The heat inside me intensified as if it were picking up where Derrick and I had left off in the shadows of Ashmore. I kissed him again and his neck muscles tensed under my lips. Derrick had said he knew how far we could go without breaking any rules of the blood bond enchantment and I wanted to see just how far my Midnight wouldtake me.
I arced my aching hips against his—an invitation. He sucked ina breath.
“Darling, I…,” Derrick said, his chest tight underneath my hands, “I…cannot. Not after what I…not after whathappened tonight.”
I tilted my head up to look at him as he held me. His face was tight but his eyes drooped with sadness. My fire cooleddown instantly.
“I am so sorry,” Derrick whispered. “I wish I could do morefor you.”
I smiled up at him. “Just keep me safe. That is allI ask.”
Derrick cupped the right side of my face with his left hand and looked into my eyes for a few slow heartbeats before he spoke again. “Until my last breath. Brietta will be the Duchess one day, but Iamyours.”
Derrick raised my face up to his and kissed me goodnight onelast time.
“And youaremine.”
I buried my head into his chest and fell asleep to the lullaby of his heartbeat as he stroked my hair. He locked his arms tightly around me, shielding me from the debauchery of Hyton, from the wrath of his father, and even the harm from myown husband.
I was warm, I was calm, but most importantly, I was under the protection of the stubbornHyton bull.
Even if that bull was made of bronzeand steel.
Derrick’s arms had locked around me all night, shielding me even from the cruel dawn. I opened my eyes to see his chest in the golden light ofthe morning.
I looked up at him as he peacefully slept and gently brushed a few strands of soft dark curls out of his face. The faded remnants of his freckles still dotted his cheeks and forehead. I traced his jawline with the back of my finger and moved down to his strong,dimpled chin.
He might have married Brietta, but the handsome man under my hands wasstill mine.
Derrick’s eyes fluttered open at my touch and he gave me a sleepy smile. He groaned and shifted his shoulder blades in an attempt at a stretch. “Goodmorning, Serafina.”
I tilted my chin up, bringing my lips closer to his. “Looks like I survived the second night. Thank you for keepingme safe.”
I kissed him once and then lightly bit his lower lip. When I pulled away, Derrick’s sleepy eyes foggedwith confusion.
“Oh no,” he groaned, “my bad habits arerubbing off.”
I propped my head up on my arm. “So are you not worried what Riyan would think if he foundus together?”
Derrick pulled me into another snuggle. “You assume that beast is capable of thinking. Regardless, he is probably still knocked out in the garden. I will have the servants dump a bucket of cold water on his head in about an hour. I am in no rush toleave you.”
Delicate footsteps echoed throughout the room and we both looked up. The same maids from the day before stood at the top of the spiral staircase again and looked down at us. With an eye-roll, I plopped back down on the mattress. I had given the servants enough gossip over the past three days to sate their appetite for scandal for the rest ofthe year.
After Derrick failed to shoo the maids away to give us more time together, he turned to me and cupped my face in his left hand. His voice grew serious. “Remember what we talked about last night, Serafina. Stay away from him as much as you can. Do not let himeven try…”
He could not say it, but I knew what he meant. I squeezed my knees together in silent assent to his plea—I would not let Riyan hurt me.
Derrick pulled me in for one last gentle and passionate kiss, gripping my face and hair underneath his fingertips as if he could hold onto me until the last star blinked out of the sky. He pulled away but lingered for a moment to lookat me.
“My eyes will stay north until you return,” Derrick gently whispered. “Please stay safe, Serafina. Pleasestay alive.”
Derrick reluctantly left me with the maids, his eyes shining as he walked away. The maids quickly dressed me in a simple, but unseasonably warm, crimson wool dress paired with wool stockings. As soon as the maids disappeared, I reached under my pillow and retrieved the bull-headed Hyton dagger. Remembering my promise to keep it on me at all times, I wrapped the ribbon of my garter around the bull’s horns to keepit secure.
The door to the conservatory creaked open just as I let down my skirt to cover the dagger. To my surprise, Mother walked in. Her hair was still tousled from whatever she had done with Duke Hyton and his friends the night before and the bite mark on her shoulder hadturned purple.
I looked at a nearby bookshelf instead of the evidence of her shame. “I suppose you had funlast night.”
“I would not say that anything I am doing is fun,” Mother replied cooly. “Besides, it seems you have followed in my footsteps when it comes to associating withHyton men.”
