Only thing I don’t know is whether Hawthorne has been successful with his task. He’s been killing himself trying to find weapons to protect her against the gods. There aren’t many, and the few mentioned in history have been buried in time. Still, if anyone can do it, he can. We’re going to need all the help we can get.
I raise my head and glance at my phone. Five a.m. This is the longest I’ve stayed in bed in my life. Four hours is my usual limit. Although if having her in my arms is an option, I’ll stay in bed every day. Hopefully, this isn’t a onetime thing, like the universe is trying to be nice. A last gift before my demise.
Death matches start later this morning. I’ve had so little time to research my opponents that I can’t predict how this is going to go. The only one I’m familiar with is Frederick, and while some might be taken in by his suave exterior, he was Nolan’s right-hand man for a reason.
She sighs, and I harden further. What I wouldn’t give to hear all those noises of hers as she lies spread before me. Soon. When the sun finally crests the horizon, her heartbeat picks up, and she tilts her head back.
Sleepy blue eyes meet mine. “How long have you been awake?”
Forever. “A while. How did you sleep?”
“Like a rock,” she says, her fingers toying with my shirt. “You?”
Mm, definitely a rock.“Same.” I drop my hand from her body so she can move, but she flattens her palm on my chest and remains close.
“Are you okay?” I ask, brushing her hair back so I can fully see her face.
“Why did you kiss me in front of all those people?” she asks, her hand lightly caressing my chest.
For a moment, I’m caught up in the rhythmic stroke of her hand on my body.
“Mathias?”
Damn, my name sounds good coming from her lips.Pushing past the distraction, I answer her. “To protect you.” Lame. Give her more. “Vampires rarely kiss in public. To do so…is to tell them you’re mine. A declaration, if you will.”
“Like a territorial kind of thing?” She pauses. “Or a mate thing?”
All of the above, damn it. “Vampires only kiss their mates.”
Her eyes widen. “Like ever? Or do you mean in public?”
“Both,” I admit with a sigh. “It’s one of the few acts we hold most intimate.”
“Mm, that makes me feel special…and a bit guilty,” she says, surprising me. “Does it make you angry that I kiss them too—Jamison, Gatlin, and Hawthorne?”
“No, but another vampire would send me into orbit,” I admit ruefully. “Or really anyone other than the four of us.”
She frowns. “How many mates do vampires get?”
“What?”
“You said vampires only kiss their mates,” she explains with a shrug. “I’m just wondering what that means. I know we haven’t talked about the whole mate thing, but I only thought about the forever aspect of it, not sharing you with another.”
There’s an underlying note in her voice. Maybe jealousy? Smothering the grin that’s threatening to spill across my face, Iopen my mouth to tell her we only get one but shut it after a second. I don’t want to get into that discussion yet.
“I promise, we’ll talk about all of it, but we have to get ready and meet Marjorie,” I remind her. “Then we need to get to the arena for the matches.”
Her faces pales at my mention of the matches. “I wish we didn’t have to go.”
I scoot out from under her and press a light kiss to her lips. “So do I. While I shower, call Jamison and fill him in. I’ve already arranged for him to be here for the matches. Just in case…”
With a nod, she props herself up against the headboard and reaches for the phone. The sight of her in my bed, hair mussed, silky pajamas revealing little glimpses of smooth, delicious skin, almost makes me crawl back into bed. Instead, I settle for a cold shower and quick relief.
“She’s not coming,”I growl, looking out of the coffee shop’s window. “I should never have let her go last night.” Clenching my fist, I take a deep breath. “I should have detained her. Questioned her further.” I hand Phaedra the receipt.
She glances at it, then sucks in a breath. “I see. Maybe there will be a way to track her down later. Right now, we have to go. The opening ceremony is in an hour.”
Pocketing the receipt, I blow out a breath and toss my cup in the trash. She’s right. We need to go. I glance at the barista on the way out and nod my thanks.
