“You signed this withlove.” My voice is hoarse. “You wrote ‘love, Claire’ and then walked into a blizzard.”
She flushes, the color spreading across her cheeks. “I... did I?”
“You did.”
“Oh.” She bites her lip. “I didn’t realize I... that was unconscious.”
“Was it true?”
“Nikolai, what does it matter? You should let me go,” she whispers. “You’re a good king. Everyone says so. Mrs. Vasek tears up when she talks about you. The scholarships, the raises, the way you treat the staff like people. Your kingdom loves you. You can’t throw that away for a maid with student debt and a crazy brother.”
I crook an eyebrow? “Crazy brother?”
She sighs. “I’ll explain more later, but it has to do with my fake spying. The most important thing right now is your kingdom and your subjects, the Krovenians.”
“And what about what I want?”
She shakes her head. “What you want could destroy everything and I won’t be a part of hurting so many people.”
I reach out and cup her face in my hands. She goes still, her eyes widening.
“Claire, you’re the female my Blood Calling chose. You’re the only person who’s ever made me feel anything in thirty-two years of existence. I didn’t ask for this,” I continue, stroking my thumbs across her cheekbones. “Neither did you. But it’s happening. And I’m tired of fighting it.”
“Nikolai...”
“I’m tired of being cruel when all I want is to be close to you. I’m tired of criticizing your dusting when I should be telling you how beautiful you are. I’m tired of pushing you away when every part of me wants to pull you closer.”
A tear slides down her cheek, caught by my thumb.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I choose you.” I hold her gaze. “If you’ll have me.”
“But first,before anything else is said between us, I need to explain to you more about what you heard us saying about the Blood Calling and what it means to be my mate. I need you to choose, knowing everything. As a human, it is even more important you understand what you’d be getting yourself into, because this is a decision that will be life long.”
She nods slowly. “Okay.”
I take a breath. “If we truly mate I’ll bite you during sex and, mark your throat and drink your blood.” I watch her face carefully for any sign of fear or disgust. I see neither. “That’s how Krovenians claim their mates. We become permanently bonded through the mark and exchange of blood. I will be physically imprinted on you. There’s no divorce in my world, Claire. No going back.”
“I understand.”
“And when we mate, I’ll be highly potent. More than any human male. You will become pregnant after the first time wehave sex.” I pause to let that sink in. “No human birth control will prevent it. The Blood Calling ensures conception.”
Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn’t look away.
“Are you ready to become a mother?” I ask. “To carry half-Krovenian children? To raise them here, in Krovenia, with me?”
“Children?” A small smile tugs at her lips. “Plural?”
“Blood Calling matings are... fertile.”
“How many are we talking?”
I clear my throat. “I don’t know exactly. Several, likely, over the years. Krovenian families tend to be large.”
She’s quiet for a moment, and I can’t read her expression. “I’ve always wanted a big family,” she finally admits.
“You’d have to live here in Krovenia forever. You couldn’t return to your human life. Your family?—”
