Page 107 of Jace
Tracing my jawline, he gently demands, “Tell me what you’re worried about.”
“I’m not worried about the Bratva or the crime stuff. I trust you and your brothers. I know your work with your mom is important: it saves lives. It’s already saved mine.”
Something flashes behind his eyes. Not guilt.
I know Jace has had something done with David. In Florida, we discussed that he needs to interrogate him to ensure there are no more copies of that video. And right now, I don’t need to know when or how.
I just see the fierce protection in Jace’s eyes.
The beast.
The apex predator.
Like the brass lionhead on the door Jace guards, it symbolizes the way he protects me. He doesn’t move during the day; he watches, waiting to stalk at night, hunting with a team. He’ll ambush his prey before the kill.
But he swore he wouldn’t kill David, who’s not my concern right now.
Me and Jace: that’s my concern because he’s right, we’re a done deal. I’ll love him forever. I just don’t know how to be his queen. I don’t know how to have a future with him without the shame from my past.
But my heart aches to try.
“It’s what Wren just asked,” I continue. “Who will be my second king and what will that involve?”
“Honestly”—he exhales—“we’ll have to meet: the kings and queens, just as we did before Alena’s initiation tonight. Hers was different. Everyone was there for the religious ceremony, when her first and second kings stated their vows to her. Then Nash and Vale, and my mom and Sasha left, because wenevercross those lines, before they…”
He pauses, searching my eyes for a reaction. “Before theybondedwith their queen. That’s the group part. But for you, I don’t know because Ruby was right; all the hetero kings are taken. Nick is the only one who hasn’t made a vow to a second queen. Not that he wouldn’t protect a queen and die for her. But…bondingwith her?” His face twists. “I don’t know; for you, maybe he could try, and…”
“No. No, I’d never ask him.” My heart swells with compassion. “I know Nick would try for me, but it wouldn’t be right. It’s never right to coerce someone.”
“We’d never coerceanyone, including you.” He plays with my hair, furrowing his brows. “Viv, if you don’t want an initiation, we don’t have to do it. No matter what, you’ll be my queen, and we can?—”
“I want it.”
I hear myself say the words. I hear a desire taken from me return.
“Iwantto be initiated. Iwantto be your queen. I want to join you, and whoever will vow to be my second king; I’ll be honored.”
Teasing his fingertip around my nipple, he makes it pearl with his question. “Will you tell me how you want to be initiated?”
I know what Jace is asking, and this is the part that suddenly grabs my throat.
This is the silence so many women suffer. We can feel the urges, beckoning from deep inside, even the smallest request from a partner, but if you’re ashamed to give it a voice, ashamed of the judgment and rejection, the silence is a prison.
Jace sees me swallow, strangled. He sees me struggling again. This is the last chain I can’t seem to break.
“Wait right here,” he says, kissing my lips before completely leaving my body.
The void feels unnatural; my body now belongs to his.
And his body? Holy hell, it’s a jaw-dropping vision as he walks naked across the room.
“You’re checking out my ass, aren’t you?” He doesn’t look back, opening the door.
“You’ve got a very juicy peach, Mr. Ryan.”
“Good.” He turns down the hall, announcing, “Because my queen is gonna fuck it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
