Khan didn’t bat an eye at her words. "Whilst I make the rules, I only do so for a reason, and the two options still stand. Are you leaving with me today? Or will you stay here the next couple weeks to see if this half-vampire suits you?"
It'd only been a day, but as she glanced at Yesenia and her sympathetic smile, Reika knew that to be torn from the new friends she was making—not to mention Stone, who could melt her with a mere look—she'd regret it.
Although marrying the grumpy guy so quickly, without knowing anything about his past, didn't seem like a good solution either.
Then she remembered Yesenia saying how Dark Lord Khan liked a challenge and to negotiate. Sitting taller, she said, "How about after two weeks, we meet again and we can discuss if I need more time or not? And I know that's breaking your rules. But I was taken from everything without a word. The very least I deserve is time to better know Stone and what my life might be like with him."
Khan studied her for a minute, and then another. Leo sighed, but Khan spoke before the vampire Dark Lord could. "I will think on it. If there's something you can offer me to rule in your favor, then send a note. Otherwise, I have no reason to make allowances."
Maybe it was Stone's influence already, but Reika wanted to growl.
Yesenia gently squeezed her hand before asking the Dark Lord, "Are you going to place restrictions on her magic? I'm not sure why you would, though, as it's not like mine, meaning it's not super dangerous. But regardless, she has a right to know."
Khan shook her head. "No, I won't place restrictions unless Miss Hashimoto has any secondary powers I should know about?"
It was rare for half-fae witches to have more than one power, and Reika was no different. "No, Dark Lord Khan. Just the ability to improve the taste of stuff."
"Well, then, feel free to use it. Everyone knows that Yates needed a better cook anyway. His former one was atrocious."
Leo frowned. "I didn't ask for your opinion."
"Clearly."
Reika jumped back in. "I have another question."
The two Dark Lords fell silent, and she ignored how her heart beat a little faster at their combined intense gazes on her. They both nodded for her to continue. "I know I can't go back to the future, but is there a way to send a note to my mom and stepdad?"
Khan replied, "Perhaps. But not until you decide what to do about Stone Riley."
She could push, but Reika didn't want to irritate Khan just yet.
The fae witch male moved toward the door. "Then our meeting is over. I'll have someone visit to check in on you, and if you make your decision about marrying the vampire, let me know. I trust Yates to take care of you in the meantime."
The two Dark Lords exited, and Reika sighed. "It's exhausting to hold back what I truly want to say."
Yesenia shrugged. "Trust me, I get it. I'm lucky because Leo's my husband, so I have more leeway. No one wants to mess with him. But at least the paranormals are more open-minded than the humans. Trust me, you wouldn't want to be stuck with them in this time period. Shitty doesn't even begin to cover what human females have to put up with." Yesenia stood. "Now that's over, let's go visit the kitchen and then track down Stone. You don't have a lot of time to make a huge-ass decision, so you'd better make the most of it."
Reika nodded and followed the fae witch out of the room.
She'd never been one to make hasty decisions—one of those was what had ended up killing her dad, when he'd gone to run through a forest that had been an illegal hunting ground used by humans—but she didn't have much choice in the matter here. No matter what she decided, it'd be a bit hasty.
She'd just have to entice Stone to come spend time with her. And if there was one thing that usually worked with males, it was food. If she could find out his favorite types, she could make something unique but tasty.
Although if she could find a way to make the presentation look like crap while still tasting amazing, it might be a way to get him to show emotion.
Because if there was one thing he needed in his life, it was some more fun.
ChapterSeven
Stone stared down at the questionable-looking bowl of food and frowned. "What the bloody hell is this supposed to be?"
Amusement danced in Reika's eyes. "Dinner."
The brown mush looked more like shite than food. "Is this what they eat in the future?"
She shrugged one shoulder. "Maybe, maybe not. Try it and I'll tell you."
He raised his brows. "If this is actually horse shite, then I'm tempted to lay you over my lap and smack your arse."