Page 45 of King of Knights

I cup her face and kiss her soft lips. When I break the kiss, I search her eyes with my gaze. I hate the fear I see there.

“This is real. I don’t understand it yet. I know what I saw from the past, but I don’t fully understand it all. Some of the events were blurry to me. Mostly those involving Venus. I could see the events involving me clearly, but not what was shown of her. At least not all of it,” I explain.

“I feel bad for her. I can feel she loves you.”

“I think you two would have been friends in another time.”

She scoffs. “She hates me. I can’t see her wanting to be my friend.”

“Our love was a long, long time ago, but it was a special one. However, she has always known I could find my mate. I take it as favor from the gods that they’ve waited so long for me to find you.

“What I’m saying is Venus will need to come to grips with the fact that I’ve grieved for her. Time has passed and she shouldn’t be here. Our mate bond has given you all of me. I couldn’t be hers again, even if I wanted to be.”

“But that doesn’t change my pain, my love.”

“Venus?” I say and furrow my brows.

Looking into Ray’s eyes, I can see they have changed from the honey brown that has memorized me to a warm whiskey color. The sadness there has grown, causing me to feel conflicted about what has transpired here this evening.

“Yes, she has allowed me to come forward. Her heart is kind. I hate this and I hate her for being your true mate, but I don’t think I could have chosen better for you.”

I brush my hand against her cheek. She leans into my touch. I know how hard this must be for Venus. She always dreaded this day.

“Why are you going through this pain? I can’t deny Ray. I feel her in my bones. She’s in my veins.”

“I know this. She is stronger than I thought she would be. I thought I could take her place. Our son needed her body, but I thought I could have it too.”

Anger fills me. I loved Venus, but this is my mate. I will not allow harm to come to her.

“You need to go,” I say firmly.

“But—”

“No, our time has passed. Our son will be fine with me. Release Ray and go in peace.”

I watch as Ray’s eyes return. She leans in and places her forehead to mine. Our bond pulses through the connection.

“She isn’t hurting me,” Ray says softly.

“She wants to push you out.”

“But she can’t. I have control.”

I close my eyes to calm my temper. Ray places her hand over my heart and sighs.

“Tell me what you do for a living,” I say to change the subject.

“I’m the family’s bookkeeper. Other than that, I read a lot.”

I smile. “You will get along with Ardan then. He is our treasurer. He loves to read and is obsessed with numbers.”

She snorts. “I spend most of my days hiding money and cleaning it.”

“Not anymore.”

She looks up at me questioningly. I run my hand down her smooth back. I haven’t been able to keep from touching her.

“You do understand you’re not returning to Candido? You are my mate. I will not allow him to promise you to someone else.

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