The way he spoke made it clear to Cain that this would be a very physical kind of chat.
“My place. In ten minutes, or you’re on your own.”
“You got it!” Cain responded to the open challenge.
A fist fight with the linebacker-sized vampire was just what he needed right now. Maybe then he’d feel better.
2
The winter garden was as beautiful at night as it was deadly during the day. Encased in bulletproof glass on three sides, it provided no shelter from the sun.
Faye looked up at the starry sky above the glass roof. Was he watching her from somewhere up there? Or were vampires doomed to burn in hell when they met with the true death?
She couldn’t remember how often she’d stared up at the night sky asking herself these questions ever since his death. Every time she did, she felt the same kind of longing, the same kind of emptiness. But life had to go on. She knew that. The time for mourning was almost at an end.
Footsteps made her aware that she wasn’t alone anymore. Even before she turned, she knew who had entered the winter garden from the house. Well, it couldn’t really be called a house. It was a palace.
Faye inclined her head slightly, before lifting her eyes to her visitor. “Your Majesty.”
“Faye, Faye, how often have I told you that between us there’s no formality. I’m still Abel to you. Always will be. Besides, I’m not king yet.”
“Of course.” She allowed her eyes to roam over him. There were days she could barely look at him, so much did he remind her of the man she’d lost. The man she’d loved.
Abel pointed to a bench, motioning her to sit there with him. She took a seat, and he joined her.
“I’ve come to talk to you.”
Her stomach instantly clenched. She knew what this was about. She’d counted the days too, though for other reasons than he had.
“We all miss him,” Abel started.
Faye pressed her lips together, suppressing the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her and rob her of the ability to think clearly. She had to remain strong.
“The time is nearly up.”
She nodded. “One year, one month, and one day. I marked it on my calendar.” Though she didn’t have to. She would always remember the horrible day when she’d been robbed of the love of her life.
“Yes, in less than two weeks his official reign will end, and the new king will be crowned.”
“I’ve never really understood why there is such a long period after the death of one king before his successor can take the throne,” Faye said to fill the air between them with words.
Abel reached for her hand, clasping it. She shuddered internally, but let it happen. He would be her king soon, and her destiny lay in his hands. The privileges she’d enjoyed as the dead king’s fiancée would expire at the new king’s coronation. She would lose her home, her standing in their society, her influence. Though nothing mattered much to her anyway. Only love for the vampires who would have been her subjects, had her fiancé lived, had made her stay. Otherwise, she would have left the clan altogether.
“It’s meant to give the people time to grieve without having to pledge their allegiance to the new king while they still mourn the old,” Abel explained.
“It must be hard for the king-in-waiting, though.”
“As regent, I already have many of the powers the king has. And it gives me a chance to get to know my subjects better and find out what they want from me.” He raised her hand toward his face. “Or what I want from them.”
Faye’s breath hitched. “Yes, yes, of course.” She rose, making him drop her hand, and walked to a raised flowerbed. She reached for shears and started to prune the plants.
Since that horrible day over a year ago, no man had touched her. And the thought of another man’s hands or lips on her sent panic shooting down her spine. She knew she had to do something about that, but tonight wasn’t the right time.
Behind her, Abel rose from the bench. She heard his footsteps as he approached her.
“Decisions have to be made. As you know, soon—”
“I know,” she interrupted him. “I have been thinking about it. I’m preparing myself to leave.” She would be without protection once again. The last time that had happened she’d fallen prey to the cruelest of vampires.
When Abel’s hands clasped her shoulders from behind, she sucked in a breath, trying to calm herself.
“I didn’t come to ask you to leave. I came to ask you to stay.”
Faye turned her head halfway. “But clan law is clear on it.”