“Now what?” Urgit warily asked his bride-to-be.“Am I disturbing your Majesty?” Prala asked.“…You always disturb me, my beloved,” he answered her question, spreading his arms extravagantly.”

“Too much excitement, Your Majesty?” I asked.“He was standing too close.”“He was asking about Andrea.”“Too close. I didn’t like it.” Curran wrapped his arm around my shoulders and started walking,steering me away from the group. His Possessive Majesty in all of his glory.”

“What I want from you,” he said, and Finley braced herself, “is your trust. Irrevocable and unshakable. I want you to put your life in my hands, and I want to be able to do the same without hesitation.” Disturbed to her very soul, Finley could only shake her head. “You ask too much.” Put his life in her hands? He was deranged! A bedlamite for certain. A crooked grin curved his mouth. “Too much? You strange and wonderful girl, that is the least I’ll ask of you.”

“Am I to die?” I asked, and he stopped, raised our joined hands to his mouth and gently kissed my knuckles. “You are, my love, and in your sleep, you will become Death’s bride.”

“Kate," Lucern interrupted."What?" she asked warily."I do not need blood." He tugged her off balance and into his lap. "All I need is you.”

“My hands were gripping his arms, pulling myself tighter to him, my mouth glued to his and answering every unspoken question his asked.”