Page 76 of A Debt of Darkness

Rowan gives his command and I growl, caught off guard while I'm trying to think through what I’ve finally realized. The priest raises his hand and everyone freezes, silently watching Ivy. She should be on her knees by now, obeying the order her superior's given her—and instead, she's standing. Perfectly still. Unmoved.

Staring straight at me as if I'm the only thing in the room.

“I. SAID. KNEEL.”

Rowan's shouting and it makes no difference. The flames crack in the fireplace behind us, drowning out the silence, and Ivy doesn't flinch, still watching me. Still ignoring everyone and everything else.

“OBEY OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.”

The priest stares at my wife and then at me, then risks a glance at Rowan. The asshole is about to lose his shit over a human girl who is too weak to challenge him but refuses to obey him. She's not afraid. She isn't blinking. Her defiance is rare and spectacular, and she's making a vampire almost as old as me look pathetic.

“WHAT. IS. SHE. DOING?”

Rowan's voice reverberates around the hall and the only things that shudder are the paintings on the wall and theflowers in the vases.

“Waiting for her Master’s order. My wife doesn't obey you, Rowan. She knows her place. Fucking learn yours.”

I point at the ground before me and Ivy swallows as she walks forward, stopping on her mark. Her eyes meet mine and she knows. Ryan and Matt have told her. She’s prepped. She isn't showing signs of discomfort, but she's far from happy about this. If she does this, it'll be an act of trust I don't deserve. I'll find a way to make this up to her. Any way to make this right.

I run my knuckles down her cheek and she smiles. It's comforting and I'm sure we’ll be okay. I'll make damn sure she is when we're done and I smile back, gradually letting my fangs extend.

This is a performance that needs to be good enough to get that gods’ forsaken priest to piss off.

“How are you feeling, lea?”

She smiles. Like she's delighted I've asked. As if it means the goddamn world to her I've checked.

“Uncomfortable.” Her eyes flick left, then back to me. “Master.”

I won’t make her kneel.

I've made my decision.

I don't give a shit about the consequences or the fucking protocol. Ivy's my wife and she's done more than I'd ever expected. I'm not asking more and I won't endure any more of this charade.

“Come.” I turn and walk to the leather Chesterfield, knowing damn well she's following. I sit and pat my thigh, and her brows furrow in confusion. “However you like, lea. You’re unwell.”

She nods and relaxes, awkwardly clambering onto my lapand adjusting herself until she's comfortable. She's curled up like a cat, resting in a way that lets me stroke her as I talk, with her back facing the room—and Rowan.

He'll take it as an insult and I don't give a fuck.

I'm proud of my perfect girl, who's weak and tiny but brave and strong enough to defeat a vampire who rivals me. She's walked through the valley of death and shown no fear, and she's done it with me. For me. For us.

I stretch my hand out, gesturing the others might want to sit. Rowan wants to fucking kill me but there's nothing he can do. Not now the priest has given his judgment and it isn't the one Rowan expected.

The priest sits and I stare at him, playing the part of a man who wasn't worried in the slightest.

“I assume this settles matters?” I ask, stroking Ivy's hair.

The priest smiles as I play with my wife. “I confess I didn’t think you'd find your way. I thought you wouldn’t balance her needs with yours, or the natural order with the sacred bond.” He drums his fingers on the side of the chair. “The pair of you make it look easy—although I'd have fucked her by now. I hope you weren't delaying because you were interpreting our agreement too literally.”

I smile and ignore everything I hate about what the asshole just said.

“I prefer to wait until she's earned it and there's a certain pleasure in anticipation. Denial. We have time.”

Her clit throbs and she's turned on by the thought of earning my cock. Damn, she's perfect and it's taking some effort to concentrate on anything other than the thought of my dick sinking into her warmth. The innocent girl curled up on my lap has thoughts as dirty as mine, and I'm sure she's ready to move forward.

And the whole fucking room senses our arousal.

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