Page 63 of Hunt Me

“His heartbeat is strong.”

“Her,” she corrected.

“Sleep, Beloved,” he whispered. “We have a journey tomorrow.”

She grinned before sleep took her. “I look forward to it.”

***

Luka quietly moved about the bedroom, packing necessities for their impromptu journey. They didn’t require much where they were going, but there were some essential items he couldn’t part with.

Matilda cracked an eye and was surprised to find she wasn’t being smothered by the vampire king. Dare she say she missed waking up to the weight of his head on her belly?

Rustling caught her attention. “What are you doing skulking around in the dark?” She grinned when he snorted.

“I am not skulking around. I’m simply completing tasks silently to avoid waking you.”

“Well, you failed.”

“It is delightful to have someone remind you of your shortcomings,” he replied sarcastically.

“I agree. Tell me why you’re dressed like a commoner?”

“We are journeying to Garden Ridge incognito.”

“When?” she asked, trying to hide her excitement.

“As soon as possible.”

Her excitement died as soon as she remembered there were parties out there that’d love to see her in a deep grave. “Is it safe for us to travel? I guess the question is, should we travel, considering our lives are in danger?”

“There is no better time than now. We’ll be gone for three days, and once we return, we’ll enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts.”

“That sounds ominous,” she murmured.

“Uncertainty is always ominous. When we return, I’ll announce our nuptials, we will wed, and you’ll be officially crowned Queen of Night Falls.”

“Before or after we go to war with Moonshire?”

“It will be before if the gods favor us.”

“I hate to break it to you, but the only being, supernatural or otherwise, who has favored me has been you.”

“Then we’re fucked.”

The forbidden pair chuckled in the moonlight that spilled into the bedroom.

“Why do you favor me, King Alesi? Is it the thrill? Is it because society and your biological makeup tell you no?”

“Dress,” he demanded, handing her one of the dresses he swiped from a maid servant.

“Will you tell me one day?” she asked, slipping out of bed and hissing when her feet missed her slippers and touched the cold floor. She smiled warmly when Luka knelt before her and guided her feet into the slippers. “Thank you. I could’ve done it myself.”

“If you could’ve done it yourself, then you would’ve,” he replied with a sardonic smirk that ramped up her lust for him.

“You never answered my question.”

“Which was?”