Page 117 of Hunt Me

“What have you?”

“As you know, for a royal marriage to be certified, at least three noble or royal delegates must be present as witnesses.” He paused dramatically before saying, “You have three noble delegates present. Why not wed tonight?”

Luka recoiled in surprise.

“Your union wouldn’t be as grand, but it’d be safer,” Ezra mentioned. “We can keep the marriage silenced until after Matilda is turned. It’s not ideal; however, given the political climate, it might not be unfavorable.”

“And my heir?”

“You can make the announcement after Matilda is turned to avoid questioning his or her legitimacy, " Duke Mirren expressed, hoping King Alesi would agree. Night Falls needed his strong leadership, and he had faith that they’d be a country of reckoning if the throne was secured and the wolves were kept at bay.

“What say you?” Duke Brennan asked.

Luka only hesitated for a second before asking, “How soon can you all gather in the throne room?”

44

Blood and Bond

Matilda lay on her side under the warmth of the blankets and absentmindedly rubbed the heavy ruby on the chain around her neck. It was a troublesome tick she developed shortly after the ambush, which had her betrothed frequently unclasping her fingers from around it. The threat of reclaiming the necklace for himself usually halted her self-soothing.

A sharp pain below her stomach made her pause and clutch it. Her breathing shallowed as she waited to be struck with another pain, but none came. She hesitated to relax, fixated on the possibility it would happen again. Eventually, she relaxed against the cushions and considered it a random phenomenon.

“It is far too early for that,” she mumbled to herself. “You must stay in there as long as possible because I’ll be gone once you’re born until I claw myself up to the surface again.”

She lost herself in her thoughts again—a constant since meeting the dukes and receiving the devastating news that she had to be turned. What if it took months or years for her to return? What if she missed those precious moments with her child that she wouldn’t be able to get back? What if she didn’t return at all? How would her beloved fare without her?

Her mind anxiously raced, and the stone walls seemed to close in around her when the multiple locks that safeguarded their sleeping quarters tumbled.

After the deadly attack, her lover had a series of complicated locks fashioned on the bedroom door, and only he had the keys. She was a prisoner—a willing prisoner—but a prisoner all the same.

Matilda smirked as she recalled the moments since her fateful and unexpected meeting with King Alesi in the woods. Then, she would’ve done everything in her power to escape, but the thought hadn’t crossed her mind since he had hunted her down at Belzar’s tavern and whisked her away to his foreboding castle.

“My Queen? Do you slumber?” Luka whispered as he entered their bedchambers.

“Aye,” she whispered back.

“Those who slumber do not speak,” he said, securing the door.

“The phrase is, ‘Dead men do not speak.’ I am neither dead nor a man.”

Luka sat on the edge of the bed with a sigh and folded back the fur that hid her beautiful face from him.

“Thanks be to the gods that you’re neither dead nor a man.”

Matilda grinned and propped herself up on an elbow.

“I don’t know about that, my King. I believe you’d still fancy me if I were a man.”

“You are deranged,” he sighed again, smoothing a hand down her cheek.

“Can you imagine it?” she asked with bright, mischievous eyes.

“Imagine what?”

“You on your back—panting and near delirium with my manhood plunging in and out—”

She giggled when he slapped a hand over her mouth.