“I can’t help it. It’s all because of this stupid bond. How did you become my mate, anyway? Was it because I let you drink from me?”
“I don’t know, Rora.”
Rora? Sweet baby unicorns. Does he want me to melt where I stand? I think my ovaries just exploded.
“No cutesy nicknames, please. Let’s not make this situation worse.”
He smiles, revealing the tips of his fangs. “Sorry. Slip of the tongue.”
Ah, fuck. Now I want his tongue to slip inside me.
I cover my ears. “Quit putting images in my head.”
“I have no such power.” His smile is brighter.
A moment ago, he seemed to be in excruciating pain, and now, he acts like this is a stroll through the park.
“I thought you were in dire need of help.”
The amusement wilts from his face at once. “I am. I guess being close to you is making things a little bit more bearable.”
Only for you.
“We need a plan. I can look through my family’s grimoires and see if I can find anything on vampire mating bonds.”
“That sounds good. But I also think we should spend as much time together as possible.”
At first, I think he’s joking, but his expression is dead serious.
“Why?”
“Didn’t you just hear me, woman? Just by being near you, I feel better. And also, the urge to kill your fiancé is not as acute. But if you want to risk his precious life…”
“Oh, shut up. You know I don’t care about him that much. I’m more concerned that you’ll get in trouble.”
Saxon’s eyes swim with glee, and even though he’s trying hard to not smile, I catch the tremble in the corners of his lips.
“You’re worried about me?”
“Don’t sound so smug. Of course I am. Like you said, there’s a lot at stake here. Jacques pretty much declared war against King Raphael, and we can’t allow our problem to make matters worse for him.”
“What if instead of fighting the bond, we surrender to it?”
My jaw drops. “Are you out of your mind? Was I speaking to the fucking walls just now? We can’t allow this bullshit bond to mess things up for your king.”
“Hey, this bond is not bullshit. Inconvenient, but not bullshit. It’s actually a big deal that it happened to us. This hasn’t occurred to any vampire since the Nightingales left.”
I raise my hand. “Wait a second. Are you saying this bond thing is Nightingale magic?”
Was it how Elena knew how deep my feelings for Saxon went? Because that fucking mirror of hers showed Saxon and I were bonded?
He shrugs. “Well, everything related to our existence links to them. It’s an educated guess. Too bad the only Nightingales we know have lost their powers.”
“True, but Vivi has recovered her memories. Maybe she can help.”
It’s the best idea I can come up with, but Saxon’s expression is as solemn as ever.
“What’s the matter? Why are you looking at me like the world is about to end?”
With a shake of his head, he glances away. “I don’t know. I don’t fucking know.”
15
Aurora
I tell Saxon to go back to his apartment while I go talk to Vivienne. Naturally, he insisted on tagging along, but I put my foot down. I have to tell her the whole truth and it will be easier if my mate is not around. This is going to be a humiliating conversation. I can’t even think about the word mate in relation to Saxon without my face bursting into flames in a mix of humiliation and excitement.
When I stop in front of the apartment Vivienne shares with Manu, I find the door semi open. I wouldn’t think much of it if there wasn’t a prize in exchange for Vivienne’s head. Boone is dead, but Tatiana still has sympathizers at Bloodstone.
Now on high alert, I pull a small crystal from my purse and enter without knocking. If there’s someone inside up to no good, I don’t want them to know help is coming.
I only need to take two steps in to realize I made a huge mistake. Vivienne is sitting facing the side of the couch with her hands braced against its arm. Her face is tilted toward the ceiling, but her eyes are closed and she’s moaning. I can only guess who is lying between her legs. I try to backtrack without making any noise, but I end up bumping into a high chair.
She gasps, whipping her face to mine. Then she covers her breasts and pretty much falls off the couch with a