The silence was deafening.

Rebekah waited, her heart pounding. She’d put this off for too long. Five years too long to be exact. Would there have ever been a perfect time to confess her secret? No. But she couldn’t keep it inside any longer, especially since Dison had told her he still loved her. If there was any hope for a future, they couldn’t begin with lies.

To her dismay, Dison jerked out of bed, eyes ablaze with disbelief. “You’re telling me I’ve been writing to you? That you’ve been tricking me for all these years?”

His disdain was expected. “Just because I’m not the person you’d imagined, you automatically think I disguised my identity in order to trick you?”

“Yes,” he responded tersely. “Why the deception?”

She checked her temper. Of course he was angry. Who wouldn’t be? She aimed to soften her tone and ease back on being defensive. “I didn’t intend our communication to go on for this long, with me as Coury. The first time I wrote to you, I thought it would be the last. When I overheard a client of mine mention his suspicions regarding those fictitious bank accounts about a notorious client of yours, I felt compelled to tell you, but I didn’t think you’d take it seriously if it came from me.”

“Sure I would’ve,” he muttered, but didn’t sound that sincere.

She scooted to the edge of the bed, tucking the sheet underneath her arms. “Maybe. It wasn’t easy for me to do it, Dison. I thought by giving a different identity, it wouldn’t cloud the information.”

“But why keep up the pretense for this long, Rebekah?” he asked, the wound in his voice clear.

“I had to protect myself. You were in a different world. I wanted to keep my distance and guard my client’s reputation.” At first, she didn’t know whether or not he would even take her advice. But with every slice of interesting information she gave, he kept writing back in earnest with gratitude. Her heart grew to love him again, insisting he was good, that the royals hadn’t tainted him beyond recognition. Once she and Dison started to keep in touch on a monthly basis, she couldn’t stop. Too consumed with knowing how he was doing, if he was all right, what he was up to. She went out of her way to spy on her clients, just so she would have a reason to write to him again.

He continued to stare at her, but not with the warmth and desire of earlier. “Why tell me this now?”

Desperate to reach for him, she kept her hands in her lap, to give him space to digest her newly revealed secret. “You know why. I don’t want to be Coury to you anymore.” She stood and shuffled toward him. “I want to be me. I want to be together.” She raised her hand to caress his face, but he flinched. “Will you forgive me?”

“You’re forgiven,” he quipped. “I understand why you did it, but I don’t want to talk anymore. I need to think about my next move.”

Just like that, he’d shut her out cold, grabbed his duffel bag and shoved items inside, avoiding eye contact.

Tears burned her eyes and she gathered her clothes to get dressed. She should’ve known telling him the truth would only push him away. Why couldn’t he let her in? Other than using another identity, she’d been honest with the counsel she gave him.

Would they really go their separate ways and live separate lives as they’d done before? Miserable at the thought, she picked up her shirt. “I’ll leave.”

Dison came up behind her, locking his arms around her waist and pulling her in his lap. The shirt fell from her fingers, and she bit her lip to hold back the sob at the strength of him around her.

“Stop. Don’t go,” he pleaded, burying his face in the crook of her neck. “I can’t lose you again. I’m sorry, too. I was just caught off-guard.”

She turned her profile. “I know this is a shock and that you’re disappointed—”

“I’m not disappointed Coury turned out to be my beautiful, intelligent, clever Rebekah. In fact, I’m thankful. I respected Coury, but I respect and love you more. This is my second chance to be the man I should be for you and my family. One who looks out for more than himself. Isn’t hypnotized by prestige and power. I’ve been to the top, and now all I want is down.”

Relief washed over her. Turning around, she wrapped her arms around him. His mouth was quick to seal his promise.

After deciding to stay for the day, they stayed in bed, her front to his back. He smoothed the hair away from her neck, grazing his lips along the line.

She arched, desire blooming hot and bright within. Hunger radiated from him. “You need to feed?”

“No. I did earlier tonight.”

“Drinking out of a cup and feeding from a willing vein are two different things. I know you need more.” And if he took from her, it’d seal their bond. More than anything, she wanted Dison’s remnant on her body and soul, too. She was sure the gods would grant it.

During their relationship, they never fed from each other. Until vampires hit their maturation age, taking from the vein was unwise, one could take too much and harm the other. She didn’t mature until her early thirties, several years after their breakup. But there was no way he could hurt her now.

