Page 40 of Cold Heir

“However, at the risk of killing your fantasy,” he continued, “we were actually just discussingyou.”

How did he do that? Excite me with mere words?

My elbow pressed into the pillow as I got comfortable. “That just so happens to be my favorite subject,” I teased. “Whataboutme?”

The guys passed one another a look, intriguing me even more than I already was.

“Well,” Julian sighed, “the issue of our living arrangements came up.”

“We can only hunker down here in Julian’s space for so long. All our belongings are practically halfway around the world,” Levi explained.

The disappointment I felt once I began to read between the lines was almost embarrassing, understanding what this was about.

“Oh, right. You have to leave,” I blurted, trying to hide how much it pained me to even consider them having to go. “You’ve got lives outside the Capitol. I get it.”

“Actually, you don’t,” Silas informed me as the three glanced at one another again. “We’re thinking that, since we’ve decided to bond, it makes sense that our accommodations be a bit more … permanent.”

When he said that word, I blinked.

Permanent.

“So, what does that look like exactly?” I dared to ask.

“Well, for starters, it would look like Levi and I initiating the process of establishing legal residence here in the Eastern Quadrant first thing next week.”

There was one key detail I wondered whether they had overlooked.

“But, Roman…” His name left my mouth on the end of a somber sigh. “Does it make sense to keep moving forward if he’s missing? If he’s not willing to complete the bond?”

Believe me, connecting with that man was thelastthing I wanted to do, but I was keenly aware of the importance of his role in this endeavor. The sole reason their people had gone along with this ruse, the only reason Julian and I made it out unscathed after the press conference was because of the potential for a cure. Only, that cure required the cooperation of all four princes, representative of the strains of vampirism from all four quadrants. With Roman in the wind, there was no way to complete the process.

Silas inched forward on the bed and I peered up at him. His cool hands enfolded mine and there was a kindness within his eyes that took my breath away. If it hadn’t been for the fact that the device implanted in my head prevented it, I would have thought the sudden calmness I felt was some of his magic at play. But … it wasn’t that.

There was just real, unexpected energy between us.

“Don’t worry about Roman,” he assured me. “He’ll come around. In the meantime, we thought it’d be a good idea for you to take on the task of choosing our home.”

“Ou—our… home?” I stammered.

An uncertain smile was Silas’ reaction, when the suggestion rendered me speechless.

“Well, things could get complicated if we separate,” he explained, leaving me to wonder what that meant exactly. “So, we thought you might want to choose a place we canallshare. One that …speaksto you,” he added after pausing to shrug.

“Exactly,” Levi cut in, being direct because he knew no other way. “As the lady of the house, it seems only fitting that you select a home that suits you, one you’ll be proud to call yours. The rest of us can settle, and be comfortableanywherereally. And forgive me if it’s presumptuous to think such things matter to a woman. It’s only our intention that, wherever we settle, you’ll find that you’remorethan comfortable. Perhaps you’ll even be happy,” he added with a wink and mischievous grin.

Happy. I pondered that word when he said it, maybe because it resonated with me that my happiness seemed to be so important to them.

I turned to Levi as a half-smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “I’d like that.”

“Of course, your family will always be welcomed on the premises of whatever place you choose. That won’t change.” I peered up at Silas when he spoke, aware of how he always considered my feelings. “But … is this what you want? This arrangement?”

Thinking about that a moment, I considered how things had finally worked out in my favor today, and didn’t hesitate to nod. I wouldn’t pretend to know how everything would play out, but I had decided to stop denying that I was deep in this.

“I do,” I replied, finally answering. “This is what I want.”

“Good,” Levi concluded. “We’ll move forward then.”

With the newfound closeness still reverberating between he and I, he didn’t even hesitate to bring my hand to his mouth, pressing a soft kiss to the back of it. I, on the other hand, was very much aware of there being others in the room—others who hadn’t been present, to witness the evolution of intimacy between Levi and me.

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