“You canjusthave breakfast with me,” Kyros rasped, cracking open his eyes. Humming low, he drew me flush against his body.
His lips brushed against mine. “You look damn good in the morning, Basilia Le Spyre.”
Was it weird to be freaking out because Kyros was in my space? I had a vampire in my room. A really hot one. Which was ridiculous because this was the most normal location we’d spent time together. The current between us steadily climbed and an answering languidness spread through me. Doing my best to force the will of the bond to one corner of my mind, I tilted my head back and regarded him.
Kyros rested his head against the pillow and regarded me right back.
He had the appearance of someone my age—in terms of the smoothness of his skin. At a glance, a human would see a genetic royal flush. Now I knew him better, the surety in his eyes and the serious set of his mouth were two signs of his immortality. When he spoke or moved, it was the same. Old people didn’t give a shit what people thought because they’d learned there was no point to it. Kyros had lived one-and-a-half-human lives so far. That quality, in contrast to his youthful appearance, told me he wasothermore than his fangs did.
The closer I dared to look, the more of Kyros I was forced to acknowledge.
His uncertainty about who his father was.
His guilt over a game he never asked for.
The burden of his siblings’ lives on his shoulders.
The playfulness that may be a much larger part of him if he hadn’t been drawn intoIngeniumfrom birth.
His constant battle to remain in control. He could never relax entirely, and that would only get worse as his alpha power matured.
Kyros had lived through one hundred and fifty years of that already. Wanting to fight that battle took a dedication so deep, I couldn’t fathom it.
Ambition, cunning, confidence.
There had to be an end to this man, but I hadn’t found it.
“A million dollars for your thoughts,” Kyros rumbled.
I blinked and met his green gaze. “Isn’t it meant to be a penny?”
“I wasn’t sure you knew what a penny was.”
Pssh. “I wasthinkingthat you have more than one level. ThatmaybeI assumed a few things about you at first appearance.”
“A few things?”
“That’s all you’re getting.”
He captured my bottom lip with his teeth, eyes dancing. My eyes widened and my chest rose in surprise.
Releasing me, Kyros murmured smugly, “I’m the penthouse.”
The penthouse?Yep, couldn’t deny that.
I was far more worried he was all sixty-six levels.
Gah. A shudder overtook me.
This freakin’ current was about to leave me in a quivering mess.
I rolled over to tug the bell.
He snorted. “You have bell pushes? Rich people used those in my childhood years. Or people who wanted to appear rich.”
“A lot of the house and furniture are original, including the… bell pushes? I had no idea that’s what they were called.” I shot him a look. “You must have interesting stories. I can’t imagine living one hundred and fifty years ago. No televisions. No rocket ships. Weird.”
“I’m relieved it’s only occurring to you that I could recount the invention of telephones and the women’s rights movement,” he said drily.