Page 31 of Taken By The Vampire King

He glared at me then seemed to remember himself and shrugged, the move careful and at odds with his red gaze. “As long as the woman you brought remains a virgin, it doesn’t matter to me.”

I squeezed his throat tighter. “You can find your own virgin and leave mine fucking well alone—and make sure your people do, too. I came to you to negotiate a political deal.”

The red in Francois’s eyes faded as he considered my words. He was always looking for new ways to stabilize his position without the protection of his father as king. As long as the king remained in stasis, Francois was vulnerable, a position I knew all too well. Anything that shored him up politically captured his interest.

“Ahh, but is anything you can offer me better than a virgin?” His tone was silky soft.

I nodded as I let go of his throat. “I believe so.” I retreated a step back as Francois returned to his desk and pretended to look busy, even though his entire focus was still on me. “I’ve come to negotiate a truce.”

“Really.” The bored tone was back in his voice as he picked up a pen from the surface of his desk. He didn’t even bother to make the word a question.

“A temporary truce, Francois. Don’t sweat it.” I goaded him like I would a sibling I’d grown tired of.

Our constant competition did tire me, but I also thrived on it. I just needed it to not exist right now. Francois smirked, and my temper rose again, but I gritted my teeth.

“Are you going to listen at all, Francois?”

“Oui.” The word was a mere breath between his teeth as he waved a hand. “Continue.”

“Leia is mine. She needs to remain mine until I have chance to claim her properly.”

He shrugged like it wasn’t his problem. “Oh, but Nicolas. We both know how I enjoy a hunt. The thrill of the chase.”

“A month.” I blurted the words as my control slipped. “For one month we won’t interfere in each other’s lives, and I will pay you for this agreement with that tract of bayou land you’ve always wanted.”

The local shifter pack would be pissed at me for the deal, but Leia’s safety was worth even their resentment. And the land got Francois’s attention.

“And how many centuries has my family sought to relieve you of that land? All this time, it would have only taken one virgin?” He widened his eyes. “Mais non. Perhaps no one before now has needed any help to hang on to their virgin?”

He shook his head, the mock sympathy obvious. But instead of allowing him to goad me, I nodded stiffly, all of my muscles tense. Leia was too important to my future for me to fuck this up.

“The land you want in the bayou is yours for one month, free of interference by either of us in the other’s life.” I laughed, the sound empty. “Then we can return to our normal behavior.”

It wouldn’t matter to me after a month. I’d have claimed my virgin—my true mate—cemented my right to reign, and I’d have the power to defeat Francois and probably even reclaim my land.

I could have it all. But I still waited almost without breathing for him to decide.

And he knew what he was doing. He leaned back in his chair, and it shifted soundlessly under his change in position. He watched me for too long, like he was trying to make me squirm. The fucker. Final death was too good for him, but I couldn’t afford a war right now.

Finally he nodded, just a gracious incline of his head as he rolled his eyes to look at me. “As you wish, Nicolas. As you wish.”

Almost without acknowledging Francois’s acceptance of my terms, I spun away from him and stormed down the hallway to return to the restaurant. That had taken way too fucking long, and he’d been a whiny little bitch about it, too. Couldn’t he just be gracious for once in his fucking immortal life?

I jogged down the stairs and entered the restaurant, my gaze immediately on the booth where I’d left Leia. And it was empty.

The world seemed to slow, servers getting in my way as I sidestepped around chairs and other diners, like maybe I’d find her sitting where I’d left her if I just got close enough to inspect the seat.

But no. Still empty.

I slipped my phone out of my pocket and dialed Jason. I’d left him with the helicopter because a romantic meal didn’t require my security guard and sireling as a third wheel, but what the hell had I been thinking? I’d left my virgin mate totally fucking unguarded.

Anything could have happened to her. I’d thought my presence in the restaurant and its reputation as a neutral ground would have been enough to deter any action against her—but obviously not.

“Jason.” I barked his name into the phone when he answered. “Is Leia with you?”

He didn’t answer yes or no. “I’ll be right there.”

My hand tightened around my phone at the words as I glanced around the restaurant again. I checked the ladies’ room, walking right in like I owned the space, then the men’s room, but she wasn’t in either.

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