Page 112 of Heir

“Me too.”

“I’m still not sure your dick’s ever going to fit though.”

I chuckled enough to shake us both. “We’ll go slow. Remember, we have a lifetime together now. Eternity. No need to rush things.”

Her sigh echoed the contentment in my heart. “An eternity . . . I think I’m okay with that.”

I was more than okay with it. I was over the fucking moon.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Omaera

A bear-like snore woke me up. Thick, veiny arms lightly dusted with blond hair wrapped tight around my body, keeping me warm and safe.

My cheek was pressed against Zandren’s bare chest, with more soft, blond hair tickling my lip and nose.

Grunting from how much of a furnace he was and how I needed to escape the inferno, I wiggled to get him to release me.

He grunted, snorted, and opened his eyes. “’Mornin’.”

“Too hot,” I said, panting.

Nodding, he relaxed his arms, and I sat up, straddling him. Then I immediately remember all of last night and leaped off the bed, throwing open the door.

Maxar and Drak were in the living room with coffee, along with Bauer and Arik.

“Fresh pot just made,” Maxar said, jerking his chin toward my fancy machine.

I ignored the coffee. “What do we know about Gemma? Do we know where she is? Do we know who took her?”

Zandren came shuffling up behind me, resting hands on my shoulders with affection and protection. He kissed the crown of my head. “Coffee?”

I nodded, and he made his way into the kitchen.

“We visited Elena Playfair’s gravesite,” Bauer said, remorse in his eyes. “Someone desecrated it.”

My eyes nearly popped out of my skull. “What? How?”

“They dug it up. Exhumed her body—then left it there.”

My jaw dropped. “Why would they do that? Oh my god. My mother’s corpse is just . . .” Anger, sorrow, and disbelief formed a sickening cyclone in my gut until I thought I might be sick.

“Presumably it was a way to figure out how your mother died. And what species she was,” Arik added. “Also to get her scent, which will be tied to yours. They will be similar. Just like any children you have will share similar scent markers as you—particularly the females.”

“D-do you know when this happened? Before or after Delia was killed?”

“We can’t say for certain. But based on the fact that nothing had been done about the grave site, the casket was just laid open and disturbed, I would say it was recent. Last day or two. Maybe three at most.”

“Well, I was only just hit by lightning Friday. Delia was killed Saturday, and it’s Monday now. So . . .”

“We understand. It’s just tough to tell.” Arik’s expression was grim. “We visited Delia’s home as well and just like the gravesite, we scented the demons. They are definitely working with a mercenary hunter mage though. I smelled him too.” His face darkened. “I also know him.”

“Yarvak?” Maxar asked with disdain.

Arik nodded.

Maxar growled. “Fucker has zero morals. He provides his services to the highest bidder, regardless of whether that bid is from an unscrupulous source or not. He’s been on the Council’s watch list for a long time.”

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