Page 22 of Queen of Vampire Hearts

I got off of his lap and moved away from him, finding my own seat. Anger filled me that heletme. We both knew he could have easily stopped me. Then I was disgusted with myself that I cared. My emotions were all over the place. I snapped, “Why should I tell you anything?”

He looked at me with a single raised brow, green eyes sparkling. “Tell me who’s after you.”

I snarled, “You know what, someone is after me.”

His eyes narrowed. “Tell me.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring at him. “Some controlling, high-handedassholewho can’t take a hint.”

His lips curled back from his teeth in distaste, and he turned away from me to glare out the window.

With his focus off of me, I scoured my memory for anything I might know about vampire mates. The information was spotty. In my defense, why would I have ever devoted time to studying a vampire’s mate when I was struggling to survive? I knew immortal species with predestined mates, like lycans, demons, and vampires would never leave them in danger. That didn’t mean I could trust Lucien. I glared down at the cuffs in renewed fury.

“I’m taking you home.Ourhome,” he said, breaking the silence between us. His arms were crossed in anger, frustration simmering from him as if it were my fault he’d kidnapped me and bound my powers.

I didn’t respond or ask more questions. I opened Bast’s carrier and placed the familiar in my lap. The black cat purred, curled into a ball, and immediately went to sleep. Lucien turned toward me multiple times, opened his mouth repeatedly before closing it and facing out the window. I ignored him.

The cab of the SUV remained silent until we reached the private airstrip outside of Metairie. We came to a stop on the tarmac next to a small private jet. The well-dressed vampire turned off the car and got out, waiting patiently outside of the car. Lucien stepped out and turned back, holding his hand out for me, waiting for me to take it.

I shot his hand a withering look and allowed Bast to jump down first. I stepped down after her, dodging Lucien’s hand and gripping my go bag and rucksack. Lucien shoved his hand into his pocket and glanced over my shoulder at the well-dressed man with narrowed eyes. “I’ll join you in a moment, Phoebe.”

I scoffed at him and followed Bast as she bounded up the steps of the plane. The private jet was luxurious, but I kept my gaze down. I found the farthest seat in the back and threw my bags into the plush leather seat next to me. I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for takeoff.

XI

The Realm of Mortals.

Outside New Orleans, Louisiana.

I SPOKE WITH ELIJAH,inviting him back to Romania. Although, I was sure that he heard my invitation more as a command. It was clear from the way Elijah noted my possessive actions toward Phoebe that he knew she was my mate. The other vampire had always been observant. I should have known he would eventually figure it out. What I had not counted on was my reaction to Phoebe. I hadn’t expected such a loss of my otherwise infallible control.

If I was honest with myself, some part of my motivation in strong-arming Elijah into accompanying us was because I wasslightlyconcerned about being alone with Phoebe. I was fucking up at every turn. I knew the look of devastation on Phoebe’s face when she realized what I had done would haunt me for years to come. Maybe Elijah’s presence would stop me from being a complete ass.

Yet, you don’t truly regret it, do you? Without the cuffs, she wouldn’t be here.

Stupid conscience, pointing out the lies I told myself. My stomach rolled when I recalled how Phoebe wouldn’t let me touch her, avoiding it at all costs andstruggling out of my arms.Our bond demanded I be near her, touch her, hold her, kiss her. Yet, she wanted nothing to do with me. The one woman to resist me would be my mate. Of. Fucking. Course.

With her ability to tear reality, she could vanish the second I turned my back, just like my mother.I had turned toward her during my coronation, hoping to see her luminescent with pride. I had longed to see something other than the cold face of indifference I’d known my entire childhood. Instead, there had been nothing but an empty space. I’d turned my back, and she had vanished.It seemed history wanted to repeat itself. My mate hates me, and she wants to leave me.

I shuddered, recalling the way her eyes had blazed with fury and disgust. I doubted any other vampire had ever struggled like this with their mates. All the fated bondings I’d heard about over the millennia were always of the same species. A female vampire would feel the pull like I did. But Phoebe wasn’t a vampire, and I was forced to bind her powers just to keep her in the same room with me. It was an act I doubted she would ever forgive. I was so fucked.

I spoke briefly to the two mortal pilots as they prepared for takeoff. The stewardess pulled the stairs in, and the sight made a small breath of relief hiss through my clenched teeth. I could just see Phoebe’s red hair out of the corner of my eye, and once the doors were closed, she was trapped. Fuck, that sounded so wrong.Once we got home, I would start my campaign of convincing her to stay with me.

Do you really think she’s going to want to stay with you? After what you did? She wants to leave you, just like Mother. Just like Cassandra.I couldn’t stop the self-recriminations and the thoughts that threatened to steal my sanity.

Elijah stretched out on one couch, throwing an arm over his eyes, attempting to give us some modicum of privacy in the small aircraft. I was thankful but had no idea how to proceed. I needed to work on defusing Phoebe’s rage. There had to be a way to draw her mind away from the loss of her magic and toward what she could gain if she gave me a chance. I just had to figure out what that was.

It wasn’t like I was planning to keep her powerless forever, just until I could trust she wouldn’t leave me. But with a power like hers, could I ever truly trust her not to leave? I hated how tempted I was to listen to the insidious voice in my head, even as I strode to the back of the plane.

I could not let Phoebe’s anger dissuade me. She had put her bag on the open chair next to her, practically a neon sign ofback off, fucker. Fortunately, she didn’t have enough belongings to take up each of the four seats, so I sat across from her. Her cat jumped onto my lap the moment I sat down, curling into a ball for a nap. I knew her mistress would be as easily won over.

The grinding of machinery echoed from outside as the plane was prepared for flight. Within the small cabin, it sounded louder than what you would normally hear on a large aircraft. My eyes landed on Phoebe, my brows furrowing in confusion when I saw how pale her face was and the way she clutched the armrests. I focused my hearing on her racing heartbeat. It took me a minute to realize her heart slammed in time to the noises from outside.

“Those are normal sounds. It’s just the pilots preparing for takeoff,” I assured her.

Another loud bang made her heart jump with fear. I froze for a moment, unsure of how to comfort her. Everything within me was ordering me to soothe her, but I was lost at how to do so. No one had ever comforted me before. I nudged the familiar into the open seat next to me. The cat hissed and glared at me as I reached out and unbuckled Phoebe’s seat belt. I pulled my mate into my lap and wrapped my arms around her, locking her against me.

“Are you afraid to fly?” I asked.

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