Page 44 of House of Royals

“Why is everyone in the House here afraid of him, though?” I ask. “If he’s just brutal to the humans?”

“Because another time, he took two House members and told them whoever won that game could join his Court. It was a battle to the death, and they didn’t have any choice.”

“I get it,” I say, shaking my head. This guy sounds a bit like Markov, just with more money and more power.

“So, yeah,” Ian says. “I get why they’re taking so long to come to a decision on what to do with you. It’s a serious matter.”

I nod absent-mindedly.

“I still think you should have waited longer to out yourself,” Ian says quietly.

“They’d already found me,” I say, resisting the urge to start an argument. “I’d already met Jasmine, that day we went to town. She’s the one who gave me an invitation.”

Ian takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly when he looks away from me.

“I’m a tough, big girl, Ian,” I say. My insides are feeling complicated things. It’s been a long time since anyone looked out for me. “You don’t have to always try and protect me. You have no obligation to me.”

“Like I said,” Ian says as his eyes shift back to mine. “I can’t seem to help it.” He very slowly moves closer to me through the water. The small wave he sends rippling around my body makes all my nerve endings fizz to life. “You do things to me, Alivia Ryan.”

“What things?” I breathe, resisting the urge to close the small distance between us. Ian is only six inches from my face, but it feels like he’s miles away.

“Strange, unexplainable things.” His eyes shift down to my lips and the heat in the air doubles. “You’re a drug I can’t get off of. I know you’re going to be my worst enemy someday, but I think that’s part of the reason I want you so bad. I can’t have you.”

My own eyes are on his lips again, and I’m trying to remember what they taste like, and suddenly, I’m feeling forgetful and need a reminder.

“Are you two completely idiotic?”

We spring apart and whip around. Rath stands on the veranda, eyes livid and wild. His hands are clenched into fists, and his chest rises and falls.

“This boy is a sworn enemy of the House, and that House is watching your every move now, Alivia,” he hisses. “They know exactly where you live. They have eyeseverywhere. And you two together putseveryoneat risk.”

“I’m…I’m…” and I was about to say I’m sorry, when I remember I’m an adult and Rath isnotmy father. I don’t have to apologize to him.

“I don’t care what you two do with your hormones and feelings,” he spits, contradicting what he just said. “But you better do it in private where you won’t be seen and get anyone killed.”

“He’s right,” Ian admits quietly. He hoists himself out of the water and holds a hand out for me. “I know better.”

I meet his eyes as I stand, our bodies only inches apart, dripping water everywhere.

“Like I said, you do inexplicable things to me,” he says quietly as his eyes burn into mine.

“Get inside, it’s nearly dark,” Rath growls as he tosses two towels at us.

I wrap my towel around my chest, Ian around his waist, and we slip past Rath like two caught teenagers. And the second we break into the ballroom, we both burst out laughing.

“See, you didn’t even need Henry, you’ve got Rath,” Ian says as we slowly walk across the cold marble floor.

That stings a little more than it should, but still, I offer a small smile.

“I am sorry, though,” Ian says, the mood having already grown more serious. “I should have thought this through some more before just showing up at your house.”

“Are you really an actual enemy of the House?” I ask.

Ian lets out a loud breath. “Yeah. I mean, I’ve hated vampires pretty much my entire life. I’ve killed at least half of the Bitten they’ve created over the last eight or so years. They know me well and everything I do and stand for. It wouldn’t be good for you if they knew about…us.”

“Us, huh?” I tease him as I turn into the kitchen. “I didn’t know that was a thing.”

“I’m not one to adhere to labels and definitions too often,” he says with that smile. “I just let the cards play as they land.”

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