Page 79 of A Bond Beyond Blood

For the first time in centuries, I felt as though there might be something...morefor me.

Jack Fiorino, the butcher’s daughter, to be precise.

I’d been able to think of little else since meeting her and absorbing the boy’s fascinating stories of their childhood together.

At times I even found myself, dare I say it, a tad envious that Gannon had lived such a normal existence, had been allowed—nay,encouraged—tochoosewho he loved, while I’d been betrothed to another royal vampire since the beginning of time.

It really wasn’t fair.

I’d managed to avoid holy unholy matrimony for centuries, and I had no intention of interrupting my streak, but stepping back into the light and reclaiming my rightful place on the throne meant many things—not all of them pleasant.

In fact, most of them were the opposite.Unpleasantthings like enemies and upheavals, turncoats and treaties...

Demands and declarations.

Expectations and...well, marrying a born vampire like myself.

Breeding.I shivered at the thought.

Gannon tapped the hood of the vehicle and I glared at him as he strode around the front end to climb back behind the wheel.When he opened the driver’s side door, I glanced at the young woman one last time to check for anything askew.Pale green eyes still dazed, nothing else was amiss that I could tell—the marks on her neck had already healed.Her color would return as her blood replenished and she’d remember a lovely luncheon date with a handsome boy—who’d sadly never call on her again.

I motioned to the building behind her when it seemed like she wasn’t going to move without a bit of help, then rolled down the window.“Hurry along now.Best that you get back to your festivities, love.”

She blinked a few times, then nodded and hurried into the tavern.

I sighed and tipped my head back, but the sensation that the boy continued to glance my way as he drove was impossible to ignore.

“I assume you know where you’re going,” I said without opening my eyes.

“Of course.”

“Splendid.”

As we headed east, Gannon continued to side-eye me every few moments, his silent curiosity speaking louder than if he’d actually muttered a word.

I motioned toward him with a flick of my wrist.“Out with it.”

“What makes you think Jackie will go along with this?”

I rolled my eyes.“She won’t have a choice.”The influence of the blood bond combined with the power I had over those around me would ensure that much, but Franco Fiorino had been an intelligent man; I trusted the girl was logical as well.

When presented with the facts, she’d agree that my proposal was truly in her best interests.

Gannon’s head swiveled toward me and I pointed at the road ahead.“We cannot die easily, Gannon, but we can be injured.If you insist on driving, I must insist you keep your eyes on the road.”

“It’s just that...”He chewed on the inside of his cheek.“She hates me.”

“Yes, well, considering how you left things, I don’t blame the girl.But she’ll come around.”

“How are you so sure?”

God help me, I should never have engaged with this vampire.

“Trust,” was my response, then I resumed resting my eyes while he drove toward the butcher shop.

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