“Oh, I’m sure Jasper will pat me to sleep.” She bit her bottom lip and smiled as she listened to his frustrated groan.
“If it helps you sleep, I can tolerate it for you, my little mate.”
She was surprised to hear this from him. She was just teasing him, but it warmed her heart that he was suppressing his jealousy for her.
“You know there’s nothing at all romantic between Jasper and me, right?” Lucie wanted to make sure he knew this. She didn’t want him to feel like he had any rivals to worry about.
“Mm-hmm, I know. I trust you both.”
Lucie leaned forward and took his earlobe in her teeth. She tugged on it lightly and felt him grip her tighter.
“I went to talk to your parents again last night,” Derrick managed to mumble out to distract himself from ravishing her.
She pulled back and looked into his amber eyes. “You did?”
“After you fell asleep. They were waiting for me. They expected me to come out and talk to them again.” Derrick chuckled. “I told them how conflicted I was, and that I wanted to keep you with me. I told them how I wouldn’t leave you if the situation was reversed … how it would take a direct order from my parents, like what your father gave you. Separating mates isn’t easy.” Derrick smiled sadly. “Our conversation led us to the conclusion that Beryl is only after your family. Her goal is to kill the four of you, no matter what the cost.”
“I thought about that earlier, how it was a suicide mission.”
Derrick sighed and cupped her cheek in his hand. “Someone that desperate to kill you … I can’t let you near her. Your parents plan to send you and Aedan to either Elysia or the West Dragon Kingdom. They want you both to be somewhere where the witch can’t get to you. Your father said that if I want to visit you, I can come to them and they’ll open up a portal to you.”
Lucie listened to him quietly. At least they planned to send Aedan, too. Most likely Justice would also come along. It would at least be fun in Elysia or the dragon kingdom. They would get to spend some rare time with their family and cousins. Maybe that would help distract her from not being with her mate.
“How long?” Lucie asked, biting her inner bottom lip.
“I don’t know exactly.” Derrick looked into her pooling green eyes. “I hate this too.” He chuckled and frowned, shaking his head. “It’s killing me, Lucie. It’s killing me to think about … the only thing that keeps me going is that I’m protecting your family. Protecting you. I don’t know how long it’ll take. But I promise I’ll visit you. In a few weeks after you’re settled, I’ll come to see you. And … with the vervain completely out of your system …” Hecleared his throat slightly as he looked at her smooth, unmarked neck.
“I guess I should probably get ready,” Lucie said sadly.
“Hey, I forgot to tell you. We’ll be accompanying you. You’re my soulmate. The vampires here will recognize my claim on you above the prince’s. It’s taboo to break up soulmates, so it would be natural for me to escort you back to your pack, since you’re my mate.”
“Will you have to leave immediately after we get back?” Lucie felt his breath on her skin as he leaned closer.
“Depends on how we travel. If we hike to the vehicles, we can save some time. So maybe I can stay with you for a few hours before heading back.”
“I’d like to introduce you to my brother. Now that he’s older, you can get to know who he is now.”
“I’d like that.” Derrick pulled her in closer to him. He brushed her nose with his and covered her lips, kissing her very softly, very sweetly. He wanted to show her in this kiss just how precious she was to him. He wouldn’t have many opportunities to kiss her without prying eyes. Not that he needed to hide his kisses. She was his mate. But some kisses were not meant for public eyes, and this was one of them. His hands trailed over her sides. “Mmm, Lucie,” he mumbled against her lips. “You taste so sweet. Your scent … is addicting.” He licked her lips and nudged her nose lightly as he pulled away. “I love you … my little mate.”
“I love you too,” Lucie whispered shyly.
Derrick smiled as he watched her cheeks redden with her confession. She was simply too adorable. “Come on. If we don’t get moving now, you won’t have time for breakfast.”
“I can think of something we can have for breakfast without leaving this room,” Lucie said coquettishly.
Derrick’s eyes darkened, and a low, agonized groan escaped his lips. “You’re like a rabbit who jumps into the fox’s den on purpose.”
Lucie shrugged. “Some rabbits just want to get eaten. Just waiting for the fox’s instincts to take over.” She grinned and bit her bottom lip. She watched his gaze move to her lips. The color in his eyes changed back and forth rapidly as he fought his vampire instincts.
“You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Lucie. Everything I could possibly want in a mate and more.” He reached out and drew her up to her feet, holding her tightly against his chest. “How am I going to do this, Lucie? I feel like I’m drowning already. I’m weak. I never realized how weak I was until you.”
“Derrick, you’re not weak. It isn’t supposed to be this way. We aren’t supposed to be separated.” Lucie leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his jawline. “I’ll be waiting for you. Kill the witch and come for me.” She smiled and leaned up to his ear. She let her hot breath beat against him as her lips brushed his earlobe. “And we’ll see if you ever figured out how to make a baby.”She gave him a crooked smile. She was told when she was a baby that Derrick had asked how to make a baby. He wasn’t a child anymore, and she was certain he’d figured it out. But it was fun to tease him about it.
Derrick chuckled lowly. “Mmm, we’ll see if I can figure it out.” He playfully pulled her hips into him and lowered his lips to her neck, nipping her neck lightly and flicking his tongue against her skin.
Lucie couldn’t help the moan that escaped her lips when she felt his arousal pressed against her. It was evident how much he was holding himself back.
“Just because you aren’t marking me now … doesn’t mean …”
