casual observer could mistake this for a virgin sacrifice.
They’d be wrong on two counts.
I frowned at Kyros. I don’t even get a chuckle for that one?
If he could think about anything other than the tiny risk I may not pull through the transition, he would have laughed.
Tough crowd.
Though I only had the urge to because I was borderline hysterical about what happened next. Turned out the decision was the easiest part of this.
Rory stood in line with my right arm. Vladymir was in line with my left. King Julius stood at my head beside Kyros. Gina was stationed at my left leg and Safina at my right one. Laurel was positioned by my stomach after Kyros decreed the males were only allowed to bite my top half.
My mate was torn between glaring at his father, Rory, and Vladymir, but seemed mostly focused on the Viking.
I can always kill him after.
I didn’t laugh at his thought because, truthfully, this would be one of the hardest things my mate would ever do. Now that I had a mate and we’d completed more than four exchanges, it was impossible for me to forge connections to any of the gathered vampires, but Kyros had to allow six other Vissimo to drink my blood and feed me their blood.
He’d once told me that would make him jealous to a murderous degree.
Closing my eyes, I thought of a gentle tide on a summer day and nudged soothing thoughts toward my mate. True mate, I thought at him, knowing the endearment would help.
Don’t worry, my beauty. The prize is having you by my side forever. I’m not capable of jeopardising that.
There’s no doubt in my mind about that, I answered.
Not one shred of it.
I cleared my throat. “On a scale of one to ten, how much will this hurt?” I only had movies to go off, and if they were to be believed, the coming moments would be excruciating.
Kyros towered over my prone form, and I was torn between checking out his junk or his face.
“I’d be happy with either,” he answered, lips twitching.
“I hate when they do that,” Gerome complained from where he and the other siblings—barring Rory and Safina—waited as spectators. Tommy wanted to come, but I wasn’t at the point where I felt comfortable with her around the royals.
Kyros held my gaze, and I felt my mind cloud, a heavy languidness filling my body.
“You will not feel pain through the transition,” he ordered, leaning down to brush my cheek.
He straightened and blinked, but the heaviness filling my limbs didn’t dissipate.
“You compelled me,” I slurred, my eyelids heavy.
He smirked. “Last time I’ll be able to.”
Yeah, right. You’re a freakin’ powerful Vissimo.
My mate studied the gathered vampires, his mouth twisting into a wry smile. You’re about to be a powerful Vissimo, too, Basilia. Believe me.
I wouldn’t be a weakling one?
Cool.
“Eldest son,” King Julius said, gripping his shoulder. “Are you ready?”
That was my cue to ramp up the soothing vibes for my mate—easy with the warmth weighing down my body.
“I am, Father,” Kyros answered, his meadow-green eyes on mine.
King Julius crouched on the ground by my head. He had a sarong on, and I wasn’t cool with the position change. The queen’s nipples deserved a Twitter page, yes, but that’s where I drew the line when it came to the swinging bits of Kyros’s parents.
My mate blanched.
“Daughter,” the king said loudly, reminding me this was a big deal. “Are you certain you wish to join our family forever?”
I needed Kyros in the same way I needed shelter, food, and air. Family, I wanted with every fibre of my being.
My eyes stung at his daughter bomb, and I really hoped his question wasn’t rhetorical.
I nodded. “I’m sure.”
The king stood again. I wrinkled my nose, my eyes flicking to Laurel. She was smirking.
Bitch.
I smiled at her though, and then the others.
“Thank you all for helping me,” I said softly.
Gina cocked her hip. Safina didn’t outwardly react. Vladymir winked, and Laurel’s smirk faded. King Julius arched a brow. And my mate…
He flooded my system with every ounce of love he carried for me.
“We drain and then fill,” King Julius growled, crouching again. I barely managed to avert my eyes in time.
Jesus! Give a girl some fucking warning.
Kyros smoothed my hair away from my neck, and my heartbeat thundered for all to hear. The other vampires bent over my limbs while Laurel curled over my stomach.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Focus on me, mate, Kyros whispered in my mind.
His eyes captured mine before he