When our eyes met, his were burning with an intensity that left me breathless. He knew I wasn’t close. He could tell this was different for me. “Do you want to stop?”

  I shook my head. “No. No. I need this too.”

  “Do you want me to open our bond? I can help you forget, just for right now.”

  Tears pricked in my eyes. “Please.”

  Just as he had the first night I met him, and many times since then, he opened the connection between us. I’d become accustomed to the feeling I had when it was open, but this time, the dominance of it was hypnotic.

  “I have something for you. Something that might help.”

  He leaned back, fumbling with a piece of cloth, and pulled out my horn. The relic I thought I lost when Mama kicked it off the balcony.

  “Where did you get this?”

  “Natalia found it. She had it cleaned and blessed by Chastity’s witches.”

  After everything that had happened with Gorrath, I thought seeing it again would bring up other emotions. But it didn’t. The horn was separate from him. And having it back in my hands felt right. I gave Bastien a wary glance. “We don’t have to use it.”

  “If it will help, I want to use it.”

  The horn’s power switched on, vibrating insistently, as if it knew what I needed. He slid it between us, pressing it to the most sensitive part of me. My head tipped back. The force of the vibrations and our open bond pushed every thought from my mind. While he held the horn against me, I found a slow, steady rhythm. He kissed my neck. My breasts. Watching me intently as I chased the release only he could give.

  His breath matched mine, jagged as the pleasure built inside me. Each whispered word sent me spiraling closer to release.

  “Bastien,” I moaned, not bothering to use our bond. Whatever came next, I would carry this with me. The way his name felt on my lips, the way my heart beat in time with the bloodstone around his neck.

  And for the first time in what felt like forever, I let go of everything I was carrying and came hard around his thick length, moaning his name as stars burst behind my eyes.

  He lowered me onto the furs as waves of pleasure crested over me, picking up his pace. I could tell by the strangled look in his eyes that he was close. So very close to coming all the way undone.

  Then I saw the change. The blackness that crept into his eyes as his fangs lengthened. Unafraid, I tilted my head to the side, bearing my neck for him. He was everything, all at once. And I only wanted more.

  Bastien pressed his delicious lips to my heated skin, drinking me in body and soul as he continued to fuck me like the world was on fire.

  Like he was a god. My god. The only one worthy of worship.

  I dug my nails into his skin as his bite stretched out my pleasure. Deepening it. Transforming it into something I could taste.

  He groaned, the sound vibrating against my skin as my name escaped him. “This is for you,” he said. My blood traced the line of his mouth as he came. Hard. The warmth filling me.

  Our eyes met, and the blackness receded. Sweat dotted his brow. Blood stained his lips. But he didn’t look any less beautiful.

  “I love you,” I whispered, taking his face between my hands. “I love you more than the sky could ever hold.”

  He licked his lips. Cleaning what he could of the stain away. Then he offered me a smile. A genuine one I didn’t see very often, but when I did, it was just for me. “I love you, too.”

  Chapter 47

  Veillée

  CLAIRE

  Two weeks later

  Today was the day of Tyson’s Investiture. The castle had been a flurry of planning and decorating. We’d hoped the short notice would have deterred The High Prince from attending, as a host of guards and coaches moved much more slowly through the hills. But Marius, along with Tyson’s mother and father, had arrived just this afternoon.

  We were both nervous about what Marius’s arrival would bring, but neither of us was talking about it. Pushing thoughts of what could happen aside, I smiled at the adorable little girl who was sitting cross-legged on my bed, playing with my jewelry box. She was one of Mellie’s little sisters, who couldn’t have been older than five.

  Tansy lay beside her, giggling along.

  Her tiny fingers rifled through the collection of necklaces and rings Bastien had given me. Every so often, she’d pick something up, inspect it, then either hand it to Tansy or slip it on her small fingers. Part of me wondered if she even understood what had happened. Or why she was here now.

