Page 133 of Clash of Kingdoms

“You can always talk about it with me…if you want to.”

“I know, baby.” He finally looked at me again and pulled me close, brushing a kiss to my temple. “What are you making for dinner?”

“You’re turning into a typical man,” I said with a chuckle. “All you care about is food and sex.”

“I didn’t care about those things nearly as much before you.”

THIRTY-ONE

AURELIAS

I walked into Huntley’s study, finding Ivory reading on the couch, lying flat with her feet up on the opposite armrest. Huntley was working on something at his desk, wearing casual clothes because there was no reason to wear his bulky armor anymore. They were locked in comfortable silence and I didn’t want to disturb them, so I walked away.

But Huntley heard me. “Aurelias.”

I slowly turned back, slightly awkward that I hadn’t seen him in days…because I had been with his daughter in a cabin for a week straight. I hadn’t even seen Ivory until now.

But he regarded me with affection in his eyes as he rose from behind the desk.

Ivory set her book down and walked up to me, embracing me with a hug that reminded me of my mother’s. It was warm with the perfect squeeze. When she pulled away, she grabbed both of my shoulders as she looked at me. “So glad you’re home, Aurelias.” She even kissed me on the cheek before she walked away.

Huntley watched her go before he shifted his gaze to me. “She must like you, because she doesn’t kiss anybody but me.” He turned to the bar and grabbed a bottle and a couple of glasses. “Let’s have a drink to celebrate.”

“What are we celebrating?”

He filled two glasses before he brought one to me and clanked his glass against mine. “Come on, Aurelias.” He stared at me, a slight grin on his face.

I looked down at the glass, seeing the amber liquid that I’d drunk by the bottle when I’d been back in Crescent Falls. It had been the most depressing time of my life. I lifted my chin and looked at him again. “I have something to ask you.”

“I know you do.”

“Will you train me in the sword?”

Huntley’s grin slowly disappeared. “That’s not what I thought you would ask me.”

“I’m not the fighter I used to be. It wouldn’t be right to ask you for her hand if I can’t protect her.”

He stared at me for a moment longer before he set the glass down on the coffee table. “Aurelias.” He took the glass out of my hand and put it down too. “Your skills haven’t changed. There’s nothing I can teach you that would be an improvement over your existing capabilities.”

“But my skills are based on my previous abilities, which I no longer have. I need to learn skills based on what I can do. The weakness is prominent. I feel it in everything I do now. I miss it…deeply.”

“Aurelias, you’re still better than any soldier in this kingdom—whether as a human or a vampire.”

“I’d still like you to train me. You fought well against the demons. Your kin did not.”

His gaze hardened like that wasn’t a compliment. “If that will make you feel better, then I’d be happy to.”

“Thank you.” I’d never thought I would ask a human for help, but my responsibilities toward Harlow were stronger than my pride.

“Aurelias.”

My eyes had drifted away, so I looked at him again.

“You’ve earned my daughter. Now take her.”

I released a heavy sigh because it felt wrong.

“You’re being too hard on yourself.” His hand moved to my shoulder. “Ask my daughter to marry you. You didn’t sail across the ocean and forsake an immortal life to be anything less than husband and wife.”

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