Page 40 of B Negative

And that’s exactly why I’d decided to be honest. Or partially so, at least.

Titus was old enough he could smell a lie from across the river. But I wanted him to know that I was trustworthy. At least enough to not lose my head.

For now, anyway.

“And what are your feelings on the matter, Sunsiray?”

Sunny didn’t hesitate. “I’ve told Eden precisely how I feel about our mate bond. I explained in detail why and how my stance has changed. She is stubborn, though. So I’m not surprised she didn’t believe me.”

Sunny leaned into the half-truth just the right amount without uttering a single untruth.

Without saying anything, Titus crossed the room and poured himself a modest portion of blood from the decanter along the far wall.

“Would you like a glass?” he asked me before taking a sip. He did not ask Sunny. I took that to mean the blood wouldn’t be to her liking and that meant it would be to mine.

“Um, yes, I would, thank you. But I have to admit, I’m surprised to see you drinking tepid blood from a glass and not directly from the vein of one of your volunteers on thirty-three.”

“I’m certain a great many things have been surprising about Cypress City,” he said as he poured me a portion of blood.

Well, he was right about that. I’d expected little more than moderated chaos. Feedings in the street and blood orgies in the tower.

“I’ve carefully crafted my city’s reputation, for good reason.” He handed me the glass of sanguine liquid and I downed it in one go.

I nodded, knowing better than to ask the reason.

“Moving forward, I’d appreciate if you’d wait for me to disable my enchantments before you attempt to Hulk Smash your way through them.”

Hold the fucking phone. Did he just make a pop culture reference?

A modern one?

“Uh, sure, no problem,” I said and tried not to gape at the king while also filing away that wiggling letters definitely meant bespelled books and to steer clear of them.

“Good. Have you made any progress with your research?”

I hesitated. Was he asking me directly if I’d figured out how to keep Sunny from him?

I mean, I had told him directly that’s what I was doing, so I guess I couldn’t blame him.

“Your goon blurred me out of the library before I could sink my teeth into anything.”

“Ah, well, perhaps it’s best if I have the books delivered to the mate suite so you don’t have to worry about that again.”

“Yeah, that’d be great, actually.” I didn’t like the library and we could actually discuss what we found.

“It’s settled then. Mr. Danvers will see you out.”

Oh, okay, I guess that was everything then.

I headed toward the exit and the king who stood beside the door. “One more thing, Ms. Vaughn,” he said as he took the glass from my hand. “Take that atrocious bouquet with you on your way out.”

I glanced toward the small table on the other side of the door. There sat a black vase of probably a hundred crimson roses. Nestled between the stems was a small card, the front of which had my name on it.

In familiar handwriting.

“It was delivered earlier today, but as you weren’t in the tower, I accepted it for you.”

My heart ticked up a notch as I took the flowers. “Thank you, Titus,” I eked out before rushing out of the room.

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