Page 131 of Crave Me

“I’m not either,” Kaspian admitted. “But I’m willing to grant you a paid leave of absence while you pursue it. I just ask that you let me know if you find the witch responsible for that spell in Dublin.”

Slater dipped his chin. “That’s a given. I’ll consider it a bounty.”

“Good,” Kaspian replied, his attention shifting to me. “Vesperus?”

I studied him for a long moment, my throat suddenly thick with emotion.

Because this was it.

This was the moment Kaspian needed. The moment ourHouseneeded.

The moment where I recognized formally that I was no longer their king.

Nyx squeezed my leg, clearly sensing the shift in my thoughts, or perhaps she felt the rightness of this instant as well.

Because it was time.

I’d made my decision the moment I’d woken up and learned that Nyx had moved the moon. I knew there would be no staying here.

To keep the tenuous balance intact between the Houses, we had to leave.

And I would leave knowing that I’d handed over the reins to the most capable of replacements.

“I think that’s a fine plan,” I started slowly. “King Antonik.”

I dipped my head in a show of reverence, the room falling silent around me.

Kaspian cleared his throat after a minute, drawing my gaze to him. “You’re still my king, Vesperus.”

“Yes,” I agreed. “But you’re no longer my second, Kaspian.”

He swallowed, his dark eyes taking on a sheen of emotion that was uncommon for my old friend. It disappeared in a blink, his head inclining in confirmation and acceptance of his fate.

“You’re going to be a fine king, Kaspian,” I told him. “Thank you for allowing me to leave with the knowledge that my House will continue to prosper long after I’m gone.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

NYX

I paintedthe ground with the remainder of Klas’s blood and sprinkled some of my stardust over the edges.

Vesperus sat beside me, observing as the magic vibrated like it had every night for the last week, and watched as the mixture of gold and blood disappeared into the wind, the night carrying it up to my moon to provide a final layer of healing.

It no longer cried fiery tears, the volcanoes having calmed once more.

“The blood debt is paid,” I whispered, smiling as a warm hum of energy settled over me, the moon showing its gratitude.

It didn’t matter what realm or reality I visited; the moon was always mine, our history one we shared in every version of the universe.

The iron inside the core linked to my soul, no matter the time or place.

“Do you still want to kill Klas?” Vesperus asked softly.

I considered it for a moment and shook my head. “I want him dead. But killing him is not an honor I can accept.” That belonged to Fallon. And she seemed to be working toward that resolution on her own terms.

“That’s what I said to Kaspian about Paxton,” Vesperus murmured. “He betrayed me, yes. But it was Kaspian he’d betrayed most.”

I nodded. “It’s a need and a punishment, in a sense. One wants revenge, but to carry it out… hurts.”