As he neared, I removed the Prodigy ring from the chain around my throat where I had kept it as only a reminder of Dominic, and not because it was the Prodigy’s ring. I stared at it, remembering it on Dominic’s finger in that parking lot so long ago when I had watched him tap his thumb on my rear-view mirror as he confronted me. The gradually decreasing memories weren’t any more welcomed than they had been previously, but as I glanced around at everyone else’s fingers, I blinked and realized maybe that was the answer to my question.
King Kincaid stopped next to my chair, and ignoring the fact that it was an embarrassing question, I quickly asked, “Can I put the ring on whatever finger I want?” I paused, staring up into his startled dark eyes. “I need to be able to shoot my gun properly if I’m going out there beyond protection, and Dominic wore it on his thumb.”
King Kincaid’s eyes instantly softened, glistening a little, but he gazed down at me with pride. “Yes. Any finger you like. They just need to be next to each other.”
I sighed in relief and stared down at the ring I had never slipped on before. It was still Dominic’s size, and I was betting that once I put it on it would form to my finger. The last bit of him gone to me. My Core ached at the thought, so much so, I rubbed the center of my chest…but it wasn’t as horrible as I thought it might be. My eyebrows puckered as I tried to work that one out in my mind.
It didn’t take long.
Because it was simple.
Well, if simple meant…being in love with the, now, King Vampire.
My breathing hitched as full comprehension dawned at just how far I had fallen for him.
Sure, I loved him as a best friend…but now…I was in love with the man. I was in love with the private smile he graced only me with. I was in love with his demanding attitude. I was in love with the way he sometimes drooled while he slept. I was in love with the way he cared for Jack and Pearl. I was in love with every single one of his goddamn imperfections just as much as I was in love with everything perfect about him.
I was in love.
Just as I felt a debilitating dose of fear, which seemed to radiate in pounding pulses throughout my body, at the thought of him not wanting me as badly as I wanted him…I paused my thoughts…and a brief bloom of hope, which had made an appearance yesterday, broke throughout my body, causing me to physically shiver with instant warmth, almost like adrenaline pumping through my system.
The ache in my chest decreased, so much so, my hand dropped to my lap. I bit my lip to quiet my panting breaths, inhaling deeply through my nose and exhaling shakily through my lips. God, I hoped he felt some of these emotions for me. If he didn’t, and he said no to a relationship…Christ, he would break my newly, fragilely mended heart. This was different without magic bringing two individuals together.
It was…my choice. Utterly and completely my choice. I had walked down this road without being led, at any time being able to turn away. Instead of magic throwing me at Ezra, my heart had followed him.
And I wanted him to be mine, since the damn man held my heart in his hands.
All. Fucking. Mine.
I was growling softly when I felt a hand shake my shoulder quickly. Clyde growled. The hand just as quickly disappeared. My head snapped up.
“What?” My wolf was riding my voice, both my wolf and I feeling astronomically possessive.
I wasn’t sure who had shaken my shoulder, but Antonio leaned forward, his eyes close to mine, his expression worried. “Lil, are you alright? King Kincaid’s been saying your name for a while now.” He brushed hair out of my face, getting swiped by Clyde’s claws but not even seeming to notice that he bled for a millisecond before he healed. “Are you feeling unwell?”
“Lily?” Ezra’s voice came gently from the other side of the table.
Before I could say anything, Elder Jacobs cursed, asking, “She’s not pregnant again, is she?”
And, like clockwork, everyone at the table froze.
Stared at me.
I could imagine what was going through their minds, since almost every individual in here knew about Ezra and me. Our sexual relations were the most widely known affair with these people, but somehow they still managed to be kept a secret. There was humor in Elder Jacobs’ comment somewhere, but my wolf was riding me too hard to give that thought the proper time it deserved, wanting to pounce on Ezra and hold him down until he wanted me, too.
“Honey, are you pregnant again?” King Kincaid bent, staring me in the face. His eyes widened, horror overtaking his features. “Christ, we just fought.” His gaze slammed to Antonio. “Get the fucking medic back in here.”
Absurdly, a chuckle escaped, sounding growly because of my wolf. “I’m not pregnant.” I fluttered my hand. “Only a little distracted.” I peered around the table, evading Ezra’s gaze. “Sorry, everyone.”
And still, they stared.
Sighing heavily, I reiterated, “I. Am. Not. Pregnant.”
King Kincaid eyed me. “No chance for pregnancy?” His nostrils flared.