36

“But I said thank you.”

Nic grumbled but didn’t chastise him further.

“I came to see how you are, to see how you left things…” Sebastian glanced at Aimée and Tomas and me. “Earlier.” Then he looked at Aimée again and inclined his head. “Sister.”

It was a very polite, neutral greeting and I filed it away as one of the things to explore about this mysterious family one day. None of them seemed to truly get along, but then how could I expect them to if they’d all been plucked from their human lives and just lumped together?

I shuddered at fresh thoughts of becoming a vampire. So far, nothing I’d seen presented it as a good lifestyle. They couldn’t enjoy Chef’s food, for a start.

“I found Nicky’s Book of Gray,” Aimée said conversationally as she watched Sebastian.

Nic rolled his eyes. “Aimée,” he started.

“No, no, I think that’s a really good idea. Well done, Aimée.” As Sebastian praised his sister, she preened a little, and I held back a chuckle. Their family dynamics really were insane. Then Sebastian turned to Nic. “After what the wi—”

“Thank you, Sebastian,” Nic boomed. “Your opinion is duly noted.” The vampire king was firmly in control this evening, and part of me just liked to watch him.

I cleared my throat as I glanced between the two brothers, at eyes that suddenly had a dull gleam of red. “I’m going to go find a new bottle of wine.”

“Let me get Baldwin.” Nic didn’t even look at me as he spoke.

I bristled a little. I didn’t need his king attitude directed at me. “No, thank you. I need some fresh air away from this sudden testosterone surge, anyway.” Besides, I could find my way to the wine storage room, and I didn’t really want anything expensive like Baldwin usually chose.

Aimée had made Nic bring home a couple of low-value bottles so we could drink with impunity, if the mood took us, without depleting Nic’s collection—and the wines were almost guaranteed to taste like vinegar and turn my teeth, lips, and tongue purple, but I was happy with that—and was used to it well enough from years at The Pour House, when we’d had wine at all.

I’d just selected a bottle and set it down on the aged-oak table in the middle of the room when Sebastian appeared, and my adrenaline spiked but I forced my movements slower. He’d know if he’d spooked me. I focused on calming my breathing and hoped my heart rate held steady.

“Leia, I’m glad I caught you.”

I glanced at him and frowned. “I’d said this was where I was going, Sebastian.”

He flushed slightly. “Yes, but I wanted to apologize. For…” He hesitated. “For angering Nic just now and for the first time we met. My behavior was abhorrent in a lot of ways and not befitting of a Dupont royal.”

I nodded slowly. “Okay. Thank you. And thank you for the part you played in New Orleans. Nic said he didn’t do it alone.”

Sebastian bowed his head. “It’s an honor to have you join this family as Nic’s bride. You’ll bring greatness to the House of Dupont. I have no doubt.”

I nodded again, unsure what to say in return to such grand declarations. Then I started to reach behind him for a second bottle of wine in case Aimée wanted to join me in drinking the cat piss we’d decided was good enough for a boozy evening, but Sebastian grabbed it before I could, a grin on his face as he held it just out of my reach.

“Sebastian.” Irritation sparked inside me, and I pressed a palm to his chest as I stood on my tiptoes to grab it from him. Damn tall vampires.

His head dropped forward, and he buried his face into my hair, inhaling deeply before he stumbled backward, and the wine bottle thunked onto the table as he set it down.

“Forgive me,” he mumbled as he turned, his eyes wide, his cheekbones sharp. “Such power now. So alluring.”

He hurried from the room without another word.

11

Nic

T

he magic of waking next to Leia hadn’t faded. It was like the universe had created an angel just for me—if I’d believed in such things. I glanced at her peaceful sleeping face, half tempted to wake her with soft kisses that made her request more.

I always wanted her.

And she was always ready for me.

Just the thought of her soft, welcoming body made me hard.

My gaze drifted to her breasts and the amethyst pendant nestled there. Then to her wrist and the delicate selection of crystal charms the witch had insisted would protect Leia… from my implied ineptitude.

I rubbed my eyes and sighed softly. I’d looked through the Book of Gray, poring over the pages of tiny, handwritten text. Shit. I hadn’t so much as thought about that book in decades. Maybe centuries. Mother and Father had given it to me when I left their home, and apparently, I’d just shoved it in a box, because what the hell did a dusty old tome of family lore matter?

Except it mattered now. I’d hoped to read it and find that Lettie had been wrong, but no.

My mate was in danger of becoming a thrall to me simply because I’d claimed her and fed from her and I hadn’t turned her yet.

I’d given her a death sentence.

And I had a fucking witch to thank for extending our time together. I swallowed the idea of being indebted to a witch… Well, it was as bad as potentially owing a debt to the local shifter pack. Neither of those was a palatable option. I kept myself to myself, and I didn’t mix beyond vampire politics, which were a necessary evil for a king.

Otherwise, I’d have been happy in my house by myself. Except… I looked at Leia and my heart squeezed.