By the time I made it to the bar, Luka was pounding a shot with the king. Both were still shirtless, crusted blood and healing wounds dotting their bodies.
Luka gave me a cautious look as I approached. The king let his eyes run up and down my body slowly, his first deliberate show of attraction toward me. “Tell me, Aspen, if I had killed him, what would you have done?”
I paused for a moment, unsure how to play my hand before I decided the lunatic would probably enjoy the truth. Stepping forward, I plastered a sugary smile on my face and draped my arms around Luka’s shoulders. “Oh, I would have ripped your head clean off and shoved it up your ass. Carmen’s too, for not stopping the fight.”
There was a pause and Luka flinched next to me, before the king burst into maniacal laughter. “Ruthless. Iloveher. Please tell me she has a sister,” he asked Luka.
Luka relaxed a little. “She does not.”
“A best friend?” The king raised one eyebrow.
An idea formed in my mind. “I do. She’s human actually, one of Luka’s feeders. I’d be happy to introduce you to her if we are invited back?”
The king’s eyes practically heated with desire. “Why don’t you come back next weekend? I’m having my annual Freedom Fight.”
Luka played dumb. “What’s that?”
“All the slaves beat each other senseless. The last one standing gets to go free,” the king bragged.
Luka grinned, although I knew he was just playing the part, and the conversation made him as sick as it made me. “Sounds like good entertainment. I’d like to see that.”
The king regarded Luka for a moment. “You should come, as my guest. It’s next week. How long are you staying?”
“Just the night I’m afraid. I have to get back to my people. But I would love to attend the fight. Maybe I could bring some of my men who would enjoy it as well?”
The king paused, eyeing Luka.
“And maybe you could come visit our lands?” I interjected, so it didn’t sound suspicious. “Our wedding is in a month.”
The king’s eyes grew wide. “I’ve wanted to see another magic city since I was a young vampire. I would love to.”
Luka grinned. “Then it’s settled! I think you will enjoy the open fields of Vampire City. We can have a gala inyourhonor.”
The king grinned. “Alright, then. Next week, bring this feeder friend and twelve of your men. I will show you a good time.”
Luka reached out and shook his hand. “It’s a plan.”
The king hugged him then, messing up Luka’s hair like he was a teenage younger brother. “You earned my trust. Now don’t break it.”
Luka gave a nervous laugh and I forced myself to yawn. “Babe, I’m not used to the time change. Can you take me back to the hotel? I’m exhausted.”
Luka nodded, looking at the king. “I’m afraid I must get my bride-to-be to bed.”
The king grasped Luka’s shoulder. “We are well met, Luka Drake.” And then reached out to me and grasped my hand lightly. He bent down and kissed it.
“Thank you for having us.” I kept it short and sweet, because saying it was a lovely evening would have been too much of a stretch for me.
“The pleasure was all mine.” His eyes glittered as they raked over my body once more.
Creeper.
We stepped away from him and I made eye contact with our driver, tipping my head toward the side gate. He pushed off the wall and headed toward us.
‘I saw the fat tip you gave him.’Luka grasped my hand and led me out the gate.
‘Do you mind?’I chewed my lip.‘I feel bad for the wolves.’
Luka grinned, pulling my fingers up to his lips and kissing the knuckles. ‘I don’t mind at all. In fact, I was thinking of doing the same.’
