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“Not quite yet,” I answered honestly. “But there is no malice between us. You are my thrall, you are special to me. And always will be. Yet my love is for Paris.”

His eyes shone with sorrow. “I know.”

“It was never for you fully.” Maybe I was rubbing salt into his wounds. “You are still so wonderful to me. Remember that. You are a treasure.”

“Thank you,” he whispered.

“Despite your actions.” I had to make sure he understood this.

“I will forever be sorry, my king.”

“Forever is unnecessary.” I took hold of his right shoulder.

He sniffled. “Thank you.”

Time would help mend things here. He might always be dependent on my blood, but not on the prospect of my heart.

By Selene, why did I need to worry so much about this?

“Come, let’s join the others in the lobby,” I said.

We returned to the fireplace where his parents stood, Paris standing nervously beside another pink armchair.

“Do you need some time to talk?” I asked Paris, as Elio joined his parents.

They looked hopeful.

Paris rejoined me, linking his arm with mine. “I’ll be back to talk,” he told them. “Let me decompress a bit first. If that’s okay.”

His parents smiled, nodding in agreement.

“See you soon,” Lia said. “Rest well.”

Paris faced me. “Can we talk first?”

Things had calmed in the Heart of All. There hadn’t been any deaths since our journey to the forge, and only a few new vampire lives had been created.

Medusa appeared again. “I’ll be going to get Declan soon. Hopefully, there will be extra wolf allies waiting to join the ranks.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

“And Vaughn has put out a call for all vampires to come here,” she added. “This will soon be our official refuge. Although…” She shook her head. “There is still some resistance from certain vampires. War or no war. It’s…”

“My fault,” I finished for her.

I folded my arms, wondering if these rebels would ever give up their disappointment in me.

“I will go out and find the vampires coming here,” I said.

“And put you and them at risk?” she responded. “Have you been sucking the wrong blood? You’re not indestructible anymore.”

I glowered at her silently.

Paris took my hand. I shivered with the feel of his skin on mine, his fingers fitting mine perfectly.

Pleasure later. “I have work to do.” I kept my fingers interlocked with his.

Medusa grinned. “Take a break, sugar.”