Page 90 of Crave Me

“I’ll talk to Kieran about it,” Kaspian confirmed. “If I can convince him to fly out now, we could begin the interrogation in a few hours.”

I glanced at my doors and then back at them. “I’m not sure Nyx will be awake by then.” While I’d fully intended to worship her for hours—days—I recognized her need for rest after whatever had nearly killed her.

“I can stay with her,” Cara offered. “If she’s not awake by the time Kieran arrives, I mean.”

“I would appreciate that,” I admitted. “She has no memory of what happened, but I suspect that’ll change when she wakes up again.”

Or I hoped it would, anyway. She might be able to provide important details regarding the incident.

“I’ll message you after I talk to Kieran,” Kaspian told me. “We’ll go from there.”

“Yes,” I said, agreeing to the plan as I turned off the sleep mode on my watch. I wanted to make sure I received Kaspian’s updates in a timely manner.

I grabbed his arm as he tried to walk past me, his dark eyes holding a note of surprise as he glanced at me. “Thank you, Kaspian,” I told him. “For everything.”

He’d always had my back, no matter the situation. And I sensed this one would be the same. Even with the obvious changes to my appearance and powers, he would go down fighting at my side if that was what it came to.

I hoped it wouldn’t. I hoped we could find a way to make this work.

But at least I knew that if something did happen—that if something or someone succeeded in removing me from my position as House King—Gold and Garnet would be in capable hands.Kaspian’s hands.

We shared a long look, his expression telling me he understood everything I’d just thought. And he accepted the burden I was silently passing to him.

If something happens to me, you will lead. And you will do well.I didn’t speak the words into his mind. I simply allowed him to see them in my eyes.Because you already know how to be a king.

He’d proved that countless times, including today.

He eventually gave me another nod. “You’ll always be my king, Vesperus.”

“I know,” I replied. “But that doesn’t mean you’ll always be my second.”

He considered me for a long moment, then clapped me on the shoulder. “Gold’s a good color on you, mate. Matches the House. And your throne.” With that cheeky commentary, he turned away and started walking again. “Text you in a bit.”

Cara laughed in his wake. “He’s right, though, Ves. Gold is a good color on you. So is Nyx.” She winked as she passed me, then caught up to Kaspian and bumped his side. He wrapped his arm around her in a good-natured hug, one that would probably piss off Larus later.

That was likely the point.

Kaspian was a notorious flirt.

But he’d never make a real move on Cara. He respected the mate bonds, and while he joked about not searching for his own, I knew deep down that he desired someone to call his own. Man or woman, he wouldn’t care. He just wanted someone to love.

I knew that truth now because I’d been just like him weeks ago, claiming not to have a desire to find a mate. And yet now that I had mine waiting for me in my bed, I realized how lonely I’d been. How much I’d longed for this connection. This… supernaturalbond.

It wasn’t love. Not quite. Or rather, notyet. It was more about being compatible and finding the other half of my soul.

My Goddess of Night.

She certainly wasn’t what I’d anticipated in finding on the other half of the fated-mate magic. But I definitely wasn’t disappointed.

I phased back into my room—ourroom now—and watched her sleep for several minutes before finally joining her in the bed again.

She immediately wrapped herself around me, her lips ghosting over my throat as though seeking my taste even in sleep.

I smiled and held her tightly, lending her whatever strength she needed through this enchanting connection, and closed my eyes while I waited for Kaspian to message me the details.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

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