Page 109 of Viparious

“You suit being a girl dad, I always thought you’d have sons.”

His comment has a crater opening up in my chest. The world only sees one daughter, but I have two. They’re both equal in having power over me. Not sensing my mood change, he blows raspberries on her neck and speaks in a disgusting baby voice.

“Little mini Vlads that would drink their milk out of a crystal glass just to copy him and then take over the world. Yeah, they would, wouldn’t they, Vero?”

Dickhead.

She closes one eye, coming to my defense, and he repositions her, so she’s sat on his thigh facing me, before speaking again.

“I’m glad Vik wasn’t a girl. I’d have more of a heart attack than I do now.”

He still cuddles him, so I doubt it would be possible. Verena hasn’t fallen back to sleep, and she lets out a gurgle before kicking both legs out. Valentin lifts her with his hand flat on her chest as she keeps kicking and talks to her in that creepy baby voice.

“You won’t give me any heart attacks, will you? No, because me and Tali are going to beat the shit out of everyone who even looks at you.”

He stands, lifting her higher and kissing her cheek before the door opens and Inessa thunders in.

She softens seeing Verena’s happy gurgling and my brother has enough sense to see her mood and leave. My bratty wife hardens as soon as the door is closed and marches to stand in front of my desk. She flattens her palms on the wood and my beautiful, angry queen gives her order.

“You’re going to start wearing a ring from now on. When we’re in public, together.”

The amount of times I’d have to remove the jewelry I’d end up losing it and then she’d rage about that.

I roll back in my seat and hold one arm up, silently telling her to come to my side. But the stubborn shit straightens and crosses her arms over her chest. Patting my thigh, I can’t hold back my humor, anticipating her reaction.

“Come here.”

Instead of arguing, she listens, and I don’t know which one I prefer. Inessa is the only person I will ask to shut up while praying she never does.Whenever she starts her silent treatment, it makes my brain throb until she opens her mouth again.

Sitting primly on my thigh, she grabs my right hand and holds it in front of my face. “Ring.” Then she does the same to my left hand. The V insignia on hers is better than a piece of metal and I wouldn’t need to continuously melt it down to get rid of DNA. Holding her right hand, I press my lips to her ring finger and dig for her sudden behavior change.

“What happened, moya koroleva?”

She’s never cared about the ring etiquette previously and we don’t even wear it on our left hand for her to be glaring at the digit.

She snaps her head up and stares at the wall. Her angry mutters come out, “Oh, she’s so small in your big, strong arms. Stupid bitch.”

I’ve been around her all day, and I don’t think she sustained a head injury, but the random ass conversation she’s having with herself says otherwise.

“You’re so cute. He’s not fuckingcute. He’s brutal and violent.”

She slaps my hand away as I press my knuckles to her forehead. Her mouth closes, but her thoughts are loud. She’s still talking to herself, and I sit her on the edge of my desk before she can slap out at me or storm off. Her legs fall open as I lock her in with my chair and hold her thighs so she can’t move.

My queen is still pissed but more coherent.

“I was standing right there, and she was fucking flirting with you, ignoring me. And she used my daughter to do it.”

Biting the inside of my lip to stop me from smiling at her jealousy doesn’t work. I want more, it proves she cares.Pulling her closer to get more of that rage out, she holds my shoulders and seethes against my lips, “I mean it, Vlad.”

I take a full breath, feeling lighter than I ever have in my life as I press a kiss to her neck. The spot below her ear is usually her off switch, but she pushes against my chest, wanting my full attention. I take her hand with me as I sit back and trace the raised edges without looking away from her.

“It would be easier than a ring. You can do the same, meelaya.”

My offer is half-assed, hiding how much I want it.

She copies my hold to inspect my hand and shakes her head.

“No, your tattoos would cover it. There needs to be something that says fuck off, do not talk to me, or touch me.”

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