Page 51 of Heir of Darkness

“My grandfather on my mother’s side. I heard he was a wonderful man, but I never got to meet him. He passed while my mother was pregnant,” he said. “So now I’m stuck with an old name.”

“I like it,” she said. “It fits you.”

She turned toward him, studying his face while he stared ahead. He had a little mole beside his right ear and long black eyelashes she was jealous of. She saw the faintest hint of a scar on his chin, but it wasn’t bigger than an inch. There was a story there and she realized that one day she would probably end up hearing it because he was the man she was set to spend the rest of her life with.

Her breathing increased as she realized that for the first time, dread didn’t fill her at that thought. Instead, something akin with familiarity and serendipity filled her.

Maybe that was why she found herself leaning into him, setting her head against his shoulder. And maybe that was why when he wrapped his arm around her, she accepted it. The same butterflies returned and so did his warmth.

And she didn’t fight it.

TWENTY

LUNA

Luna didn’t knowwhat time it was, but she was exhausted. After swimming around for a little bit, her hair was flat and wet, but surprisingly her makeup stayed intact thanks to whichever setting spray Cecilia had used.

They lay on the pool chair now, right in front of the glass window. Valerio had a towel around his waist and Luna had one held securely around her. She didn’t feel like throwing on her dress again, and the heat had been turned up to make sure she didn’t get cold. Plus, laying on Valerio’s warm body was like laying by a furnace.

His chest rose up and down under her head, and she could hear his heartbeat. It beat normally now, but earlier it had sped up.

“Valerio?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Hmm?” he replied. His eyes were closed as if he were dozing off, but his grip around her body was still as tight as ever.

“Are you sleeping?” she asked.

He opened his eyes this time. “I guess I was dozing off,” he said, his voice surprised.

“Why do you sound so shocked?” she asked him.

“I can’t sleep at night,” he told her. “I usually get work done at this time.”

“That can’t be healthy for you.” She sat up, adjusting the towel. “What keeps you up?”

He shrugged, keeping his hand on her hip. “I don’t know, a lot of things, I guess.”

“Do you do anything to help you fall asleep? Like a nighttime routine?”

He laughed. “Like what?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you should drink some tea, read before bed, something.”

“Maybe you should just sleep next to me.” He leaned into her, burying his head into her neck. She laughed. “That seems to let my mind rest.”

She pushed his head away. “Until I wake you up with all my yapping.”

“I could listen to your voice all day and night. Sounds like a melody.”

She snorted. “No, it doesn’t.”

“It does. I wouldn’t lie to you about that,” he said.

Luna rolled her eyes. “Do you really not sleep at night?” She felt worried about his health, she couldn’t help it.

“I don’t,” he said. “Most nights at least. Sometimes the exhaustion takes me out against my will.”

“How long has it been since you slept?” she asked. She ran her hand against his arm, watching as goosebumps rose on his skin.

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