“I would like to sit in your lap while I eat.” I pitch my voice low. “And I expect your tail to provide encouragement while I learn.”
Crimson bleeds into his dark eyes, causing my stomach to ignite with butterflies. “I think I can accommodate thatrequest,” he murmurs, his tail already sneaking up my leg. “Let’s eat, Viviana.”
“Yes, my king… let’seat.” My arms slip around his neck as I go up onto my toes to get even closer to him. “Although, what you’ll be eating can’t be found in that basket, Ciprian.” My words are a whisper against his lips. “Because you’ll be dining between my thighs for breakfast.”
“Then I expect you to drink from my cock,” he returns without missing a beat.
“Sounds like an excellent meal,” I tease.
Not sure it’s the most nutritious of ventures, but I don’t voice that part aloud.
I simply give in to the urge to kiss him.
And sigh into his embrace.
No more dissertations.
No more proposed theories.
This is simply my reality now.
Because Strigoi are real… and I mated the Strigoi King.
EPILOGUE
CIPRIAN
Two Years Later
“Careful, cara mea,”I murmur as a little bundle of darkness attempts to fly across the courtyard. “Your wings are not ready for that yet.”
My daughter doesn’t listen, too excited by the fluttering at her back to hear me or anyone else.
When she topples over, I jump forward to help her. But she just gets back up and tries again. There’s no question in my mind about where her tenacity comes from. And I allow that thought to flow to my mate as she eats a grilled cheese on a blanket nearby.
I still haven’t tried it, despite her constantly asking me to take a bite. It’s a game between us now, one I refuse to lose.
Emilia’s tenacity comes from you, too, my king,Viviana replies.
Out loud, she says, “We’re planning a visit next month.” Her words are for Gaby, as she just asked if we had any intentions of venturing into the human realm. “We can’t take Emilia, though. Her wings are like her father’s and don’t vanish. While Cipriancould use compulsion to hide her Strigoi traits—like he does for himself—we can’t risk her safety.”
“Ah, so she inherited her mother’s beauty and her father’s weaker traits,” Marius muses, looking at me. “Seems par for the course where your shortcomings are concerned, hmm?”
I narrow my gaze. “Our daughter has superior traits from both her parents, marking her as perfect in every way.”
He smirks. “If you say so.”
“Just because your wings are inferior to mine does not mean you can insult my daughter,” I growl at him.
Amusement brightens his gaze. “Was that an invitation to spar, Cip? Because that’s how I interpreted it.”
I sigh and shake my head. “I should never have let you stay here.” He owns one of the wings of my palace—a gift I gave him for serving as temporary king in my absence.
Alas, most days, I regret that decision.
Although, having Gaby nearby makes my mate happy. Which helps cool my annoyance at Marius’s constant appearances throughout my day.
He and Gaby finally mated about three months ago, the evidence of which is currently growing inside the female.
