11. Nic

Chapter 11

The magic of waking next to Leia hadn't faded. It was like the universe had created an angel just for me—if I'd believed in such things. I glanced at her peaceful sleeping face, half tempted to wake her with soft kisses that made her request more.

I always wanted her.

And she was always ready for me.

Just the thought of her soft, welcoming body made me hard.

My gaze drifted to her breasts and the amethyst pendant nestled there. Then to her wrist and the delicate selection of crystal charms the witch had insisted would protect Leia… from my implied ineptitude.

I rubbed my eyes and sighed softly. I'd looked through the Book of Gray, poring over the pages of tiny, handwritten text. Shit. I hadn't so much as thought about that book in decades. Maybe centuries. Mother and Father had given it to me when I left their home, and apparently, I'd just shoved it in a box, because what the hell did a dusty old tome of family lore matter?

Except it mattered now. I'd hoped to read it and find that Lettie had been wrong, but no.

My mate was in danger of becoming a thrall to me simply because I'd claimed her and fed from her and I hadn't turned her yet.

I'd given her a death sentence.

And I had a fucking witch to thank for extending our time together. I swallowed the idea of being indebted to a witch… Well, it was as bad as potentially owing a debt to the local shifter pack. Neither of those was a palatable option. I kept myself to myself, and I didn't mix beyond vampire politics, which were a necessary evil for a king.

Otherwise, I'd have been happy in my house by myself. Except… I looked at Leia and my heart squeezed.

I never actually wanted to be alone again.

So I needed to turn her.

But how could I talk to her about that? She'd allowed my claim, but we'd never discussed her being anything other than human. I didn't know what she wanted. I wanted her with me forever, but I couldn't force that on her.

I looked away. At first, I'd thought I just wanted power. The power a virgin could bring me, then the extended power of a true mate by my side.

But by the time I'd claimed her, it had been about more than power. And a true mate turning, according to the Book of Gray, was about love. It was the biggest gift I could give. It was immortal life.

Of course, it was also a selfish vampire gift—a lover and true mate, by my side, for eternity. But it was a commitment. A choice. A wedding. The most insane version of marriage ever—where as long as we both should live took on a whole different meaning.

It would mean giving all of myself and accepting all of Leia, too.

Which I wanted with a yearning that surprised me. The idea of her accepting my blood hardened me further and I fought not to move my hips forward or fist my cock in my hand to find relief.

I'd already taken too much.

I'd taken her choice, and I didn't know how to tell her.

Thank fuck the witch had bought me some time with her colored stones.

But Leia would either be my thrall or my bride and I needed her to want the latter. My heart ached for her.

Leia stretched, her arm moving above her head as her back formed the most beautiful curve, which I wanted to skim my hand down. It helped that my hand would then land on her perfect ass.

"Good morning." I nuzzled the crook of her neck, filling my chest with her scent as she stretched languorously again. I inhaled the unmistakable scent of her arousal, as well, as she moved and automatically pressed herself closer to me so our legs tangled together, her stiff nipples touched my chest, and my cock rested against the softness of her belly.

"Well, good morning to you, too. You're, ah…up early." She laughed softly as she played her fingers through my hair.

I kissed her neck and she moaned quietly. Her blood called to me and my desire for her blood called to her, and that would make her a thrall too quickly. I couldn't allow either of us to give in before I'd spoken to her about becoming my immortal bride.

I groaned a little as I drew away, frustration in the bedroom—or any room—an almost unfamiliar emotion now. "I need to go to the casino today." I said it by way of explanation, but it was also true.

"Can I come along? I'm pretty convinced Aimée is bored staying in all day to babysit me now, so surely she deserves time off for good behavior?"

I hesitated as I met Leia's gaze.

"Please?" Her gentle fingers teased against my cock, and I groaned again.

"I don't think you're playing fair, Miss Boucher." My cock twitched against her.

"But I thought all was fair in love and war?" She pouted, and I claimed her lips as my heart clenched.

This was a time of both love and war, and I had a difficult time refusing her anything. She relaxed against me, and I wound an arm around her waist before I remembered myself.

