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"Iirl under that threat It's why I'ets on our backs since ere born And then, with our parents out of the way, I feared our uncles would circle us like sharks"
"You were just fifteen" At least no one had wanted to kill Cas when he'd been that age "What did you do?"
"Turned into an angry stick-in-the-uard I didn't fuck for the first time until I enty"
Cas couldn't wrap his mind around this "So you've only had ten years of partners" His mood plummeted A rake like Mirceo likely wouldn't settle down for an eternity A rake who hadn't gotten the lead out never would "And then what happened?"
A soft, fond smile curled Mirceo's lips "Mina won theht her--a little iies with her dollies He lost his heart Froht, she carried a blade, so Trehan, the shadow assassin, lost his as well" Mirceo couldn't sound prouder "She brought blood atekeeper--because she felt sorry for him She admitted that she would keep watch with that lonely oaf, just sitting in silence and observing the mist float by It eventually became clear that they'd all die for her"
Cas could see this Ti Mina kindled a person's protective instincts
"Once I realizedthe hedonist you once knew"
"You bring out such protectiveness as well"
"Do I? Mina and I are two of a kind," he said "Dacians consider Trehan the kingdom's sword, Viktor its wrath, Stelian its sentinel, and Lothaire its cunning Our people see Mina andheart of Dacia That's why most are helpless not to love us"
Beginning to believe that "Your partners always fell for you"
"Hmm"
"Hmmm, what?"
"The day I told Mina that our parents were gone, I comprehended that I was all she had in the world I proazed up at me withunlimited expectation and said, 'I believe you'"
My gods, Cas could barely i
Mirceo frowned "Partners often cast me a similar look of expectation after sex, as if they'd pinned all their worldly hopes on me The burden of that responsibility filled me with panic and resentment--but I never understood why Now I do"
"What do you understand?"
Their gazes held "They wanted ed to another They wanted my future--but it's yours alone"
Cas loosed a breath "So if I were ever to look at you like that"
"Derew hoarse--"because I've already pinned mine on you"
What if the vampire truly would treat a mate differently? Wasn't that the way of matehood?
Mirceo's lids slid shut, the brew about to drop the haht Proud that you're mine"
The prince continued to see hi no idea what a wretched creature his ues just renoble his blood was
He's the heir to an ancient line from an extraordinary realm; I don't even have a family name
Mirceo ive you full pere of me You know I'm not shy Look your fill Touch Do whatever you want to me"
Here for rew painfully hard
"And I'm always ready to blood-take if you need my services"
His words brought on aCas's control "I'll keep that in mind" He yanked the covers up to Mirceo's chin once more
"Maybe I'll sleep for just atension drained from his body
Down for the count So leave him Go to another property Get away
Cas stood to pace The last thing he needed was to get in even deeper with thisroom
Instead he returned to the chair, pulling it even closer
Mirceo's lips were parted, his lashes thick against his cheeks He was always seable At rest, he seeer than his thirty years
Fro, Cas had found Mirceo Daciano's face spellbinding, but right now there was a sweetness to it that called to him
He didn't kno long he'd stared, but gradually the vaain, andout the brew
Cas traced to the bathrooe of the bed, then smoothed the cloth over Mirceo's brow
Though Cas's body still thru prince soothed his mind He brushed the backs of his knuckles Mirceo's cheek, testing this affection
More than instinct was at work here When he ie boy in Dacia, tenderness and protectiveness surged inside Cas Those feelings rehts when they'd been trapped in that gulg: I'llbones before I let it have the vampire I'll die for Mirceo
A gust of breath left his lungs No longer could Cas deny what he kneas true He was a vampire's mate, and Mirceo wasa demon's
Mine Acceptance This male is mine