Page 36 of The Way You Bite
“It was a bad match. Political, arranged. A bad deal for both of us.”
“I understand arranged matches.”
“How long have you been engaged to Ambrose?”
“Seven months.”
“Why aren’t you married? Aren’t you under pressure to have an heir? That’s usually the focus of the first years for vamps.”
“That has become a focal point. My father and Viktor DiFalco have decided to take it to the next level. They plan to force it prior to marriage. Maybe they think pregnancy will compel us to tie the knot officially. I’m not sure.”
The space around Lexan darkened as if he sucked the light out of the area. “They want you to do the shots and force biology?”
She nodded. “The treatment.”
“Rumors say it doesn’t always turn out well.”
“My cousin died a few years ago from excessive bleeding. So, no, it doesn’t always work. It’s got high risk for side effects. I said no, not that anyone listened.”
“Ambrose agrees with this plan?”
“Pretty sure he does. All three of them are up to something far beyond the two of us getting married.”
Lexan scowled. “Any idea what it might be?”
“Not really. I’m not in the inner circle. Never was.”
“So, this pregnancy plan is between Viktor and Dominic? Interesting.”
“Nothing about it is interesting. This is my life. I don’t want to die trying to conceive a child I don’t want.” She shuddered.
“Sounds like we saved you from a bad deal, then.”
“I don’t have a lot of choices in my life.” No female born into an aristocratic vamp family had choices. “Why don’t we admit neither one of us is into eating and skip to the part where you tell me why I’m still here.”
He crossed his arms. “I need to see you eat first.”
She chewed two small bites and pushed the pie away. “I’m sure it’s good, but I can’t eat.”
He scowled. “Fine. Let’s go where we can talk. In private.”
“In private from whom?” She met his gaze.
“The others.”
She glanced around. “Your bodyguards?”
He nodded. “They’re curious about you.”
“I’d expect so, when His Majesty won’t leave me alone.”
He moved toward her to help when she stumbled.
She waved him off. “No touching.”
He didn’t back off but grabbed her arm to steady her. He whispered low, “Yes, they’re fascinated because of who you are, what you are, and because you’re in heat. Any wolf of our age can smell it a long way off. It drives us with a need to mate, especially with the full moon almost upon us.”
“Right, I forget you’re dogs.”
