Page 54 of King of Knights

“Kendrick, is that a ghost behind the bar? Or have I truly lost it,”I ask through our bond.

“Yes, Jacobi is a ghost. Our only brother who is. A great asset to the club.”

“I’ll say this through our bond as a warning. In the dark corner over there, those are vampires. Believe most things you’ve heard about them.

“However, they don’t always sleep during the day, but they will stick to the shadows when they don’t. Remain in the light as much as you can when I’m not around.”

“But I thought no one would hurt me.”

“Your blood has an intoxicating scent. Younger vamps are primal. They won’t have the sense or restraint to act on their fear of me.”

I stop in my tracks and ball up my fists. Kendrick roars with laughter, clearly reading my thoughts. I turn to him and glare.

“Yes, my little one. Those are our club whores as you called them. Fairies are beautiful in both male and female form. However, you never have to worry about my attraction to them. Their beauty doesn’t begin to compare to yours. You can reel all that attitude in,” he says through his laughter.

“Are they all fairies?”

“No, some are succubus and others are she-wolves. I’ll admit. We have our generously gorgeous share of them all.”

“Those are your brothers on the thrones, correct? Why are all those women around them?”

“They are curious to see and meet you. My brothers are also all unmated. It is an honor to be chosen to be our companion.”

I tighten my fists at my sides. If this is what Venus has to go through, I don’t think I’m going to make it. This burning in my chest has me ready to set this place on fire.

“Ray, not many women—human or other can take bedding us. They all believe they want to try, but it never ends the way they think. It’s rare for us to take a lover.

“Which is why you, my adorable mate, will find me insatiable for the next two centuries.”

“You can’t be serious. I won’t even live that long.”

A rumbling sound comes from his chest. I look up at him questioningly. He slides his hand from my neck into my hair and tugs my head back for a hard, passionate kiss.

“You will be alive for far longer than that. The day you cease to exist, I will willingly take my last breath. Never speak as if not breathing is an option. I will give my life before yours can end.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know I could live that long.”

He kisses my forehead and inhales deeply. “Come, my brothers are taunting me.”

“How so?”

“They can speak to me as I can speak to you. They are saying I’m afraid to allow you to meet them because they’ll take you from me. They all know that’s bullshit. Even if you weren’t my mate.”

I snicker and wrap my arms around his waist as he leads me up to the dais where his brothers sit upon their thrones. I note that there are two in the center.

“The one on the right belongs to you.”

He holds my hand until I’m seated. With a satisfied smile on his face, he dips his head to kiss my lips. He then leans into my ear.

“You were made to sit on a throne. I’ll be happy to allow you to use my face for one later,” he says in a rumbling whisper.

I gasp and squirm in my seat.“They’ll hear you.”

“Do I look as if I care? I’m too old to hide how I feel about you.”

“About that, how old are you?”

He winks at me.“You’re not ready to know that.”

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