Page 21

Four Weeks Later

L ayla’s coronation is tonight.

It’s been four weeks of blood mate honeymoon bliss. Teddy and I spent the entire time in bed, giving ourselves to each other. Then we emerged from our sex dungeon because it was time to begin the process of naming Layla as my successor.

The council wasn’t surprised by my abdication. Most were shocked it took this long. Layla had been calling the shots for the past month anyway and before that, she was my closest advisor who I frequently consulted for decisions when it came to the throne.

She’s going to be fantastic .

Teddy walks out of our massive walk-in closet in a black suit, black dress shirt, and a sleek red tie to match my off the shoulders, tea-length dress.

It has pockets too!

“Your Majesty,” he says, coming up behind me while I do my final checks in the mirror.

“You won’t be able to call me that anymore here in a couple of hours.”

He wraps his arms around my waist and gently kisses my neck.

“You will always be my queen.”

I turn around and drape my arms over his shoulders. With my heels, we’re closer to the same height.

“You can always go back to calling me Milli Vanilli. You know I’ve always loved that nickname.”

He gives me a soft kiss, knowing not to mess up my lipstick.

“Only if you go back to calling me Theodore. My full name on your lips is sexy as fuck.”

One night after we fucked and went into hours’ long pillow talk, Teddy told me about his parents calling him Theodore. How he hated the name until I claimed it, erased the history attached to it, and made it into a term of endearment .

I snort. “We’ve only known each other for two months. We have forever to think of all the cute nicknames for each other.”

Without a word, he pulls me into the living room, leaving me in the middle to search through my record collection.

After a few seconds, he finds one and puts it on the player.

You’re My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration by Teddy Pendergrass starts playing.

Teddy returns to me, taking my hand and sliding his other around my waist.

Not that I’m counting, but this is the twentieth time Teddy has danced with me in the living room.

But I’m not counting.

“It’s the twenty-first actually,” Teddy says, responding to my thoughts.

He’s been working on opening his mind to me. We’ve also learned more about our newfound connection.

We invited Noran and his mate over for dinner that first week after we bonded.

Noran’s partner, Sione, is twice his size and a sunshine man just like my puppy. They met when Noran was traveling the world after becoming bored with his life… just as I had. He ventured to Samoa and Sione saved him. Well, Sione thought he was saving a human from drowning in the ocean, but Noran was floating in the water, waiting to be consumed by the sunrise.

Their story is similar to mine and Teddy’s. Teddy saved me, and he’s the only sun I need.

Except, now I can withstand the sun’s rays. Noran says the change in my body was immediate. After they left, Teddy and I watched the sunrise together. Because he is my blood mate, he can do everything I can: face the sun without bursting to flames, crying real tears not bloody ones, and hearing my thoughts—which Noran says is necessary when we’re out in public so we can communicate silently if facing a threat.

We’ve yet to go out in public since we’ve bonded, but I’ve already hired plenty of security to keep us protected.

“One hundred,” Teddy says, pulling me from my thoughts.

“What?”

“One hundred. That’s how many times you’ve smiled since we met.”

I smile again and look away. Teddy clutches my chin so he can lock eyes with me.

His beautiful green and gold eyes.

“One hundred and one.”

Another smile from me .

“One hundred and two.”

“Okay, okay!” I laugh. “Why are you so adorable?”

“Is it because you love me?”

“Maybe.”

He dips me and I giggle.

“Fine! Yes! I love you.”

“Good because I love you and it would have been awkward if you didn’t love me back. Especially since we’re blood mates and immortal and living together. Do vampires get married? Because I vow to never leave you. Sorry not sorry. You’re stuck with me.”

My stomach flutters at his words.

“You’re obsessed.”

“So are you.”

My phone rings.

“Your Majesty,” I say, answering Layla’s call.

“Are you on the way?”

“We’re about to leave.”

“Ugh, can you hurry. I’m freaking out.”

“Why?”

I can hear her pacing.

“Because I’m about to be named Vampire Queen of New York City and it’s something I’ve been dreaming about forever and now it’s happening. Also, I just found out that the council wants to test supernaturals working together.”

“We already work together.”

“When necessary, yes, but they want more unification. They want a gargoyle to lead my security team.”

“What? Why?”

She sighs. I know she’s twisting her hair into knots as we speak.

Her nervous tick.

And it takes a lot to make a vampire nervous.

“They said once supernaturals interact and cohabitate with no issues—and you know how stubborn and territorial supes are—then the closer we are to revealing ourselves to the world. They want to prevent another Henry incident. Trying to control the human race will only lead to war, so the plan is to gain the trust of humans in powerful positions first, convince them we are not a danger, then reveal ourselves to the world as a united front.”

Interesting. I never imagined a day when the human world and supernaturals would coexist.

“Sounds like a good idea to me.”

She huffs into the phone.

“Whatever. Can you just get here? I need my best friend. ”

I glance at Teddy, and he raises a brow, hearing every word Layla has said.

“Leaving now.”

I say goodbye to the future queen and turn to walk back to Teddy.

“Did I tell you how sexy you look tonight?”

I hold up my finger. “Behave your thoughts, Puppy. Layla will stake us on sight if we’re late.”

He shrugs. “Guess I’ll just have to fuck you in the car.”

I open my mouth to argue but clamp it shut.

“Good idea. Let’s go.”

And with that, Teddy takes my hand and I lead him out of the penthouse.

The moment we’re in the elevator, Teddy says, “I’m really glad you hit me with that door.”

“It was an accident, and you know it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Well, you’re wrong.” He wags his eyebrows at me, letting me know he’s up to no good.

“Am I?”

“Yes, because the night we met, my friends and I were walking to a different bar. We got lost and ended up on the street where minutes later, I’m being attacked by a door.”

“Not attacked. ”

“So, you see, it wasn’t an accident. It was fate. We were destined to meet. You were always meant to hit me with that door.”

Something drew him there to me, and I’m confident it was the blood mate bond.

He was destined to be my sunshine.

My reason to live.

The End