Page 76 of Guardians for the Vamp
Cyrus and a team of vampire elders emerge from a hallway that house a few conference rooms.
“Queen Aldana,” he says, approaching and offering a slight bow.
It’s such a formal greeting from a man who months ago criticized me for fucking two beings at the same time.
Vara growls beside me, obviously hearing my thoughts.
I forgot about that. Let me killhim, she thinks back to me.
Before I can tell her to forget about the prudish elder, Thorne returns to my side.
Cyrus narrows his eyes at the gargoyle, and Thorne bares his fangs in return. The elder vamp quickly looks away.
Coward.
“Any issues?” I ask Thorne, ignoring the elder vamp. He gasps at the dismissal, turning on his heel and stomping off.
Fucking baby.
Thorne leads Vara and me away to a corner. “No. It’s quiet. Too quiet. I don’t like it.”
“Queen Aldana,” a production assistant for the conference says, approaching us with a tablet.
Vara and Thorne both give her a look that causes her to stumble back slightly. She’s a young fae, possibly fifty years in age, who hasn’t quite come into her powers, whatever they might be. The tips of her pointed ears redden, and she lets out a small puff of air.
“Ignore them,” I say, stepping closer to the woman. “What is it?”
“The room is at capacity. They’d like you to start early.”
“No,” Thorne growls.
“Okay. Give me two minutes, and I’ll head out.”
The fae nods and nearly runs off.
“This is when they’ll attack. They’re changing the schedule to throw us off,” Thorne says.
“Sounds like you’ve already figured out their diversion so you can intervene.” I place my hand over his heart, which thrashes violently against his chest. “I guarantee that scared fae girl is just doing her job. She’s not part of some elaborate attack plan.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Fine, I don’t, but it doesn’t matter because you’re ready. We’re ready.”
I lift on the tips of my toes so I can cup his cheek, and his eyes close at my touch. My heart responds with a single beat. Ever since we completed the bond, it’s been slowly coming back to life. The first time I felt it beat, I cried. My tears are no longer bloody either, more of a light pink, which made me cry even harder.
And the sun.
While I no longer burst into flames during daylight, the sun still burns my skin. I’m hoping that will lessen over the years. Thorne was curious, too, and he stepped out underneath the bright sky.
He experienced something similar. He didn’t turn to stone immediately, but his velvet skin started to harden after half an hour.
“I love you, Thorne.”
His eyes widen, because technically, it’s the first time I’ve said it to him. He leans down and gives me a quick peck. His mouth lingers, tickling my lips as if debating whether to mess up my lipstick with a devouring kiss. Instead, he pulls back with a goofy smile.
“I love you too.”
I turn to Vara.
