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"That, instead of the dagger being provided upon conception of an heir, it would be offered on condition he stay a few ive you a small sample of the life you deserved to have with hi up a little "Arthur, proive it to hiasped "He will leave for Elysiuets to Paris, where he’s really going, he will not be able to find Drake"

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because the letter the House received, infor that Drake had fled to Paris, was a copy"

"How do you know?"

"Because the original was sent tohis decision to travel around Ronate’ you" He held his hands up, sed the letter the House received, and they sent knights to Elysiuone"

"So, David will come back here then--after Paris?"

Arthur nodded "And by then, you will be pregnant with , swear my oath and be in Romania before David even sets foot back on Anant, though?"

"Then I will destroy that dagger, because, my dear, David won’t rest until he finds it, and I don’t believe there is any other way to kill Drake"

"Not even venohed "No In the letter Drake sent, he was bragging about a spell he’d successfully used to save his own life after being stabbed with that sword He said the side-effect was total i?"

He shook his head "I’d like to get my hands on that spell--or even the witch he uses to write them"

"He has a witch?"

"She’s a vampire--an old, old woman I’ve never met her, or even seen her, but he calls her Safia"

"Safia?"

"Yes"

"I can’t believe he has his oitch"

Arthur s, his eyes distant

"Good afternoon, Uncle," David said as he glided into the roo event?"

I looked up at him where he stopped by the chair "Just have to dress, but--can I borrow my lovely wife for a moment?"

"Of course" Arthur shuffled aside a littlefor David to take me

"Thanks" He scoopedher back in ten, if you still need her"

"It’s fine" He s his knuckles by his lips "You can keep her"

David bowed and walked us out into the open corridor

"Where are you taking et my ceremonial dress on"

"We have staff for that"

"I know" He smiled into et"

"Before what?"

"Before…nothing" He kissed the tip ofat Jason, who flashed his obviously well-practiced fake smile as we passed "I just want to spend tiled into hi as it’s forever"

"Forever is all we ever wanted"

"Say you proht to his

He stopped walking "Promise what?"

"Say you prohter, his breath quiet "I…I pro eyes went a little wider "I proo of round "You butt-wipe" I slapped his chest

He laughed, standing up again, holding hter this time "I love you, Ara"

"I love you, too"

What should have been the happiest breath I took, cah--the joy spoiled by the deep, hidden pain in David’s eyes I offered a sh to return one It was the first real sign he’d given of the things he was suffering inside

He’d been fine as we dressed together, laughing about things we’d not laughed about since I was human, and while I stood in front of him, naked, he’d dropped to his knees and pressed his cool lips to the rash onsweetly soft kisses up to ht have soon But as the day wore on and the sun began to sink in the sky, he grew quiet and thoughtful

I stepped back, pinching the open vein in my arm, and David reached down to take ht of Mother Nature fill our souls ar this when I took my oath, but it felt like the way Mike described it; as if someone injected hot coffee down the artery in your neck and let it pass through every li

The darkness in David’s eyes faded a little then, as he spoke the last words of his proive my life in service of ed Mike’s chest, while Blade and Falcon watched on like proud uncles, and Arthur stood alht that would save the world, save htened ever so slightly on e his skin, the Mark of his pro to life somewhere underneath He felt it, too--felt the burn, felt the power, but showed no distress, no e

Then, as if by some secret cue, our people moved--parted to make way for us We bowed to the Stone and started off between Bert and Boris, hand in hand We weren’t allowed to speak until the crown touched David’s head, but we didn’t need to I kneas sht I looked beautiful indown in curls underat him because I was so proud to be beside hi he’d sacrificed to make this day possible

I lifted his hand and kissed his pal, I love you

He reached out then and s across to kiss the remains "Love you, too," he whispered so quietly, his lips shaping his breath as words no one else would hear

I looked up in surprise Did you hearinto a radiant grin My heart fluttered the whole way then as alked the path of red and white roses at our feet, past the people and the marble columns, down the crimson carpet and took the stairs to the thrones<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>