Page 88 of Wicked Heirs

Truthfully, the only way to know would be to bring it out and show it to her.

Asking was one thing, but you couldn’t predict other people’s actions, and even said people could barely really predict their own actions, so the only way to know for sure was to actually do it and see what happened in real-time.

It was a risk, though, and I’d stopped taking risks ever since I’d been turned.

Although, I guess taking her on a date today and getting to know her lately had been a bit of a risk in itself, putting myself out there to someone who wasn’t my two closest brothers-in-arms.

My phone buzzed on my nightstand.

Hoping it was an apology from Talon—I knew one from Orpheus would be a long time coming—I was surprised when it was actually somebody a whole lot different instead.

I couldn’t help smiling as her name flashed on the screen, a surge of warmth rolling through me.

Alena:Sorry I’m only responding now. Had my phone off while I was practicing my magic again. None of it’s your fault. Nothing to apologize for.

Xavier:I’m glad we’re okay.

Alena:Better than just okay. I had a really great time with you.

Xavier:You did, beautiful?

Alena:I did. I didn’t want it to end.

Xavier:Me neither.

Alena:You really brought the romance. Thank you, it meant a lot. I’ve never had a date before.

Xavier:Never?

Alena:I didn’t know what I was missing clearly.

I chuckled to myself.

Alena:It was made all the more special by sharing it with a sweetheart like you.

Xavier:It was special to me too. But you need to know I’m not all sweet.

Alena:Already noticed. Don’t worry.

Xavier:What? Really?

Alena:I know what you are, but I also see who you are. Don’t keep selling yourself short. And don’t keep hating the vampire side of yourself. It’s still a part of you and it doesn’t have to mean something dire or automatically mean badness. Plus, a little dark keeps things interesting, wouldn’t you say?

Wow.

She’d caught me off guard.

I couldn’t actually summon a response.

Should I—

A flash of golden light came from over by the door a second before my ward shattered, the cobalt-blue pieces of my magic raining down over the floor before dematerializing.

And thenshestood there in all her glory.

Definitely in all her glory.

She stood there smirking at me with a hand cocked on her hip in nothing but a purple and gold silk negligee.

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