“You don’t get to yell at her like that, and you sure as hell shouldn’t be feeding her from your throat—” Alek started, murder in his eyes.
Holding Avianna with one hand, I lifted hers, showing where, to my shock and delight, my mark was black again, standing out in brilliant contrast to her skin.
“Holy shit.” Alek’s jaw dropped.
“I fucking knew it!” Benedict hollered.
“Predictable, but excellent.” Ajax grinned.
Avianna’s heart still beat unpredictably as she took mouthful after mouthful of my blood, nowhere near as quickly as she usually fed.
“You’re fine,” I said to her, stroking her abused cheek. “Your heart will strengthen and you’ll be fine, because I swear to God, you do not get to die. You don’t get to make me fall in love with you and then fucking die, Avianna. You’re mine. I don’t give a shit if that means we go to war with whatever is left of the Deverauxs. I don’t give a shit if that means we go to war with your goddamned brother—”
“Hey now,” Alek muttered.
“It’s you and me, Princess. That’s all that matters. You and me. You just have to live. Keep your heart beating, baby, the blood is coming.” She could drain me dry in front of this entire studio audience if that meant she’d live. I didn’t care as long as she was okay.
Her heartbeat steadied, and I almost sagged in relief as the bond flared brighter with every sip she took.
“Mine,” I whispered.
She broke the seal on my throat long enough to whisper, “Yours.” Then she was back at my neck, her mouth moving as her body absorbed my blood, my power.
“Okay, then.” Alek blinked rapidly, then looked away.
“Look at this.” Lachlan stepped over James and walked our way with a formal piece of parchment. “And someone drag his ass out of here.”
“On it,” Ajax said, heaving the body up over his shoulder.
“It’s the betrothal agreement.” Alek bared his fangs at the document. “Anyone have a lighter?”
Lachlan drew one from his pocket, flicked the lid open and thumbed the starter. A flame rose and Alek lifted the paper over it, catching the document on fire.
“That’s better.” Alek crossed the floor and tossed it into the fireplace, where it became nothing but ash and bad memories.
I held Avi closer, savoring the feel of her mouth working at my throat even as my own strength dipped from the blood loss. She’d have to feed again once we got her home, but we would sure as hell get her there. My chest went tight at the realization of just how close we’d come, how a few minutes could have made the difference from this being a much different scene.
“What’s burning?” Talon asked, coming back into the room. I noticed that Greenbriar’s body was missing and guessed he’d been taking out the trash with Ajax.
“The betrothal agreement,” Lachlan answered. “We won’t be needing it anymore.”
Alek paced in front of the fireplace. I knew him well enough to know that he was already processing what had happened here tonight and strategizing his next move. “There’s going to be fallout back at the Domum,” he said to Lachlan. “Get back there and make sure Ransom is aware. Take Zachariah with you. He has the advantage of knowing our more…established aristocrats.”
“I think he just called me old,” Zachariah stage whispered to Talon.
“Shoe fits,” Ajax said from the doorway.
Dagon rushed into the room, tension radiating from his frame. “Samuel’s gone. He wended as soon as he saw Saint coming for him.”
“Fuck!” Lachlan hissed.
“And Saint?” Alek asked, his jaw working.
“Wended right after him, dagger in hand,” Dagon answered. “They’ve always been able to track each other to a certain extent.”
“He’ll kill him,” Zachariah said to Alek. “It might not be today, but Samuel is as good as dead if Saint is on his heels. He’s always been the most lethal of us.”
“You think he’ll actually kill his brother?” Lachlan asked.
Dagon nodded. “I think the nights of Saint protecting Samuel are long gone. They left once he killed the first human. And Saint carries my blood, so I can find him, join him, but I wanted to keep you informed.”
“Go,” Alek ordered.
Dagon nodded once to Alek, shooting Zachariah a look before he disappeared.
“Zachariah, make sure the aristocrats know that Samuel is on the run after attempting to murder their princess, and take Benedict with you. He has a way with the stuck-ups. And make sure they understand that we took notes the last month. We’re well aware of who took sides with the Deverauxs. We’ll follow as soon as Avi is stable.”
Zachariah nodded and walked out with Benedict and Lachlan, leaving me with Jocelyn, Talon, Ajax, and Alek. The king leveled a stare at me.
Because I was sitting on the floor, feeding his sister right in front of him.
She said yours. Not only had I claimed Avi in front of her brother and every other assassin in the room, but she’d claimed me right back. No embarrassment. No hiding it. There was only pride and affection coming back up the bond from her.