His teeth scraped her neck, yet he still hesitated.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“The opposite. Everything feels right. Rebekah…I want to avow you, as soon as possible. I know the gods will approve, but it’ll make us weak for days, hungry for hours. As much as I want to, I have to keep focus.”

Only after a vampire and their intended had matured, could one avow the one they wanted to be with forever, but Rebekah knew Dison was hers without it. Her heart and soul confirmed it. The pain she’d experienced when they split had nearly destroyed her. She’d been lost, feeling as though a part of her was disjointed. Only when she started writing to him did she feel a sense of wholeness again.

She sighed. “Then we’ll wait. If that’s what you want.”

A long moment passed.

“Rebekah?”

“Yes?”

“I already know you’re mine.” Sharply, he sank his teeth in.

A jolt hit her heart, and she cried out, bowing her back. Pure rapture blasted through her. A rush so acute, she couldn’t draw breath. It started from her neck and rocketed to her toes, paralyzing every nerve. Her eyes widened at the power overtaking every cell, electrifying her mind with the knowledge and security she’d been denied for so long.

She trembled, closed her lashes, tears of joy slipping to her cheeks as he drank her blood. Wet, desirous heat bloomed between her thighs, her entire body instantly sensitive to touch.

He was hers. Even without the avowal ritual, she belonged to him.

Dison moaned, swallowing, heaving from his nose.

She reached back and fisted his hair, feeling his cock between her buttocks. “Inside me, Dison.”

He gently lifted her leg over his.

Heart pounding, growing wonderfully dizzy, she spread her folds for his head, and he slowly entered her from behind. She squeezed her eyes shut, gasping as he stretched and fulfilled her. They merged slow at first, in a needful rhythm, her ass gently slapping against his pelvis. Every thrust was a claim. A promise.

He lifted his teeth from her flesh and cupped her knee to lift her leg higher, driving into her. “I love you,” he whispered.

He reached over and pinched her nipple, eliciting shocks of pleasure through her body. Elation pumped with every heartbeat. This was her man, her love. She let out a possessive, feminine growl, teeth growing.

Dison moaned and pulled from her body, forcing her to her back. A fire-like glow flashed over his brown eyes while he hooked her ankles and hands around his neck, then drove in. She threw her head back and cried out as he plunged.

Only he could ravish her like this and make it feel so good. As she rose higher and higher, she clung to him, moaning his name. Sex was ten times better with him than it was before, and she never thought that would be possible. His thick cock stroked her tight walls, hips slowly grinding into hers. The sweet pressure built, and she begged for more.

More…more.

Was she saying it out loud?

The orgasm’s intensity shattered her, and she let out a scream of ecstasy.

Slowing his thrusts, Dison let out a low guttural sound, finally pulsing inside her. “My love…you were made for me.”

She couldn’t even find the energy to agree. As he pressed kisses on her face, her throat, whispering his devotion, another set of joyful tears slipped from her eyes, basking in a surreal aftermath.

Gods, she loved him so. “There’s never been anyone else?” she whispered, the question slipping out.

“No.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

“For me neither.”

He shook his head and pulled back. “We’re both fools.”

“I won’t argue that,” she smiled, raking a hand through his damp hair.

“I’ve been the biggest of all. Driven by greed and pride for much too long.” He sighed, gathering her closer. “I want you to know I’ve been trying to get out for years. I didn’t realize how deep I’d gotten attached to the monster until I had to clip the stitches that held me to it, one by one.”

“I don’t care,” she said, meaning it. “I know who you are, where your heart has always been. I could hear it in your letters. That’s why I never gave up on you and why I tried to make sure you were on your way back to me.”

“Oh, baby…” He bent his head to kiss her. “I will spend an eternity thanking you for it.”

* * *

By the time Dison woke up, it was far past dusk. Night had fallen. The bed was cold and he was alone.

“Rebekah?”

She wasn’t in the room and her clothes were missing. He waited for a few minutes, then got dressed.

No note, nothing. Why would she leave without a word? Had he somehow pushed her away? No. Not possible. She showed her commitment to him for hours in bed while the sun burned through the day, with her words and body, but maybe she awoke she had a sudden change of heart.

