tugged at me.
“But I’ll say this.” His eyes wandered for a moment before they came back to me. “If you do choose immortality…I would ask you to marry me.”
Those dragon-size butterflies were back, breathing fire and scorching everything. “Why?”
“So you wouldn’t be giving up your mortality for only a man, but a husband. And not just any husband…but a husband who’s a king. You would give up the crown you wear but don another. You would leave the only life you’ve known but be secure in the new one.”
“We don’t know each other that well.”
“And we’ll have forever to become well acquainted.”
I looked away and swallowed, excited by the prospect but also terrified. I could remain a mortal, hope to fall in love with my equal, start a family. Or I could forsake my soul and marry this sexy vampire king.
“Your heart is racing.” He grinned.
“It’s a heavy decision.”
“That’s why I’m giving you plenty of time, baby.”
11
LARISA
We said goodbye before we embarked on the return journey.
Cobra took the longest, like he didn’t want to leave her. His hands cupped her face, and he gave her a slow kiss, a kiss reserved for private bedrooms. The intimacy was scorching and made me turn away, thinking about the way his brother kissed me.
Cobra eventually joined us, his shoulders slumped, his head slightly bowed. “What if leaving her is a mistake?” I expected him to address Kingsnake or Viper, but he addressed me instead.
“Why would it be a mistake?”
“Two packs of rebels tried to kill her.”
“I think we’ve killed them all, Cobra. And I’m sure she’ll be on her guard, regardless.”
He gave a slight nod. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” He moved forward and joined Viper, determined to leave the border without looking back.
I turned to look at Clara, her eyes heavy and glued to a spot between his shoulder blades. She watched him walk away, didn’t let herself blink, as if it was the last time she would ever see him.
“Ready, sweetheart?” Kingsnake’s voice brought me back to reality.
“Yes.” I felt Fang slide up my leg, wrap around my torso, and then perch himself across my shoulders.
A gentle smile tugged at his lips. “He prefers your shoulders to mine now.”
“Fang doesn’t have a favorite.”
The smile lingered. “He does. And that’s okay.”
* * *
We crossed the desert at sunset and rode hard into the darkness. It was scorching and arid during daylight, but the temperatures immediately plunged without sunshine. The armor and clothing kept me warm, and I preferred the cold to the unbearable heat anyway.
At sunrise, we were past the domain of the werewolves and near the kingdoms, and we settled for the afternoon.
