Page 183 of Taken By Touch and Torment

“You’re demented,” Rune whispered, his lips curving.

I smiled. “Thank you, Rune.”

“How’s the wrist?” Snow asked.

I lifted my right hand and wiggled all five fingers. “All better.”

We descended the stairs. Snow was in a long lavender gown, and I was in deep burgundy. The fabric was silky against my skin, teasing a hint of cleavage with a side slit to show off the thigh that Rune had possessively marked with a bite.

The castle was full of celebrating vampires and mortals, attendees pouring out the doors and onto the grounds. Laughter floated lazily through the air.

Rune and Uriah tracked us all the way down, as did everyone in the grand foyer. Though the turned knew better than to stare at me for too long, especially with Rune around.

Before, the turned had regarded me with curiosity, the occasional low level of distrust. Now, they looked at me with respect. Though my succubus identity was still confidential, Rune didn’t hide the fact that I’d brought down Durian and Brennan from within. In fact, he bragged about me to anyone who would listen, enjoying the way it made my cheeks flush.

He still stared at me with glowing pride, and more than that, with the utmost gratitude I was alive.

Rune lifted my hand to his lips, those dark eyes never failing to rid my mind of all thought but him.

“Beautiful beyond words, as always,” he said, his voice low as he bent to kiss my forehead. “Are you sure that you?—”

“Rune,” I warned.

He nodded, his hand falling to rest low on my back.

He’d been nervous to host a celebration in the wake of everything that had happened. He wanted me to understand that the castle was my home now, too, and that my own healing and well-being mattered more than a party.

But he had a duty to his clan, and now, so did I. I wanted to celebrate our victory. It belonged to all of us.

“How’s the assimilation going?” I asked as we walked down the hall.

Snow and Uriah were arguing behind us in that lighthearted way they did. At this point, I was convinced it was their foreplay.

“We’re working with several born and mortal dissenters to finalize plans for the born districts,” he said. “Surviving nobility and aunts have gone into hiding. If the born want mortals to move back into their districts, blood cafés to be rebuilt, and feeding clubs to be running normally, then the slave trade needs to end. A hunt has begun for anyone connected to Durian, who has now been rightfully blamed for the blood shortage by the majority of born citizens. It’s not perfect, but reasonable people on all sides see that negotiation and rebuilding is the only path forward, as difficult of a path as it will be.”

“And the kingdom?” I asked.

We stopped several times as we spoke. Rune introduced me to generals, eyes, and others of his broader circle. Each time they acknowledged my service, I hardly knew what to say. It felt strange to accept so much respect when sex and desire were my weapons. But in the end, my weapons were what had ended the war before it began. I’d taken down born leadership and dismantled the entire court.

And I deserved to feel as proud of myself as Rune did.

“Kole delivered the recordings,” Rune said. “Earle went into a blind rage hearing his friend’s unfiltered thoughts about him. He’s more paranoid and erratic than ever. But that’s no longer our concern, as the kingdom has stepped out of Valentin's affairs for the foreseeable future. So long as we continue to supply their weapons.”

“Rune!” a woman exclaimed with a grin. Her face fell when she noticed me, and she eyed me with slight irritation.

I recognized her as the blonde Rune had used to make me jealous in Odessa’s dungeons. I held Rune’s arm a tad tighter, and Rune chuckled.

The woman sipped blood from a silver chalice as she introduced herself, attempting to conceal her envy. Rune barely glanced at her as he exchanged pleasantries, mostly just staring at my lips.

“I’m not the only one in high demand,” I murmured as we walked deeper into the castle.

Rune played dumb, shrugging a broad, chiseled shoulder.

“Are you content with this unspoken alliance with the kingdom?” I asked. The turned clans of Ravenia were putting up a hell of a fight, and I knew that Rune and his clan were sympathetic to their cause.

“No.” Rune sighed. “But I have a duty to Valentin. We need to act with care until we’re more stable.”

I frowned, and Rune spun me around to face him. He dipped me, following to lock his lips with mine as his hands and shadows gripped me tight.

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