27

She grinned wryly. “You always say that, Nicky, but we never see each other more regularly, despite your faux regret.”

I shrugged dismissively and grinned. “It’s true that there is too much of a good thing.” Then I turned to my mate, apologies already trying to spill their way off my tongue. “I have to go into La Petite Mort, today.” I paused to witness the shiver she always seemed to fight when I said those words. It was almost irresistible. “There’s some business I can’t ignore.”

Although I’d claimed Leia as mine now, Francois wouldn’t know that, and he wouldn’t give up. He’d been bold enough to come into my territory and take her once before, and I needed to prevent that from happening again.

I needed to prepare for war.

“Hm.” Leia drew her brows down. “So you’ve arranged a babysitter?”

I chuckled at the accuracy of her assessment even as I denied it. “No. Just a prettier face than Jason’s.”

And I trusted Aimée even more than my sireling. I’d thought claiming Leia would end my worry over other vampires wanting her, but it had only increased it. I didn’t trust anyone.

Except my man-crazy sister. She was the safest person I could leave to protect Leia in my stead. Whatever other disagreements and squabbles we’d had in the past, I had no doubt of her reliability on this.

“Sit with us.” I gestured to a chair. “Leia is just having her breakfast.”

Leia laughed. “But I don’t expect either of you to sit there just watching me eat it.”

I shrugged. “I enjoy the view.”

Leia narrowed her eyes, and Aimée laughed.

“I never thought I’d see the day. My big brother choosing to watch a human female eat breakfast rather than…” She broke off and shrugged. “Any number of the things that used to be more interesting to him. Are you still parting people from their money and writing water-tight contracts, Nicky?”

I gave a low growl of warning. Those two things hit too close to home when Leia was sitting right with us, but neither woman flinched at my quiet display.

“I don’t think I need an escort now.” Leia spoke suddenly, setting her beignet down as she looked at me. “After all, the reason I was so…”

My mind filled in all the words she didn’t say. Sought after. Hunted. Attractive.

“…interesting before was my—” She broke off and glanced at Aimée. “My status, so I… uh... I don’t think I’m as interesting now, right?”

“Oh, sweetie.” Aimée petted Leia’s hair softly, like even she couldn’t quite keep her hands to herself. “Even I heard the stories of Nicky’s virgin, the one he was saving. And I didn’t get it either. But now I do. You don’t smell like a virgin anymore—”

Leia glanced away, her cheeks pink, and I drew my chair further under the table as my cock twitched at the memories of her change in status.

“But you definitely smell attractive,” Aimée said. “You smell of power and control and rule and authority. Your scent is all Nicky. There’s no mistaking who you belong to, which means everyone immediately knows Nicky’s vulnerability. You.”

“Me?” Leia’s eyes widened.

“Sure.” Aimée nodded. “Anyone who has you has control of the king. And there are a lot of people who want that kind of power.”

A shudder worked through me at how much I could still lose.

“But… But I thought this made me safer?” Leia wrinkled her brow.

“In many ways, yes, it does,” I said. “You are very clearly mine. Your blood, your body no longer call to just any vampire.”

“But for the people who would see Nicky dead or overthrown?” Aimée’s shudder was delicate as she scrunched her nose. “You’re gold, lady.”

“Oh.” Leia glanced at her beignet. “Well, shit.”

Aimée laughed. “It won’t be forever, right? I mean, soon…” She glanced at me, but I shook my head slightly.

Leia was human and had never even expressed a desire to be anything else. Maybe I’d bring up the option to her one day, but she’d had to deal with too many traumas and changes lately. Now wasn’t the time.

“Oh…” Aimée recovered quickly. “Uh, so what are the rules, Nicky? What can we do to have some fun around here?”

I grimaced. “Currently, you’re limited to the house and grounds.”

Aimée twisted her face. “Huh. Tour of the gardens?”

Leia glanced at me, her eyes loaded with meaning, desire flickering in the depths, and I reached into my pocket to extract a fig I’d asked Chef to collect for me.

I put it at the side of her plate. “I thought you might like this as part of your breakfast.”

Not that I’d be able to stay and watch her eat it. I had way too many erotic memories tied up in watching her mouth on the fruit.

“Huh.” Aimée’s nostrils flared delicately. “Maybe not the grounds, then. But there’s plenty to do in the house, right?”

Leia pushed her plate away. “Sure. Movies, swimming, gym. But I should really get out to The Pour House. Or, you know, my actual house.” But a shadow passed over her face as she mentioned her home. “Actually, maybe I’m not ready for that yet.”

“I’m sorry for what he did,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry he took your safe space and made it not safe.”

She just nodded.

I turned to Aimée. “Taking Leia was Francois’s act of war, and he’s the reason I need her to stay within the house and grounds. He’s still out there somewhere, and he’s stepping up his activities to either recover her or get to me. We don’t know which yet. Even Kyle’s man has gone quiet. We’ve reduced the scope of Francois’s operations by taking out a couple of his warehouses along the border boundary, but a couple of my guys haven’t returned from some recent basic reconnaissance.” I shook my head. “I don’t know who’s doing his strategy or if he’s more lucid than we thought, but he hasn’t put a foot wrong so far.”