Page 24 of Crave Me

“I’ll be with you in a moment,” Vesperus told Kieran. “Kaspian will fill you in.”

The vampire-fae dipped his head. “I can take a hint.”

“Good. Respecting your elders is rule number one for surviving in this political arena,” Vesperus replied.

“And there you go giving me advice again,” Kieran drawled. “Don’t make a habit of it, or I’ll think you have a crush on me.”

Vesperus smiled, but it didn’t appear all that friendly. “I just want to make sure my former territory thrives in your care.”

Kieran rolled his eyes, then led the two phantoms at his back down the alleyway toward the street beyond, leaving me alone with Vesperus once more. “You and I need to have a conversation on manners,” he informed me.

I smiled. “Is this where you tell me that I need to bow to you as king?”

“Yes.”

My lips curled even more. “Goddesses don’t bow.”

“If you want to survive, you will.” The severity in his tone matched the narrowing of his gaze. “Gold and Garnet thrives on respecting the hierarchy. You are atemporarymember, which means you need to behave. Or I will be forced to exile you.”

His hand went to my throat before I could speak, his power forming a noose around my neck.

No, not his power.

Mypower.

The power he’d inherited via his bite.

“I’m not the kneeling type,” I promised him, ensuring he felt the push of my energy against his. He might have imbibed my strength, but I’d lived with it my entire existence. I knew how easily it could overwhelm someone else.

Although, he was admirably in control, something I respected on a deep level.

He wasn’t threatening me right now, just holding me in place.

“Nyx, I offered you a temporary reprieve. I need you to honor that gift by following my lead. At least while I handle this situation. Because everyone out there, including the essential monarch that you just met, all feelyouare responsible.”

“I’m not,” I said immediately.

“I believe you,” he replied, shocking me a little. “But they’re not going to listen unless they see you being respectful. So I need you to keep that seductive mouth of yours away from me while I work through the political bullshit.”

“Seductive mouth?” That had me smiling again. “Tell me more.”

“Nyx.”

“Vesperus.” He really did have a sexy name.

He sighed, the sound exasperated. “I have a job to do. If you want me to help you, you’ll let me do that job.”

“And then?” I prompted, arching a brow.

His gaze went to my lips before slowly tracking back upward, that eclipse still shining brightly in his alluring orbs. “And then we’ll have a further conversation about that seductive mouth and what you can make it do.”

He released my throat and took a step backward, but the heat in his gaze left behind a brand that seared my entire being.

Yes, this male had certainly been worth meeting,I decided, evaluating his towering frame and sensuous features.

It was a risk dancing with this powerful being. But it also offered somethingnew.

Which was the only reason I slightly lowered my head in a respectful gesture. I’d never truly bowed for anyone, and I wouldn’t be starting now. However, I could feign reverence for an immortal of worth.