Page 93 of Crave Me

“That’s what Cara said.”

“She was right,” he replied, leaning in to brush a kiss against my lips. “How are you feeling?”

His tenderness belied the tension in the room. However, he stared down at me as though I was the only one who mattered, like we didn’t have an audience.

Because maybe to him, that was true. It was true for me, too.

“I woke up to an amazing hot chocolate,” I told him. “It satisfied some of my craving, but I still want to lick you.”

His lips curled. “We’ll test your stamina after we’re done here.”

“Newly mated,” Kaspian muttered.

“Yes, it’s an amazing feeling, one I’m eager to return to myself,” Kieran replied. “Vesperus?”

The Gold and Garnet King ignored him for a moment, his gaze still on mine. “What do you remember?”

I went through the events from yesterday in detail, telling him everything from when I’d sensed my medallion all the way through being shot.

“At first, I thought it was my energy attacking me again,” I said, recalling how it’d sent me to my knees prior to that. “But now I realize it had been trying to protect me. Then it’d turned my attention to the woman in the shadows.”

I described her fractured spirit and her other features—including her blondish-brown hair, piercing green eyes, and curvy stature.

“Do you know her?” I asked at the end. “Do you know what broke her?”

Vesperus considered me for a long moment before finally turning back to the table. “Kaspian?”

He shook his head. “I have no idea who she’s talking about.”

Vesperus focused on the other leader. “Any ideas?”

“You’re asking me?” He chuckled a bit. “I don’t know, Vesperus. This seems like a woman scorned. You piss anyone off lately?” He glanced around him to look at me. “Perhaps by taking a new mate?”

“No,” Vesperus replied shortly.

“Our king has a thing about monogamy,” Kaspian informed Kieran. “But it’s a valid question, Ves. Can you think of anyone who might feel wronged by something? Maybe the Death and Diamond vote?”

Vesperus moved to my side, his palm going to my lower back as he considered the question. “All of the correspondence I’ve received has been mostly positive. The few complaints sent my way have all been dealt with, and everyone seems to be fairly understanding of the matter.”

“It helps that yer offering those affected to choose a House and their territory,” Bane commented, his dark eyes earnest as his Scottish accent came through in his words.

Whatever conversation had occurred prior to my arrival seemed to have put him and the other phantom at ease, which suggested they’d been absolved of their guilt. Otherwise, I suspected they wouldn’t still be sitting cordially at this table.

While the tension remained thick in the air, it felt more residual than current. Or perhaps it was a result of the general topic.

“He’s right,” Nox agreed. “I haven’t heard any complaints. Everyone has been appreciative of the collaboration between the two Houses.”

“You hear that,Ves?” Kieran drawled. “They like that we’re becoming friends.”

“Really pleased by that,Asp,” Vesperus responded, not sounding pleased at all. Apparently, he and the other leader weren’t on the “Ves” level of friendship yet.

“Hmm.” The vampire-fae hybrid evaluated him with his gray eyes. “Veritas?”

“Aspen?” Vesperus returned, telling meAsphad been short for Aspen. Which must have been Kieran’s last name.

The other man nodded. “Agreed.”

“Brilliant.” Vesperus looked at Kaspian. “I’m at a loss. Can you think of anyone who might want to attack the House?”