"The office." I drew away again. "I need to go make sure everything's running smoothly."

"I'll stay out of sight," Leia murmured. "And I couldn't be any better protected right? You'll be there. And Jason will be there."

"Sebastian could be there too, if I asked him, or Kyle…" I mused, thinking through the availability of my men. The temptation of Leia's presence by my side was difficult to deny.

"Four bodyguard vampires for little ole me? Go on…" She kissed my collarbone then smoothed along it with her tongue. "Give Aimée the day off. Maybe she'd like to spend some time with her mate rather than yours?"

My chest tightened at her casual acknowledgment of her status, at the way she seemed to have accepted that she was the true mate of a vampire—even if I still had a lot more to explain to her. She was willingly mine, and gratitude blazed inside me.

I opened my mouth, prepared to talk to her about turning and the Book of Gray, but the words died in my throat. Perhaps now wasn't the right time. She'd just wrapped her hand around my cock again and, fuck, I wanted her.

"How long did you say we had before we have to go to La Petite Mort?" It was more than a question. It was a seduction to hear the name of my casino on her lips, and she knew it.

"As long as you want." My words were hoarse as she stroked my shaft, slowly at first then firmly until my breath hitched and I claimed her mouth again.

I wrapped my arm over her shoulders as I pushed through the private door into La Petite Mort. It led straight into the back, away from the main floor, and I could whisk Leia right up to my office without any of the other humans even being aware of her presence.

Not that humans were any threat to her. And especially not in here. Even if I ignored the fact every vampire staffing my business would protect Leia over anything or anyone else, the humans here were far too interested in the lights of machines or the numbers on playing cards to be distracted.

We'd been in my office for about five minutes when there was a knock at the door. Leia was sitting on one of the chairs in the seating area alternately focusing on her eBook and looking out through the one-way mirror over the floor.

"Come in." My men knew Leia was here, so I wasn't worried about security in my office.

"Nic." Kyle stepped inside, a box in his hands, and his face immediately paled. "Uh, shit."

He covered his mouth and nose with one hand and moved his head to beckon me over before backing out the door.

"What's up, Kyle?" I glanced at Leia before I joined him in the corridor and closed the door.

His cheeks reddened, something I'd never seen from Kyle, who was one-hundred percent pure soldier, cold mercenary, and always completely unflappable. "I just… I, uh… I didn't expect her scent to be so…" He squared his shoulders and looked at me, his eyes the usual harsh clarity I'd come to expect. "I'll be prepared next time."

"What?" My hand itched as my fingers formed a fist. My mate's scent had affected him? "She's claimed," I ground out.

"But not turned," he replied, his voice even.

I sighed. For fuck's sake. Another person to make me feel guilty—like I didn't feel guilty enough already. And how the hell did every other fucker know this very important detail?

"Is that a problem?" I kept my voice quiet. Leia didn't have the same hearing capability as the rest of us, but I couldn't risk her overhearing something I needed to explain properly.

"She... she smells like you. It's power and it's also weakness, Nic." He bowed his head, suddenly submissive. "She's your weakness, so she's attractive to every other vampire male who comes into contact with her. If they take her, if they turn her, they can have all of that promise and all of that power for themselves."

"But why is she my weakness?" I was still growling, but Kyle didn't so much as flinch. I understood perfectly why she was at risk from others who wanted her power, but no one would challenge me directly, surely? No one under my rule, at least.

Instead, he looked up and met my gaze. "Because she makes you easy to manipulate. You'd do anything to save her life. Anything."

I glanced at the door. Fuck. He was right. No wonder I'd never tolerated humans. It would only take love for one to bring everything about my life tumbling down.

"What's in the box?" I jerked my head at the brown package in his arms, shoving aside the words he'd spoken and my conflicting feelings. Deliveries didn't usually require my personal attention.

For a moment, a frown lingered between Kyle's brows. "I don't know. It's addressed to Leia."

"To Leia? At this address?" That made no fucking sense. "Why is someone sending deliveries to Leia here? What the hell do you think it is?"

