Page 65 of Midnight Queen

“Sounds like a plan,” Duke agrees as his focus swings to Silas. “I also heard I missed a hell of a fight too.”

Silas raises a brow, confused about how he knows anything about my rescue.

Duke nods his head at the woman who hasn't left his side all week. “Della here was catching me up on everything while we were waiting for you two to show up.” His eyes flick between Silas and me, and his smile widens. “It’s really fucking good to see you guys together.”

I glance at the vampire over my shoulder quickly and try to ignore the ball of unease in my stomach when his black gaze meets mine.

The air between us is still thick with uncomfortable tension and it fucking sucks.

Lacking a filter has always been my downfall and now is no different. But the thing is, I don’t regret what I said, but I do regret my timing.

Admittedly, I could have planned that one better. Though I don’t think there was ever going to be an ideal time to ask Silas to change me.Hey honey, I used your mouthwash, I hope you don’t mind. Oh and by the way, you should turn me so we can spend eternity together.

Yeah… that would have gone oversuperwell. I’m pretty sure running naked through Easter Mass with‘The devil sends his regards’written on my left ass cheek would be better received.

Before I said it aloud, it was something I didn’t even know I wanted, but now it’s all I can think about. The longer my request sits out there, the surer I become of my decision.

I don’t want a couple years with Silas, I want all of them.

And being like him would grant me this.

“So, what else did Della tell you about?” I ask Duke, trying to get the attention off Silas and me.

Duke’s brows pull and he looks at me, confused by my weird subject change. As subtly as I can manage, I shake my head and beg with my eyes for him to drop it. Luckily, brain injury or not, the plea doesn’t go unnoticed by Duke.

“You mean did she tell me about my Irish replacement?” Effortlessly, he fills the awkward air.

“Replacement?” Silas comments dryly. “Hardly. No one could ever replace you, Duke. Your job will wait for however long you need to get back on your feet.”

Duke isn’t just Silas’s right hand; he’s also the man Silas was planning on leaving in charge of everything when Silas inevitably must leave town again.

The infinite life of a vampire means you can’t stick around too long in one location. The fact he will never age or change is bound to draw attention after a few decades.

Before all the chaos over the past week ensued, Silas admitted his time in New Orleans is once again coming to an end. His plan was to promote Duke as the face of his operations here while Silas sets up in a new city. This was a conversation we had in passing, and I hadn’t thought much about it until now.

Careful to not sit on him or any of the leads still connected to his healing body, I perch on the edge of his bed. “I’m sure Della here has painted Lorcan in alovelylight,” I say sarcastically.

On cue, the older woman scoffs and grumbles under her breath.

“She probably described him as the spawn of Satan himself.”

“Was I wrong?” she asks blandly. “I could have sworn I saw horns and a tail on that sociopath.”

No, sorry, Della, that wasn’t a tail. It was just his giant dick, but I can see how you’d be confused.The words are on the tip of my tongue, but by some miracle, I find the strength to sit quietly. I mentally pat myself on the back for my momentary success.

“Della just doesn’t appreciate his humor,” I joke instead. “I have a feeling that you’ll actually get along with him, Duke. You two can team up and annoy the shit out of Silas.”

“I’m pretty sure the only person who can annoy the boss man that much, and live, is you, darlin’.”

Even if he’s agitated with me right now, Silas nods his head. “This is true.”

Duke chuckles and as he does, his hand catches in the nasal cannula that sits on his face. Old habits die hard and on instinct, I reach out to fix the tubing. I did this multiple times a day with Ira, his horrendous coughing fits always dislodged it from his face.

“So…” I start once I have it settled. “Did Della tell you about anything else? Or just Lorcan?”

Even if it isn’t any of my business, my curiosity over the situation is too strong for me to ignore.

Duke frowns. “No, was there something else I needed to know?”

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