28

“What does that mean for Leia’s future?”

“Well.” I sucked in a breath. “It means the immediate threat is very hard to eliminate.” I reached for Leia’s hand. “But I won’t give up. This isn’t the rest of your life now.”

“The outside world still exists,” she murmured. “What’s happening out there?”

“I don’t want you to worry about it. I’ve got it under control.” My words were clipped even though I’d aimed for reassurance, and guilt tugged at my insides as I stood. I hadn’t simply switched Francois’s prison for one of my own. “Of course. And there are things I need to do.” I squeezed her fingers gently, a show of solidarity and affection. “I’ll leave you to get to know Aimée. You’ll probably be tired of all of her tales of Tomas by the time I get back. I might even be a welcome face.”

I winked but the sudden flash of lust in Leia’s eyes made my breath lodge in my chest. I cleared my throat. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“No hurry.” Aimée waved a dismissive hand. “We’ll find plenty to do, I’m sure.”

But I disagreed, and my cock certainly disagreed. There was plenty to hurry home for.

 

   

I walked into my office at La Petite Mort, expecting to find my uncle and Sebastian waiting for me, but the twin scents of sage and patchouli greeted me instead and my steps faltered just inside the door.

“Witch?” I asked the question in a sharp voice. “What are you doing here?”

Lettie stepped from the shadows. “The threat of war is increasing.”

I nodded, sudden irritation flaring across my skin as I stomped to the chair behind my desk. Not even the sight of greed playing out in my favor on the floor below could take my mind from Leia and the threat Francois posed to her.

“You need to do better,” the witch said, sitting down.

“You’re a long way from New Orleans,” I murmured, my voice at its deadliest. “Possibly unwelcome in my territory.”

She made a dismissive noise, her lack of fear evident. “I’ve lived a long time, vampire king. Seen a lot of things, and I thought I could keep that girl out of the shadows. I thought the pendant would be strong enough to resist your call, to offer the protection she needed until you directed your interest elsewhere, but there were circumstances I didn’t take into account.”

“My call?” I laughed, a bark of surprise. “Leia’s like my own personal siren. I’m powerless to resist.”

The words seemed to fall from my mouth of their own accord, as I revealed more than I would have ever expected to a woman I didn’t know and was pretty sure I didn’t even like.

Something about her chilled my skin. Like magic flickered over me every time she moved.

“Exactly. The depths of that were perhaps…unexpected. But I predicted great love, so…maybe all is not lost.” Her words were nearly lost, though, as she muttered them almost to herself. “But there is still a great deal you need to do.”

I sighed and stretched my legs out under my desk as I scrubbed my face with my palms. The witch was a distraction I didn’t need, with Francois still out there and Leia waiting for me at home. “I don’t have time for this—for you—today. I’m a little busy with a small war with the Prince of New Orleans. I’m sure you understand?” I made my tone as patronizing as possible. “You can show yourself out the same way I’m sure you showed yourself in.”

“No,” the old woman hissed as she leaned forward. “I didn’t come all this way for you not to listen. You might think yourself old and all-knowing, but you’re young, and you’re a fool, and that makes you dangerous.”

A shiver stole through me, and I glanced automatically at the A/C vent because I never got a chill.

“Oh?” I aimed for something casual and careless. “I’m very aware of how dangerous I am.”

I grinned, making sure to include a hell of a lot of fang.

But she didn’t even flinch. Instead, she shook her head. “You’re deluded, and you’ve all forgotten the old ways.”

“I’m bringing the old fucking ways back.” I jabbed my chest, sudden fury warring with pride. “I have a true mate. That hasn’t happened for generations.”

She shook her head. “Prideful fools. All of you. Tell me, vampire. What do you know of your true mates? Did you expect to find yours in a human?”

“What?” Her question made no sense. “I… No… Of course, I…” I stopped. I couldn’t keep babbling at her. Kings didn’t babble. We spoke with authority, issued commands, and people listened. I straightened some papers on my desk and moved a pen to line up with three more, the fidgeting buying time. “I have very little tolerance for humans. Every true mate I’ve heard of was vampire. It was unexpected,” I conceded.

“Precisely. Because you’ve all forgotten. You’ve forgotten the glories and the dangers of your past, your lore, and actually being vampire.”

“What?” I didn’t hide my irritation this time. “What are you talking about? Do you always speak in half sentences and riddles?”

“Check your lore,” she muttered. “Dig through the archives. Every true mate recorded was vampire because they were all turned by the vampire that loved them. They started off as human.”

“All of them?” Surely not all true mates had started off as humans? “But what’s deeper in the archives?”

She grinned, but it wasn’t a kind smile. It spoke of destruction and danger. “Ah, now. Now we’re getting closer to the real questions. Currently, your human is marked. For you, that brings all of the benefits of a full claim. While she lives, your power and ability to rule will be unsurpassed.”

“What the hell do you mean while she lives? How dare you sit in my office and threaten my true mate. I should remove your head.” I stood and leaned over the desk. Fucking witch.