Page 91 of Happily Ever Bitten (Underworld Royals 2)

My brow furrowed. “What?”

“You’re going to need to marry me now, Zay. That’s what demons in love do.”

Hold on a minute… “Aren’t you supposed to ask?”

“Do you really need me to drop to one knee and ask you to be my wife? Because I will, Zay. But we both know you’ve already said yes.”

“I said that I love you, not that I want to marry you.”

“It’s the same thing,” he replied, pulling me into him. “I love you. You love me. Now we have to get married. Just like Lucifer said.”

“He asked when the wedding was, not…” I trailed off. “Wait… you love me?”

He snorted. “Seriously, Zay. Of course I fucking love you.” He gave me a look like I was the craziest woman in the world for even asking that.

“You’ve never said it,” I pointed out.

“I have now.”

“Before now.”

“Yes, well, I don’t let just anyone into my mind, Zay.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “Come on, Zay. Marry me.”

“Phrase it as a question and I’ll consider it,” I told him, amused, and also realizing what he’d done. He’d pulled me out of my mind, made me understand that nothing had changed between us, and said all the right things. Again. “Every time,” I marveled, the tears returning to my eyes again. “You know what to say and do every time.”

“Because our souls are meant for each other,” he replied softly. “Marry me.”

“Still not a question,” I whispered, pressing my lips to his. But he was right. I didn’t need him to ask. My answer was already yes.

“You are so much like your father,” my mother said as she fixed my tie. “Loving with all your soul. He would be so proud of you right now if he were still here.”

I stared down at her. “You never talk about him.”

“I know,” she replied softly. “Because it hurts to do so. But a piece of my heart will forever belong to him, just as another piece of my heart will forever belong to you. I might not be the perfect mother—Valora would probably argue I’m the worst—but I do try. As does Lucifer, in his own way.”

I snorted at that. “He brought you Charis’s heart.” Apparently, he’d gone after Napia’s consort before the battle started, which was why he didn’t appear until after the fight was through. He’d held a black organ in his hand and had presented it to my mother as a gift.

“He touched something that didn’t belong to him and paid the ultimate price. This is all that’s left of him, my love.”

My mother smiled. “I know. He shows affection in… strange ways.”

“Strange is an understatement.”

She smoothed her hand down my suit jacket, her eyes glittering in approval. “We reside in a strange world, son. It’s why seeking a worthy mate is important, and I’m very glad you found yours.” She pressed a kiss to my cheek. “So let’s not keep her waiting. I hear she’s quite the jewel of the court.”

I scowled at her. “I hate that you heard all that.”

Zay and I had been so wrapped up in each other that we didn’t realize we had an audience until I’d pulled away from her in the grand hall. I’d completely forgotten about the soldiers, too. Zay had been the only one I could see, her magnificent glow enchanting me unforgivably.

“I thought it was a perfect proposal,” my mother said conversationally as she led me down the hall. “You stood your ground while bending where appropriate, and that’s the mark of a leader.”

I rolled my eyes. “You would see it that way.”

She glanced back at me, smiling. “I’ve taught you well.”

“You have,” I agreed.

“You’ll make an excellent king,” she added, her eyes misting slightly as she paused in the middle of the corridor. “I’m so proud of you, Grigory. I know we’ve had our differences, that you’ve not been all that pleased with me lately, but there’s never been a moment where I doubted your strength and purpose.”

---