  I watched her with tears prickling in the corners of my eyes. I knew better than most that children weren’t immune to trauma. They weren’t more resilient. If this was what she needed to feel safe and normal, then she could play with my jewelry for as long as she wanted.

  Absently, I twisted the scrap of lace around my fingers. The only piece of jewelry I owned that didn’t belong in a box. I didn’t know what to do with it now that it was off.

  Sera caught my attention in the reflection of my vanity mirror, and I immediately stopped playing with the broken choker. The silver gown she was wearing for tonight’s festivities made her look almost untouchable, ethereal even, but I knew better. I let my gaze linger on Shayla’s moonstone, which she was now wearing.

  Sera arched a brow. “You’re staring.”

  “I’m thinking,” I corrected.

  “That’s even worse.”

  I huffed out a breath and turned back toward the mirror, adjusting the drape of my gown. The gold embroidery stark against the black fabric. In truth, this gown was the most decadent thing I’d ever worn.

  “Are you almost ready?” Sera asked, tucking a strand of pale hair behind her ear. As she did, I noticed a mottled red mark on her neck.

  Turning in my seat, I glanced between her and the little girl, then asked in a hushed voice, “What happened?”

  She smoothed her hair back in place and looked away. “It’s nothing.”

  I stood, brows pushing together. “It’s not nothing. What happened?”

  After looking uncomfortably around, she said, “It’s the bite.”

  “What bite?”

  “The one I got when I was turned,” she said through her teeth.

  “But that was so long ago. Shouldn’t it be healed by now?”

  She shook her head. “It’s not going to heal. It’s…” she dropped her voice. “It’s a mating bite.”

  For a long second, I just stared at her. “From who?” I said.

  “The man who bit me. Apparently, he was my mate.”

  “How is that possible?”

  She rolled her eyes like she hadn’t just told me she’d been mated to a werewolf. “I don’t know! I thought he was being romantic when he called me his mate. I was really into him, so I went along with it. I didn’t realize he meant I was his actual mate because he was a werewolf.”

  “Oh,” I said, not quite understanding. Then I remembered the flash of memory I’d seen when I touched her fur. Of a woman and man abed. And realized what she meant. “Oh!”

  She let out a bitter laugh, smoothing a hand down the front of her gown. “You’re not making this any better.”

  I winced. “I’m just trying to understand.”

  She crossed her arms again. “You and me both.”

  I hesitated, then asked, “So what does that mean?”

  “I don’t know. There aren’t exactly books on werewolf matebonds in Bastien’s library,” she said, keeping her voice low so the little girl wouldn’t hear. “But I did find something about vampire matebonds that could apply.”

  My eyes widened, wondering what she could’ve found. “It said that if you reject your mate and, if after being claimed, kill him, you are cursed by the gods for going against their will.”

  I stared at her, waiting for the punchline that didn’t come.

  She let out a frustrated breath. “It explains why I can’t use my magick. Diana cursed me for killing him.”

  “You’ve lost your magick?” I asked a little too loudly, and both Tansy and the little girl looked at me. I gave them a reassuring smile before pulling Sera further away from them. “You didn’t tell me you lost your magick.”

  “I haven’t wanted to believe it. But I have nothing. Nothing except the ability to shift.”

  I thought about this for a moment, trying to process everything she’d just told me. “What if you just ran out of magick? The full moon is on the way, and you can try then.”

  She bit her lower lip and shook her head. “It feels different than when I need to recharge.”

  We were quiet for a long time, just watching Tansy and the little girl as they continued to play with the jewelry. Something the two of us never did as children. If we wanted to play, we did it outside, away from everyone else. Staring up at the stars and making up our own stories about the witches in the sky.

  “Is this the real reason why you’re staying behind?” I asked. “Because you think you’re cursed?”

  Sera inhaled through her nose, then exhaled slowly, like she’d been bracing for this moment. “Here, the moonstone and the shifting don’t raise as many questions. Besides,” she said, glancing at the bed where Tansy and the little girl sat, “you’ve got friends coming with you. You don’t need me.”

