Page 51 of Hunt Me

“And we welcome it. They were the aggressors, ambushed me on my lands, attempted to murder me, and would most likely take Matilda back to Moonshire. Mark my words, Ezra, Moonshire will fall.”

“Very well, my King. The physician discovered something troubling.”

“As it should. The physician discovered something troubling.”

“What is it?” Luka asked, anxious to hear the news that had Ezra perpetually pacing as he wrung his hands.

“As you know, vampire blood is poisonous to werewolves if it enters their bloodstreams.”

“Correct.”

“Beta David was poisoned by vampire blood. The physician performed an autopsy on the four that Matilda killed. They didn’t die from being shot by the arrow. However, they did die from vampire blood.”

“Vampire blood,” Luka repeated.

“Correct. Matilda said that Beta David had sampled her blood, and she also smeared her blood on the arrowheads. You were poisoned and shouldn’t have recovered as fast as you did unless you ingested—”

“Vampire blood,” Luka said, interrupting him.

“Precisely. You would’ve recovered with human blood, but the poisonous effects would’ve lingered for several hours. You certainly wouldn’t have had the capability of flight. I had the physician test a sample of her blood, and—”

“And what?” Luka whispered.

“It is apparent that you have an heir.”

20

An Heir

Luka hovered nearby, biting his thumbnail as their physician examined Matilda, who could barely keep her eyes open. Her lids were sluggish—rising and falling intermittently until she finally passed out. Luka had yet to tell her about the pregnancy. For one, he could hardly believe the news himself, and two, her illness had taken a turn for the worse.

“Dr. Blackwood, if she is, in fact, pregnant with my heir, then how can she fall ill? She has vampire blood running through her.”

“At the end of the day, she is still a human. The baby is certainly doing their part. She would undoubtedly be sicker than this if it weren’t for the baby. Keep in mind that the child is also a hybrid.”

“When shall she recover?”

“It is difficult to say. The fever is doing a number on her. We need to get her body temperature down.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“Be patient. I’ll have a few servants fetch pails of water from the river and fill the tub.”

Ezra entered the bedchamber and whispered in his ear.

“Very well. Spread the news through town that I have a special announcement to make at the town center, and I want all of Night Falls in attendance. Please stay with Matilda. I shall return shortly.”

Ezra sighed and peered down at Matilda’s limp form. “You, my dear, are quite a hassle.

***

Luka sat at his desk and obsessively reviewed the amendment document. He didn’t want to leave a single stone unturned. His advisory board questioned him at great lengths, demanding to know his thought process behind his decision to allow vampires and humans to mate. He gave them some bullshit excuse about bolstering relations between the vampires and humans, leading to peace between the races while also increasing their population. He convinced them that the purpose was to breed out the humans. His advisors were not only agreeable with the amendment but signed the document excitedly, confirming his suspicions that a handful of his advisors already had the perfect human in mind to become their beloved mate. There’d be no judgment from him. He impregnated his sworn enemy, and he’d do it again, and again, and again if she allowed him.

Done hesitating, Luka retrieved a quill pen from the inkwell and scrawled his name at the bottom of the document.

“It’s official,” he murmured, stamping the parchment with his official seal.

“King Alesi, is this a good time?” Dr. Blackwood asked, poking his head through the door.