Page 116 of A Bond Beyond Blood

“Yes, sir.”He grimaced.“Your...majesty?”

I waved a dismissive hand.“King Bristol is fine.You’ve lost most of your accent.”

He bowed his head.“I have, King Bristol.”He met my eyes with an amused arch of his brow, “You have as well.”Quickly, he ducked his head.“Mostly, sir.”

“A sad state of affairs indeed.”I sighed, a sense of melancholy sweeping over me.“Maybe we should return home and reclaim her.”

His eyes lit up at that.

I clapped him on the back with a smile.“All in due time.All in due time.”Motioning toward the wall, I said, “For now, show me to my throne, Lieutenant.”

His lips twitched.“Just Sam is fine.”

I clasped my hand on his shoulder and said, “You’ve earned your title and the respect that comes with it, Lieutenant.Remember that.”

He gave a curt nod, then slipped his hand over a panel beside the hidden door.It creaked as it opened inwardly.“Right this way, sir.”

For the first time in averylong time, I allowed myself to enjoy the way that title sounded, because, born vampire or not, like Sam here, I had also earned my title and the respect that came along with it.

I’d do well to take my own advice.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Jack

Once the last of my employees left, I locked up the front of the butcher shop and dropped the blinds, then switched off the neon sign.As I began rotating the sausages lined up in the display case, motion caught my eye near the darkened hallway that led to the back.

My heart stuttered and I jumped, spinning toward the intruder, then brought my hand to my chest when I recognized the shocking white of the vampire king’s hair.

Breathing deeply, I tried to calm my heart, but it hammered even faster now that I was face to face with him again.

I wish I could say it was only fear, that element of surprise that made my heartbeat a thundering rush in my ears, but the way my body reacted to him was intoxicating.A tightening of my belly, warmth running through my veins—

His lips twitched as he followed my thoughts or clocked the signs of my traitorous body, then he motioned toward the back of the shop.“The back door was unlocked, dear Jack,” he said as he strode toward me.“And your bulldog is nowhere nearby.Did I not warn you that my enemies might come for you?”With a frown marring his otherwise perfect face, he added, “I’d hate to see a single hair harmed on that pretty head of yours.”

“I can take care of myself,” I lied, hating the way the tremor in my voice stole the credibility right out of that statement.

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