My eyebrows rose. “You intend to share me with the women of this new kingdom of ours?” I meant it as a taunt, but her nails digging into my scalp said she took it very seriously.
“Never.” Her irises smoldered.
“You’re mine and only mine.”
“Now who is being romantic?” I nudged open the door to her quarters and tossed her on the bed.
She giggled and crawled backward into the pillows, her expression darkening beneath a wave of desire. “I love you, King of Nova Kingdom,” she said, her voice one of a siren calling her partner to bed. “Now fuck me like you own me.”
“Ah, and they truly did live happily ever after,” I murmured, stripping myself of my clothes before prowling over her in the bed. “In their own little kingdom.” I kissed her soundly. “Of Nova.”
“The end,” she whispered, smiling.
“The end,” I agreed.
Four Months Later…
This wedding was far different from the first one I witnessed in this palace. For one, the bride was willing. The groom was a significant improvement to the last one. And this room had undergone one hell of a renovation.
Hell being the operative term there.
Because wow.
Valora had outdone herself with the pinks and reds and blues. All the drapes were bright, the windows clean, and the walls a pristine white. The great room practically glowed and not just because of the bride and groom at the altar.
Or the Devil behind the podium.
Although, they were part of it, all lit up like the stars shining in the Nova Kingdom night.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
Happiness.
For everyone in the room, anyway, except me. Happiness no longer existed in my world. Not after…
I swallowed, pushing the thoughts away as I met Grigory’s knowing gaze across from me. He stood behind Adrik, his eyebrow arched in that arrogant way I despised.
Of all the Noxia vampires to cure me, it had to be that one.
The conceited, pompous prick of a prince who couldn’t even get my name right. If he called me Zay one more time, I’d punch him directly in the nose.
Valora laughed, drawing my attention to her. She repeated the vows Lucifer had created, the words very different from her first wedding. These boasted new principles, ones that left everyone smiling.
They promised to maintain faith in each other. To respect each other. To adore one another. To lead together. To raise their kingdom with honesty and high regard for others. And to cherish their future daughter always.
A tear fell from Valora’s eye at the reveal of the gender inside her growing belly.
A tear that Adrik kissed before taking her lips and completing the vow.
Such a gorgeous ceremony.
And yet, being in this place only filled me with dread.
I can’t move back, I realized, my plans to stay with Valora after the wedding halting in my mind. I can’t live here.
It was littered with too many bad memories that no amount of decorating could hide. Adrik and Grigory had worked so hard to rid the kingdom and the surrounding areas of black hearts, but it didn’t change my fears. The damage was already done.