Page 108 of Royal Bite
Her mate took advantage of the move and sank her fangs into Stormey’s neck. Her hips undulated toward her hand in the rhythm Hegna set. Her eyes flew open, and she took notice of vampires openly feeding from their mates or human donors.
Her eyes fluttered closed once again. Her focus was now on the woman drinking from her and pleasuring her. Stormey had the woman of her dreams and a life she could have only imagined. She couldn’t ask for anything more.
Hegna strolled behind Stormey as she walked through the orphanage. She’d ordered her men to stay outside guarding the building while she and her mate were inside. Hegna didn’t need help guarding her own mate. The kids always seemed to get a kick out of having vampire guards roaming around the grounds.
The first phase of the renovations had begun. Stormey and Emily were excited with their talk. Hegna had given Stormey full rein to do whatever she and Emily felt was necessary for the children and everyone who lived there. The construction workers were currently rebuilding one of the other wings and, once complete, everyone would move to that one so they may start on the other half of the house. It would be completed in a few stages.
They arrived at a staircase, and Stormey was lost in her conversation with Emily. The two women ascended the stairs. Hegna felt a presence behind her in the hallway. She turned and found Maisie standing there watching her.
“Hello, Maisie.” Hegna smiled at the child.
“Hi, princess.” Maisie skipped toward her and stopped next to her. She glanced up the stairs at Stormey and Emily who were paused at the top.
“Will my princess be okay?” Maisie asked, worry taking over her features. The smile she had disappeared from her lips.
Hegna didn’t like the look of worry on the child’s face. Children her age should be out playing and enjoying life.
“Of course. Why do you ask?” Hegna knelt before the little girl so they could be eye to eye.
“We had heard that the princess was now a vampire,” Maisie whispered. She turned her wide eyes to Hegna. “But she doesn’t act different.”
“Would that bother you? That she is a vampire now?” Hegna asked softly.
Maisie shook her head without hesitation.
Relief filled Hegna. It would have pained her mate to think that Maisie thought differently of her. “Good. A very nasty woman hurt Stormey really bad. Turning her into a vampire was the only way to save her life.”
Maisie’s eyes grew round. Her audible swallow was the only sound that came from her at first. “Did you turn her?” she asked.
“I did.” Hegna nodded cautiously. “Had I not, she wouldn’t be here with us today.”
“It’s a good thing you did.” Maisie glanced down at her hands and bit her lip.
Hegna could tell something else was on her mind.
“Some of the big kids said that she wouldn’t want to hang with us anymore now that she was a vampire.”
“I’m sure those big kids were being asses,” Hegna said, then instantly regretted her choice in words.
Maisie grinned at her slip-up. Hegna may not be a mother or around children often, but she was sure her mate nor Emily wouldn’t appreciate her cussing in front of them.
“You said a bad word.” Maisie giggled. “Miss Emily said that bad words are not allowed. She washed out Julian’s mouth with soap for saying one.”
“Rightfully so. Children shouldn’t say such words.” Hegna grinned.
Maisie glanced back up the stairs at Stormey. The girl was taken by her mate. Stormey talked non-stop about the little girl as well.
“But you do know the princess cares very much for the orphanage, everyone in it, and even you.”
Maisie turned to her and sighed. The girl suddenly appeared much older than her age.
“I wish the princess was my mommy.” Her voice was small, and her shoulders slumped.
The sight of the child tugged at Hegna’s heartstrings. She rubbed Maisie’s shoulder, taking her hand in hers.
“What if I can make that happen?” Hegna whispered.
Maisie’s eyes lit up immediately. Hegna held up a finger to her lips. Her mate had been so busy the last few weeks that she’d barely rested.