"Well, it doesn't tick, so it's not a bomb." He shrugged. "But my X-ray vision is failing me today, so…"

My office door cracked open. "Nic?" Leia looked out. "What are you doing out here?"

"Kyle brought me a delivery." I nodded at Kyle even as he took a small step away from Leia. His chest was still, like he wasn't even breathing.

"Oh." She nodded at Kyle. "Thank you for New Orleans."

He nodded back but didn't speak. Then he passed me the box, and as I stretched my arms out, Leia squealed.

"Oh! It's for me?" She glanced at me as Kyle and I both froze. "Nic, did you get me a gift?"

I shook my head. "I… I don't know where it's from. I don't know who sent it."

Her face fell for a moment before she smiled. "Do I still get to open it?"

I glanced at Kyle. Did he think it was safe?

His eyes narrowed for a moment. Then he nodded. "Let me get Jason first. I'll warn him about…" He cut a swift look at Leia. "Well, you know."

As he strode away, I ushered Leia farther back into my office so I could put the box on my desk. I set it down carefully, but Kyle had been right—it wasn't ticking, and I couldn't sense any humming or warmth. There didn't seem to be any immediate danger.

Leia seemed to pick up on my reservations. "So, three guys are going to stand around and watch me open a box? Three vampire guys? That's…" Her gaze raked over me. "That's a whole lotta muscle for a gift."

Her heart rate spiked as I rested a hand on her shoulder then walked to stand behind her so I could lower my head and place my lips against her neck.

"We're just being cautious," I murmured. The need to please her warred with the need to protect her.

Gifts pleased her. Clearly. I made a mental note to buy her more gifts—I wanted her face to light up that way because of something I'd given her.

Kyle stepped inside my office, and Jason followed closely behind him. He closed the door.

"Shit, Nic. I wish your office had windows. Some fresh air would be nice."

I tightened my jaw. I was over everyone telling me how amazing my mate smelled, no matter how helpful they intended to be.

Leia grinned as she grabbed the package and tore the tape strip holding the box flaps down.

As soon as they released, I reached for her and pushed her toward Kyle who caught her in his arms and turned her to the wall.

"No, Leia!" My cry came after the copper tang of old blood fragranced the air around us, and Leia gasped as I forced her away.

I pushed the flaps back and peered into the box before covering my mouth with the back of my hand. It was an old, instinctive movement because nothing about death horrified me anymore.

Or very little.

Lettie, the witch, looked back at me, her eyes milky and sightless, her head severed at the neck. It had been inexpertly ripped from her body. Savaged by claws—or more likely, fangs.

The skin hung raggedly, blood vessels and the frayed edges of her trachea visible.

"Get Leia out of here," I ground out. "Get her safe."

Jason approached me from behind. "What's… Oh, shit. The witch."

"Witch?" Leia struggled against Kyle, and a growl rumbled through me at the sight of his hands on her as he tried to remove her from the room.

"Release her," I snapped.

Immediately, Kyle raised his hands and backed away from my mate.

She whirled toward me and crossed the room before I could stop her. "Oh, Lettie." A tear ran down her cheek even as she looked into the box. Then she raised her pale face to me, her eyes dark. "Who would do this?"

I shook my head. "Perhaps Francois suspected…"

"I should check on Temple." Kyle hurried from the room.

"She died because of me?" Leia kept looking at Lettie's head in the box and I gently closed the flaps back up before handing it to Jason.

I shook my head. "No, Lettie didn't die because of you. She died because of what Francois did, because he took you, because of the decisions she made, maybe. But make no mistake, Lettie died because of Francois." Even if he hadn't been the bastard to rip her apart.

Although it had definitely looked like the work of a madman, so I had my suspicions.

Fucking Francois.

I held Leia tight to me, keeping my world from fracturing as I pressed her against my body, in control of at least this much.

At least this fucking much.

"Things are becoming too dangerous," I murmured.

"But you can protect me, right?" She looked up, and it hurt to see the trust in her eyes when I'd already let her down so much by staking my claim.

"Always." The promise felt false on my lips. It tasted bitter.

