She claws at me in earnest, feeling the same pull, her body and mouth and mind demanding more. More of everything. More of me. More of us. More ofthis.
We lose time.
Because it’s irrelevant.
She’s immortal now. I’m immortal. She’s mine. I’m hers. All that exists is our passion. Our yearnings.Our illicit cravings.
My beast is in charge now, giving rein to my monstrous needs.
Fortunately for me, I have a queen. A feisty, confident, fearless female. My pet. My mate. Regina mea.Mine.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
VIVI
Over a Week Later…
Strigoi are real.And the proof of it is growing inside me.
Not that I plan to write about it. Instead, I simply marvel at the development as I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
I can’t see anything yet. Can’t even feel it. But Ciprian woke me this morning with his tongue between my thighs, then informed me that my heat was successful.
The actions of the last eight days or so are foggy in my head. Like a really good dream that I only remember pieces of. Everything after him taking me with his tail and his cock is a blur. Yet I know we did…a lot.
Biting.
Penetrating in all ways.
So much licking.
Sucking.
Swallowing.
My cheeks heat with that last one since I can still taste Ciprian in my mouth. But that part I remember every moment of since it just happened in the shower.
He walks out behind me, his expression one of satisfaction as he takes in the mirror before us. “You’re beautiful, regina mea.” He places a kiss against my throat, his eyes holding mine in the reflection. “Thank you for being mine.”
I smile. “Is this the part where we talk about how I never had a choice?”
He frowns. “Viviana?—”
I turn in his arms and press my palm to his cheek. “I’ve been obsessed with you for years, Ciprian. You captured my heart in that illustration, and it’s been yours ever since. This… this is where I’m meant to be. Choice or no.”
Because I don’t mean that he took me against my will, just that fate entangled me in a web I could never leave.
“You’ll always have a choice with me,” he replies, cupping my cheek as well. “That’s why you have a safe word, yes?”
My lips curl again. “I’m pretty sure I’m never going to use it.”
“That’s good,” he replies. “Because I don’t think our Strigoi will like hearing their queen talk aboutvampires.”
I nod sagely. “Yes, I can see why they might be jealous.”
His eyes narrow. “There isnothingto be jealous about. Strigoi can fly. We also have tails.” He wraps his around my calf and slides it upward between my thighs. “We are quite superior, regina mea.”
“I would ask for a demonstration of that superiority, but you just gave me one.”
