Page 67 of Taken By The Vampire King

I sighed, so soft I hoped he didn’t hear it. Leia was more than a punter.

“You can’t pretend Leia wasn’t important, or that her whole family wasn’t important. Are you just going to let everything end like this? She’s across town, not in another country, not dead.”

Shit. So close. She was so fucking close. I closed my eyes against the people chancing their luck in La Petite Mort.

“Well?”

I spun around. “Shit, Jason. For fuck’s sake. What’s gotten into you? Can’t you just leave it?”

But he stood his ground, holding the files he’d collected against his chest. “No. No, I can’t, and neither should you. I’ve never seen you like you were with Leia.”

“Yeah?” I forced a cruel smile. “I’ll find another virgin. That’s all I need to rule.”

He scoffed and shook his head. “Yeah. You just keep telling yourself that, Nic. Keep telling yourself that one day you’ll find another virgin and she’ll be enough. Keep telling yourself that next time you meet Leia Boucher and she’s no longer a virgin that discovery won’t kill what’s left of your decaying, blood-bag guzzling heart.”

“Get out.” I kept my order calm and controlled as I pointed to the door like Jason didn’t know where it was.

He shrugged. “I figure if I don’t tell you, no one else will. Who else here dares to say what you need to hear?”

“What makes you think I need to hear it?” My eyes narrowed and my heart rate accelerated—signs I was about to become dangerous, but my sireling didn’t even flinch.

“Because sometimes, Nic, you’re stubborn. You’re stubborn and you’re stupid and you’re old and self-defeating. And you forget that the house always wins only because you make it that way. So why have you stopped playing this game? Why have you thrown in your hand?”

“She left me.” And there it was. The bald truth, the source of my pain.

“So she injured your pride?”

“Yes.” But that was a lie.

Leia had been many things. She was a virgin with virgin blood—never known a man to claim her with his cock nor a vampire with his fangs—she had a strong ancestry via her matriarchal line, and she was beautiful. Added to that, she alone could increase my power. She was my true mate. In short, she would make the ultimate bride.

But I hadn’t expected to see this as anything but another game I could win. It was the culmination of a business transaction, turning in my chips for my reward.

I hadn’t expected to fucking care for her, and now there was a hole in my chest like she’d ripped my heart out and packed it in her bag with whatever else she’d chosen to take. That was unfair, though. She’d taken only what she’d brought. She’d very carefully left all of my gifts to her behind.

Which didn’t explain my heart. The one thing I hadn’t intended to give her and she’d taken anyway.

She’d veered between fear and fury before she left, but despite that, she’d still desired me.

“I can’t let her go.” I spoke the words quietly, but they were like some kind of grand realization.

“That’s more like it.” Jason sounded satisfied behind me, and I’d forgotten he was there again.

Fucking humans and fucking sirelings.

At least she was safe. Benedict had already been to see me and told me all about his surprise visitor. And I was heading out to The Pour House later this evening to see what Benedict had done to the place so far.

If Leia happened to be there when I showed up, well, so be it. I loved a good coincidence.

I left my office early, quietly, almost sneaking out. I called my own hours, but they were always longer than anyone else’s. Only not today.

Jenkins met me downstairs and then we were off, my nose full of Leia’s scent where the back seat of my car seemed to have absorbed it, my memories full of the warmth and welcome of her pussy as my fingers had conquered it. I yearned to taste it, to taste her, and almost growled as my cock jerked and my gums ached.

When Jenkins drew up at The Pour House, I didn’t step out right away. Instead, I admired everything Ben had accomplished. There was a reason he was my trusted right hand, and circumstances like this one always proved me right.

I’d worked hard to surround myself with people I deemed loyal and trustworthy. I didn’t give my friendship easily, but I meant it when I did. I gave my love even less easily, and the hole in my chest was proof as to why for that.

When Jenkins finally turned, his lips parted like he might ask a question, I moved to open the door.

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