Page 53 of Siege of Blood and Betrayal

I take a steadying breath and focus on the gift of time.

I’ll make it work.

I’ll fix it and show her I’m the man who makes her happy.

The bustling of footsteps brings the arrival of our clan members. The group sounds large and I’m glad. The more that are here, the stronger we are.

For the moment, I’ll push aside my emotional baggage and be their king. But once we’re back in the safe house tonight, all bets are off.

I hear their approach long before I see them. My father’s witch is worth every penny he paid her. I must remember to call her and inform her of my father’s passing. With the state of things, staying on good terms is a strategic necessity.

The magic of the witch’s ward buzzes with power as the group pushes through the invisible barrier. Dozens of my people come through in a crowd, several of the royal guard taking the lead, then a few of the aggressive males, then the wives and children, then the rest.

“Welcome everyone. Please, make yourselves at home. There are bunk beds along the left wall in the shadows there for the children if they’re tired after their ordeal. The bar is stocked along the right for those who need it.”

“Thank you, my prince,” Natalie says before catching herself. “I’m sorry, sire. My king… I should have said, my king.”

“Think nothing of it, Natalie. These are chaotic times. We all have much to adjust to. Please, take little Nate in and get him settled.”

Familiar faces continue to pass, some of them angry, some sad, all of them weary.

And then the man I’ve been waiting for arrives. My Viking bodyguard stands inches above the others and looks like he’s taken a blood bath. He’s sweaty and wrung out and covered in the blood of our enemy.

It’s fucking hot.

I close the distance to him with quick, sure strides, and fight not to run. A king doesn’t run. I take him in as I approach. He looks whole—pissed, but whole.

I wait until everyone passes us by and then I lead him back the way he came. In the shadows, we have a bit of privacy and I look him up and down. “I’m glad you’re here. Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

We both hear the lie in his voice, but with dozens of vampires just down the tunnel, this isn’t the time or place.

“Tell me you got Benoit.”

He tilts his head to one side and frowns. “Do you doubt me?”

I dip my chin and peg him with a look. “Never have and never will.”

He grunts. “Could have fooled me. You sided with her and left me out in the cold.”

“It wasn’t about taking sides. It was about putting out fires. At that moment, she needed me. You didn’t.”

He grunts and sears me with a glare. “You look like shit, by the way.”

“And is pointing that out supposed to make me feel better?” I wave my hand through the air. “Forget it. Just tell me you have Benoit secured somewhere close because I need to vent some adrenaline before I kill someone I would regret killing.”

He presses his tongue to the tip of one of his fangs and chuckles. “Are you thinking of anyone specific?”

I am, but he doesn’t need to know I’m jealous of Tucker getting close to Scottie. He’s got his own axe to bear with the prodigal daughter.

I stretch my neck to each side, thepop-pop-popof vertebrae doing nothing to ease the wildness within. I’m dangerous and focused on the promise of violence. If I don’t get to shred something or someone soon, my beastly side is going to take hold.

“I’m losing my mind here, Huntley. Tell me where to find Benoit. I need this.”

Huntley grins and leans close to whisper into my ear. “I know your needs better than anyone, Z. Have I ever left you hanging?”

No. He hasn’t. He can be a prickly, arrogant asshole, but he’s damned good at what he does. And often what he does is keep me level. “Where is he?”

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