Fuck, nothing would be left of Francois once I'd finished taking him apart for abducting Leia and now for killing Lettie. My mate had made me more powerful than Francois. I could take him easily, but I still needed to protect Leia to the very best of my ability. And the best way I could do that…

I needed to turn her.

Fuck.

"I…" I pressed her closer still as I spoke. I didn't want her to see my face, my guilt, for this conversation.

But there was movement over her shoulder, and I looked out over the casino floor. People were running for the exits.

"Jason?" I released my tight hold on Leia. "What's going on down there?"

My entire world was going to shit.

Jason hurried to the door, already reaching for his gun. "I'll find out."

"Shit." I moved to the door then stopped, caught between action and protection. I couldn't leave Leia on her own in my office. Instead, I moved to the window. I pressed my fingertips against it then thumped it gently with my fist. "Shit."

"You should be out there." Leia gestured into the casino floor.

"I…I can't. I have responsibilities here."

"I'll be fine. I'll lock the door." She folded her arms.

"No." I shook my head. "You won't be safe alone."

"So put me somewhere safe? Give me a different babysitter if you need to, but this is your business, and I'm in your way."

"Never." I bit out the word but didn't get a chance to explain further because someone knocked on my door. "What?"

"Sorry to disturb y—" Valérie pushed the door open, already speaking, before she broke off on a gasp and her focus switched straight to Leia. She shook her head and seemed to recover herself. "You're needed downstairs."

"What? Why? Jason and Kyle are already there." My men could handle out-of-control drunks, or the occasional customer who disagreed with my dealers.

"It's not the usual kind of trouble." Valérie's face had paled, and she edged away from Leia. "A vampire from New Orleans managed to get into the high roller room. It's a bloodbath. The remaining humans need to be compelled to forget what they've seen. Only you're strong enough—"

"Fuck. How did this happen?" I glanced down, at my men standing by closed doors, at the humans screaming to be let out.

Fucking Francois.

He'd turned La Petite Mort into a death zone, and he'd divided my attention between my mate and my business. More than simply my business. This one stunt of his could reveal our whole society to Baton Rouge. The fucker.

I looked at Leia, meeting her eyes. They held fear, even as she lifted her chin in a parody of bravery.

"I can make you vampire," I whispered.

I could turn her right now. Turn her and know nothing else could harm her… But I wanted what the Book of Gray promised. I wanted the moment of commitment, the promise of forever… Shit, I wanted the love. I needed to ask her, to have her come to me willingly a second time, and that wasn't going to happen today, in the midst of so much fucking carnage.

But Leia shook her head, the movement emphatic. "No." Her voice was quiet but determined. "That's not what I want."

I opened my mouth to explain, but I didn't have time. Shit. What a cluster fuck. Instead, I turned my attention to my assistant.

"Valérie." I barked her name for no other reason at all than she was the messenger. She'd brought me the bad news and stood directly in my line of fire.

"Yes?" She never trembled in front of me, but now something like fear lurked deep in her gaze. Fear and something else that flashed away so quickly, it surely couldn't have been contempt? I blinked, and she was simply Valérie again.

"I need you to look after Leia in here. Don't leave my office. Don't open the door unless you can identify the man outside." I stopped, my hand already on the doorknob. "No, scratch that. Don't open this door to anyone but me."

She nodded and cleared her throat as she patted her hair back into place. "Got it."

I broke into a jog as I headed toward the high roller room. Damage control. Shit. Had the main door to the casino been closed soon enough? Locked? I fucking hoped so. I couldn't allow anyone out onto the streets with tales of a vampire on the loose in my casino.

Okay, so chances were, no one would believe a day-drinking gambler, but there were always people who followed up on shit like this, and the red-topped tabloids that printed the stories. It would always be too big a risk to take.

Shit.

Valérie had been right. The room where the vampire had attacked his victims was a bloodbath. Red blood spatter stretched from floor to ceiling, and the four dead victims lay brokenly over tables and chairs. A group of survivors huddled in the corner of the room, and I made my way over to them, already talking in my most soothing voice.

It was going to be a long fucking day.