He took a big drink. “My aunt and sister are our top doctors, and my mom the head botanist. My niece, Hope, is also involved in the business in a scary strategic way. Kid is a complete genius.” He shrugged. “The rest of the family have leadership roles as well.”
“But people still do what you say,” she murmured. Interesting. Fascinating, really. “Do you think you were born to lead or did you have the duty thrust upon you from day one?”
“Dunno.” He finished the beer and tossed the bottle in the recycling bin. “Doesn’t really matter, does it?”
It was one more insight into the intriguing male, and she wanted to know all of him before she left this life. Even after the horrible day they’d endured. He was that compelling. Perhaps he was even her reward for whatever she’d gone through that had made her a killer about to die. Rewards were nice. She’d take one if it was him. “So Emma and Dage don’t have any kids?”
“They have a son named Hunter, who’s off on a mission.” Garrett’s frown was darker than any thundercloud. “He’s been gone for almost three years, and I don’t like being on the outside of the plan. It’s something I am going to remedy just as soon as we get you figured out.”
Mission? “How old is Hunter?”
“Nineteen,” Garrett growled.
She blinked. “He’s been on a mission since he was sixteen? What kind of a mission? Like spreading the gospel?”
“No. He’s not spreading the gospel,” Garrett said grimly. “He’s in danger, and I hate the fact that he probably won’t be the same goofy, good-natured kid I knew when he returns. But that’s all I can tell you.”
The entire situation sounded terrifying. “I don’t understand. The king’s only child is in danger?”
Garrett stared at her, his jaw hard. “Yeah. The leaders of my people truly lead. Humans don’t understand that. Humans send other people’s sons to die in war. We send our own.”
Her breath caught. “Why are you going to be king instead of Hunter?”
Garrett opened the refrigerator door and fetched another beer, popping off the top with his free hand. “We’ll both probably be king, if gut instinct whispers anything. I’ll take over for Dage when he wants a break, and then a thousand years or so later, Hunter can take over for me. Maybe Dage will want the gig again after that. Who knows. None of us really want to be king.”
She grinned. It was unfortunate that most people in power wanted the power and not the duty. Apparently, the Kayrs family didn’t want the power but met their duty. “Can’t females lead?”
“Sure, they can. Usually leaders come from the Kayrs family, and we only make males. Well, until Hope.”
Something told Dessie Hope had a bigger destiny than just ruling the nation. She sobered. “I haven’t had a chance to apologize for trying to take off your head. I’m truly sorry.”
“You’re forgiven.” His words were kind, but his eyes were veiled. There was definitely a distance between them that hadn’t been there that morning after their amorous night together. “I haven’t had a chance to ask you if you’re okay. Not too sore from last night?”
Heat tickled through her face, making her cheeks burn. She looked away from his intense gaze. “I’m fine. No adverse effects.”
“Good.” He refilled her coffee cup and nudged the creamer closer to her. “Emma said that your tumor decreased in size all three times you were triggered, and now you have another month of life.”
She coughed. “So all I need to do to keep living is see your back and attack you. Sounds like a fabulous way for you to live.” She couldn’t even remember what his marking looked like, darn it.
“We’ll get you sorted out without having to resort to anything like that, kitten.”
She loved that nickname. Had always wanted one, and it was perfect that her first lover, probably her only lover, had given it to her. “I like it when you call me kitten.” Should she? If not, who cared? She liked it. The name made her feel like she was a part of something. Ofthem, no matter how temporary they might be. “I should give you a nickname.” What could it be? If she was a kitten, he was a…vampire. Yep. That perfectly described him. “Did you really try to mate me?”
“Yes.” He met her gaze directly, no give on his immortal face. “Next time, it’ll stick.”
She couldn’t breathe. Flutters cascaded through her abdomen. “You mentioned our next steps.”
“Yeah. I know you went through a lot today, but we need to examine your entire life. Your brain has had some serious programming—enough to mess with your chemistry. To hide your enhancements.”
“Or delete them,” she whispered, her heart hurting. “Maybe they’re gone.” While she hadn’t decided about forever with him, she wanted the option.
A muscle ticked beneath his rugged jawline. “You must remember something about your time training to kill.”
She stilled. “I don’t remember anything.”
He just watched her, drinking his beer from the long-necked bottle.
Realization flitted through her, landing hard. “You don’t believe me.” Her hands tingled into numbness, and she started to dissociate, distancing herself from the moment.
