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Lucius had mated a Raeth and Drake had married an Elemental. Both women, had they been with a male of their own breed, could have feasibly conceived a child at some point in the future. But given the infertile nature of vampires, male and female alike, it would be impossible for either of them to have biological progeny.
Kaien had offered them that impossibility: a gift that could never be repaid.
Never before had Blair entertained the idea. Knowing it to be impossible, she had never allowed herself to ponder the pleasure of becoming a biological mother. It was an intoxicating—and emotional—thought.
And who better to father her offspring than the man before her? Kaien would undoubtedly be an exceptional parent, as protective and nurturing as he was with her and the entire Blaede clan. But even as her mind wandered through the intricacies of their relationship, her thoughts turned to the process itself.
A jolt of concern lanced her chest. “What price do you pay to facilitate such a miracle?”
With the way Kaien’s face tightened, Blair knew there was a sacrifice on his part. Hesitating, her fingers gently reached out to caress his knee where he sat opposite her. “What does it cost you?”
“It’s negligible in the scheme of things, Blair.” It was a dismissal. “I apologize for assaulting Lucius.”
Her features pinched as she remembered the confrontation—and succumbed to the instantaneous melting of the icy layer that surrounded her heart. Though Lucius had meant nothing by it, Kaien had swiftly come to her aid without blinking an eye.
“Lucius is protective to a fault,” she explained. “He meant me no real harm.”
Ruefully, Kaien nodded. “I realize that now. However, I am … not always in control of my facilities when it comes to your wellbeing.”
Retreating into herself, she studied the man seated across from her. She trulylookedat him and deciphered the depths that he kept behind a careful mask. Not only had he saved her life, but he’d healed countless others through the years, including her own fledgling when he’d skirted death.
And now, he’d offered her closest friends the chance of having their own biological children when it’d been all but impossible before. Kaien had given themhope.
The robust walls that’d she’d painstakingly built around her heart were crumbling. What Kaien feared—the fact that nothing in his life was his by merit—was entirely inaccurate. Everything the man did was an example of his honor and his strength. He just couldn’t see it.
Standing, Blair closed the distance between them to linger in the air above him. The temptation he posed was too great to resist. “Kiss me, Kaien.”
He made no move to stand. “It would be unwise to continue strengthening a bond between us when you have no intention of following through.”
Her gut twisted painfully, but she could no longer deny her feelings for him. When she pictured her future, her Raeth was a pivotal part of it.
“Kaien—”
The fissure of air signaled another Raeth’s arrival, two feet from where she stood. While Blair crouched defensively in reflex, Kaien leisurely turned his head.
“Glad you could make it, Remmus.”
“The party has arrived.” Sporting a pair of dark Aviator sunglasses and an espresso-colored leather jacket, Remmus’ customary smirk pulled at one corner of his lips.
Lips she’d tasted …in front of Kaien.
Blair cringed at the memory. Inclining her chin, she grabbed the bull by the horns. “I vow to never experiment on you again, Remmus. Sorry I got you beat up by a badder Raeth.”
“You wound me, Blair.” Remmus clutched at his chest theatrically. “How you trifle with my heart and step on my pride.”
“If it’s any consolation,” Blair said, “I’ll be happy to introduce you to any lady vampire that strikes your fancy.”
“A most adequate alternative, my fair lady.”
Kaien got to his feet and rolled his shoulders as if they were knotted. “Shall we go? It’d be best to go into Torrin’s office while fewer people are in the building.”
A glance out the window confirmed that twilight had well and truly fallen. “Agreed.”
“We can teleport to the location where you were shot, Blair,” Kaien said, his demeanor all business. “Hopefully, that’ll mean we risk fewer cameras.”
“Nah, I gotcha covered.” Remmus waved a hand dismissively. “Perks of being a technopath.”
For the next ten minutes, they covered their path to Torrin’s office, the plan once they got there, and what would happen in the case they were caught. This time, nothing was left to chance: both Kaien and Remmus established a fallback plan, each responsible for getting Blair out if the other somehow became compromised.
