Page 52 of Siege of Blood and Betrayal

She straightens, meeting his abruptness with her own. “Because Jack is the only true Sacred Squire here and will know what to do to keep you safe. Also, there will be fifty or sixty clan vampires arriving here over the next hour, including distraught children. It will be chaos and Jack needs rest.”

Zane seems to consider that for a moment, but then dips his chin. “Of course. That makes sense.”

What’s his hesitation? I don’t think it has anything to do with my dad resting in the spare room. If I were a betting man, I’d say he either doesn’t want to share Scottie’s attention or he doesn’t want me in close quarters with her.

Zane’s head swivels and the warning glare he pegs me with almost makes me laugh out loud.

Zane Vasari is staking his claim.

That’s fine—let him. It’s Scotland’s choice, not his. And while the two of them might have a history, her attraction to me is like a freaking aphrodisiac.

Jack’s head lolls slowly to the side until the bit of his eye that can open finds me. “Get food into her. She doesn’t eat enough when she’s upset and with her powers taking hold, she needs carbs.”

I nod and hold out my hand. “The master has spoken.”

She arches a brow, but there’s no heat behind it. “And do I get a say in this?”

“What Jack wants, Jack shall have, remember?”

She looks like she’s about to argue when her stomach sounds off in an aggressively loud cry for nourishment. Color flushes her cheeks as she presses a hand over her tummy. “Fine. I could eat.”

Jack seems content with that and closes his eyes.

Zane

Tucker and Scottie head over to the kitchen and into the walk-in pantry. This location is basically kitted-out like a bomb shelter and has enough in the storage rooms and blood bank to hold Clan Vasari over for a year.

“You won’t win her back by getting possessive, son. The days of you having a monopoly on her heart are over.”

I sit on the coffee table opposite Jack and flex my fingers to lessen my urge to release my claws and shred his son. “She’s going to ask you how to release the squire powers, so she can gift them to someone else. Whatever happens, you willnottell her how it’s done.”

“Is that a command from the Vasari King?”

I hear the disapproval in his tone and drop forward, catching my face in my hands. “Fuck. I don’t know how to get through to her and now she’s looking at your son like he’s the cherry on her orgasm sundae.”

Jack chuckles, then moans and cuts that off quickly. “Tucker’s a good-looking boy and he’ll treat her well. You know that.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better, old man.”

Even with only a sliver of his gaze making it through the swelling, the power of his stare comes through. “We both know how stubborn she gets. If you push her, she’ll just dig her heels in. If you want her towantto be at your side, you can’t make it a battle of wills.”

“But she doesn’t understand. I love her. I’ve always loved her. It was never about her not being worthy, it was about me. It has always been about me.”

He chuckles. “Exactly. It has always been aboutyou.”

I don’t like the edge in his tone, but he’s not wrong. Being raised as an only child and a prince often made life about me.

“I’ve grown a lot since then.”

“And so has she.”

I tip my head back and stare at the coffered ceiling, begging the universe for someone to say something that doesn’t make me homicidal. “Give me time before letting her run away from me. Bran gave me a second chance. Please don’t take that away from me.”

“And what if she doesn’t come around, son? If she falls for Tucker or another man, are you prepared to love her enough to see her happy with someone else?”

The feral growl that tears from my throat is nothing I can control. “I’m barely holding it together. Don’t even say things like that.”

“So, not as grown up as you profess.” His eye drifts shut. “Thanks for the healing, son. Don’t worry. I won’t have the strength to teach Scottie the transference ritual for at least a week or two. You’ve got time. Use it wisely.”

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