  I heard the bitterness in her tone, and it made me incredibly sad to see her in my shoes. For her to feel like an outcast now. It was not what I wanted. I swallowed, forcing the words past the knot in my throat. “I will always need you, Sera. You’re my sister.”

  “I think…” She hesitated, her eyes flicking to the floor. “I think I need to find answers. Maybe the witches over the mountains will know more about werewolves. I’m going to start there.”

  I studied her, my chest aching, even though I understood. More than I wanted to. I remembered the nights we spent beneath the stars as children, dreaming of different lives, desperate for answers. Now, the need to figure out who we were throbbed in both of us. I tucked her hair behind her ear once again, revealing her scar, and gave her a small, trembling smile.

  “Well, if you ever change your mind, you are always welcome to come with us. Curse or not.”

  She said nothing, and silence settled between us. We both watched the little girl as she held up a gold locket from the jewelry box, twisting it between her fingers. She smiled brightly and slipped it over her head. Tansy showed her how to open it, and her eyes lit up with excitement.

  Sera shifted, giving me a weak smile as her hands fell to her sides. “Did I tell you that Tyson offered me a position on his council? Ambassador to the Lawless Lands.” She let out a small laugh. “I’ll come with him to oversee construction on the new castle and ensure the witches’ opinions are made known.”

  I raised a brow. Knowing exactly the kind of vampire Tyson Allard was. “Oh, he did, did he?”

  A burst of heat colored her cheeks. “I’m not that reckless. Don’t worry.”

  I smirked. “Right.”

  She narrowed her eyes. "Claire."

  I reached for her hand, threading my fingers through hers, squeezing once.

  “You’re not reckless.” I squeezed again, softer this time. “You’re just Sera. You have a wild heart, and you follow it without apology.”

  Something shifted in her expression.

  “I love you,” I said. “No matter what.”

  She swallowed.

  Then, after a long moment, she squeezed my hand back. “I love you, too.”

  The little girl, now wearing at least three rings that didn’t fit and a tangled mess of necklaces, giggled softly with Tansy, their feet swinging off the edge of the bed.

  I set my hand on my stomach, and warmth spread through me, quiet and whole. I decided this must be what it was like to have a real family. I turned toward the door, knowing Bastien was about to enter even before I heard him softly knocking. “Is everyone decent?”

  I giggled. “Yes, we’re all decent. Come in.”

  The door opened, and my husband appeared. I didn’t know why he despised finery so much because when he wore it, he was absolutely breathtaking. A black velvet coat framed his broad, muscled shoulders. Gold thread embroidered the cuffs and collar in an intricate pattern. Beneath the coat, he wore a high-collared waistcoat of gold silk with a line of polished jet buttons marching down the center. Finally, a black cravat was tied around the pale column of his throat, fastened with a slender gold pin. The only thing that wasn’t black or gold was his bloodstone, which sat visibly against his chest, pulsing frantically with my heart.

  “Ladies,” he said in greeting. “You all look lovely.”

  As he took a step inside, a few strands of his golden hair fell forward, brushing the angles of his face. His pale blue eyes flicked down the deep neckline of the dress in a slow, indulgent perusal. He swallowed hard, then, through our bond, said, "I keep believing I’ve grown accustomed to your beauty. I never do."

  I exhaled, steadying myself. "Bastien⁠—"

  He quickly closed the space between us and captured my hands in his, kissing both of my knuckles. “How am I supposed to leave your side tonight when you look like this?” His eyes locked onto mine, and the smirk faded, something raw taking its place.

  “You can and you will,” I told him, knowing sometimes he needed direction.

  He nodded. “If you insist.” His confidence faltered, just for a breath—a flicker of uncertainty I would have missed if I weren’t already tangled in his emotions. Through our bond, I caught the sharp edge of his doubt, the fear he tried so hard to bury. It stung, that sudden distance as he closed the bond, walling me off from the storm inside him.

