Page 68 of Hitched to the Vampire King

“Yes, it does!” Lucy shouted from one level below.

I couldn’t help it—I burst out laughing. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Guilty as charged,” he replied, his voice dropping to that low, soothing timbre that made my heart flutter.

With a hand against my lower back, he guided me to the bed before he crawled in. I quickly changed into my pajamas, then crawled in next to him. He outstretched an arm, and I curled up against his side, quite content to lie here forever. My body had other plans though, and I fell asleep within seconds.

* * *

I wokeup cocooned against Gabriel and blinked open my eyes. As always, our room was pitch black, and thanks to its lack of clock, I had no idea what time it was. I heard movement downstairs, which told me someone else was awake, so I rolled out of bed, then quickly dressed. After attending to my needs, I headed on down.

Jaden was already awake, meticulously sharpening a dagger, so laser-focused on her task that she didn’t even look up as I padded in. Josh lay sprawled on the couch, eyes closed, but clearly awake as he tapped his fingers rhythmically against his leg.

I glanced at the living room clock and noted it was only a few hours before sunset. I’d slept longer than expected, and the deep rumbling in the pit of my stomach confirmed that.

“How’s the arsenal looking?” I asked Jaden, my voice breaking the hush.

She finally glanced up and gave me a determined nod. “We’re in good shape. Stakes, daggers, the crossbow. You have your sword and daggers too.”

I did. And we’d need every last weapon if we planned to take out at least five vampires tonight. We’d never tackled so many at once before.

When my stomach gave another complaint, Josh opened his eyes and grinned at me. “Go eat. Before your stomach disowns you.”

Guess that banana muffin last night hadn’t been enough to appease my inner beast.

I strolled into the kitchen to find Lucy standing near the coffeemaker, her empty mug a sign that she was in desperate need of caffeine.

“Sam still sleeping?” I asked.

She nodded, then glanced at me with droopy eyes. Guess she’d only just woken up herself.

“Food?” I asked.

“Definitely food,” she agreed.

I yanked open the door and surveyed our options. Then I pulled out a flat of eggs and an entire package of bacon. We’d need more than that to feed three werewolves, so I hustled into the pantry and pulled out a box of instant pancakes and the syrup to match.

Lucy and I immediately set to work, and it wasn’t long before the sound of crackling bacon caught the attention of Sam. He staggered into the kitchen, still half-asleep but on the hunt for sustenance.

Josh and Jaden stood in the living room entrance, clearly amused by our werewolf ways.

While we prepared the food, Sam laid out all the dishes along with a carton of orange juice that I knew wouldn’t survive the meal.

“Dare I ask if there’s enough for us?” Jaden asked, still keeping her distance. She knew better than to get between us and our meal.

I surveyed the platters and gave her question some serious consideration.

“Maybe we should make some more pancakes, just in case,” I said to Lucy.

“Oh my god,” Jaden said, laughing. “There’s like fifteen pancakes on that plate already.”

Lucy looked at me, her expression completely sober, and she nodded. “I’m on it.”

Finally, we were all seated at the table, and thus began the ritualistic passing of the plates.

“So, now that Gabriel’s asleep, care to give us your take on Elias?” Josh asked while pouring syrup onto his pancakes.

“Gabriel compelled him to tell the truth,” I said, “and I believe everything he said last night. He’s on our side. And I think the promise to make him king has definitely strengthened his allegiance to us.”

---