  His attention shifted to the window, to the sprawling landscape he had watched over for centuries. The mountains and the pines. When he looked at me again, the vulnerability was gone, buried beneath a gentlemanly mask.

  “You’re sad,” I said, unable to hold it in.

  He touched the side of my face. “I feel many things, my moonflower. But mostly, just love for you and the quiet life we’re going to make. Together.”

  Sera very loudly cleared her throat. “Can you two get a room?”

  “We are in my room,” I said, grinning as I turned to look at my sister.

  She glanced from me to him. “I know how the two of you operate.” She pointed to the little girl and mouthed, “And there is a child present.”

  He huffed something like a laugh. “You know, I think I liked it better when you were a wolf.”

  Sera’s mouth fell open. “Did you just make a joke? On purpose?”

  “Enough, you two,” I said, intervening.

  I set my hand on Bastien’s chest, and he responded with a low, throaty growl that made my heart flutter. His hand drifted to my low back, pulling me closer to him. “As my wife commands.”

  A warmth spread from the tips of my ears to my toes as he looked into my eyes.

  Sera let out a breath. “Alright, we should get moving before we miss the ceremony.” She picked up the little girl and set her on her hip. “And you need to return to the nanny.” The little girl frowned. “No! I want to go to the party!”

  “I hear Nanny has tarts for you,” Sera said, walking with her out the door. Tansy followed after, listing all the tarts the little girl would get to try. Her effervescent laughter drew my thoughts to the thing neither one of us was talking about. Our baby.

  Once they were gone, Bastien didn’t let go right away. Neither did I. I still hadn’t received my moon cycle, but that wasn’t unusual for me. I’d never bled like other women did, which at the time I’d been grateful for. Because when it did come, it was horribly painful, and I struggled to leave my bed. But this time, I hoped it meant something else.

  “Are you ready?” I asked.

  He leaned down and kissed me softly. A bit of red lipstick came off on his lips, and I wiped it off with my thumb.

  “Tonight, there will be a new Duke of Roselyn. Which means, from now on, I will only have one job.”

  “And what job is that?” I asked.

  He buried his face in the hollow of my neck. “To please my wife.”

  Chapter 48

  La Transmission

  BASTIEN

  The Grand Ballroom of Château Rose had never looked more regal. Candlelight flickered in every crystal sconce, casting a golden glow across the marble floors and gilded cornices. Servants in livery glided silently between guests, bearing silver trays laden with sugared fruits and delicate confections. Gold banners draped from the vaulted ceiling while black velvet hung behind the dais, and artfully arranged bouquets of winter lilies and hothouse orchids adorned the periphery.

  It was more than I would’ve done, but Tyson was the new Duke of Roselyn, and I supposed if he wanted to indulge a little more than I did, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

  Or at least that’s what Claire had told me.

  I adjusted my cravat, ignoring the way the fabric pulled at my throat, and surveyed the attendees. My brothers, Piers and Aurélien, who lived in neighboring lands, were sitting in the front row, beside Claude, Tyson’s father. And then there was his lady mother. A horrible court gossip if the rumors were true. And seated in the place of honor was the High Prince himself, Marius.

  He looked the same as always. With black curls tied loosely at the nape and a glass of champagne in his hand. He was whispering to Claire, who was seated beside him. I didn’t like him sitting so close to her, but I had no choice in the matter. This might be my castle for the next few minutes, but he was the High Prince. And I’d done enough to draw his ire.

  My wife was wearing a gown of black and gold. Her lips were painted. Her red hair was curled. Gems draped her wrists and fingers. She was a portrait of beauty. A goddess. My obsession. My everything. And if the gods were good, carrying my whole world inside her.

  There was no heartbeat yet, but when there was, all the vampires would know.

  As a string quartet played a lively minuet from the musicians’ balcony, the rest of the guests found their seats. The air was alive with the flutter of fans and the murmur of speculation over who might secure a dance with the High Prince.