For years, she’d written as someone else, behind a mask, and a part of him wanted to resent her for it, but he didn’t. Not at all. His beloved had helped him for the past five years, not only saving his life once, but twice. He’d hoped he’d finally meet Coury, shake his hand, and buy him a pint. Imagined they could become partners in business once Dison’s name was taken off the hit list somehow. But, there was no Coury, just Rebekah. She was his true, eternal partner in every way.

Reigning in panic, he left the room and checked the bathroom next door. Empty. The tavern downstairs, quiet. In fact, no one was around. An eerie, isolated feeling came over him. Was this a dream?

The grandfather clocked sounded the ninth hour, startling him. No, this wasn’t a dream.

Rushing back to his room, he snatched his bag, wondering where he should begin to look for her. Perhaps she said something to Harold or Katherine—

“Dison,” yelled a man’s voice. A voice he knew now.

He turned his head at the call of his name from outside. He went to the window, lifted it, and peered through the fog. To his alarm, the thugs from yesterday had returned…and they had Rebekah. Sickened, he made tight fists until his knuckles popped.

One of the males held a crossbow at her back.

Barely checking his rage, he braced his hands on the sill. “Rebekah. Are you okay?”

She looked up at him, courage in her voice, fear in her eyes. “Yes—”

“Obviously she’s untouched. For now,” Jeremiah interrupted. “Nice move with the Improper Gentleman. Unfortunately for you, they weren’t as loyal to your cause. All I had to do was toss the owner’s son a wad of bills and he gave up the deal he made with your bitch. By the way…” He ran a finger under his nose slowly, closing his eyes. “She reeks of you.”

Dison’s eyes widened with cataclysmic madness he’d never felt before, but he kept his tone even. “What do you want?”

“You. Jump down and I’ll think about letting this scheming whore go.”

“Where are the innkeepers?”

Jeremiah shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t care. Locked the place up. What the fuck are you waiting for? Get down here.”

Rebekah stepped forward. “Don’t, Dison! They’ll kill us both—”

One of the males stepped to her and slapped her with the back of his hand, knocking her down.

With a roar, Dison jumped down and sped toward the offender, tackling him to the ground with blinding speed.

“Dison, no!” Rebekah screamed.

It was too late. Dison’s teeth and nails sharpened at the same time. He raised his hand, clawed his fingers in the male’s throat and ripped it out. Two of the gang pulled him off and wrestled him to the ground, the flesh clutched in his hand. His victim choked and gurgled, body wiggling as he bled out.

Dison felt no remorse. No one assaults his woman.

They held him down, contorting his arms behind his back and digging their knees in his spine.

One of them ran over to the fatally wounded male. “Shit! He killed ’im! Just like that.” He whipped a furious gaze to Jeremiah. “Thought he was a numbers wanker!”

“So did I,” Jeremiah drawled, uncaring for his fallen man. “I should slice your head off for that.”

The strong one grabbed his hair and yanked Dison’s head back, exposing his throat.

“Bastard,” Jeremiah muttered, then kicked Dison’s face.

Sharp pain and blackness flashed behind his eyes, jaw throbbing.

Laughing, the two males pulled him up to his knees.

Through his haze, he saw Rebekah kicking and screaming while the bald one locked his arms around her, chuckling evilly. Dison’s heart pained for her. “You’ve got me. Let her go. She’s not part of the contract.” Like these assholes would do anything he begged for.

Jeremiah spit on the ground. “I’ll let the boss decide what to do with her. She’ll probably live. Be a waste to off such a hot piece o’ ass, eh, boys?”

The three grumbled their agreement, smacking their lips and making kissy noises.

Gods. Be kind. Help. He twisted his shoulders to break free, but the thugs held him tight. Even if he could struggle away, they would kill her just to spite him. Then he would truly have nothing to live for. The thought made his eyes and soul burn. If he hadn’t wanted to keep her, if he’d sent her away from him today, she would’ve been spared. “Rebekah.”

She settled down from flailing, meeting his eyes. “I love you—”

“I’m sorry,” he told her. “I wasn’t worth this risk. But I love you more than this life and I will continue to long into my death. I’ll haunt you and yearn for you eternally. And today…today was the more than I ever deserved.”

Jeremiah hooted mockingly. “Write this down, boys! Got me all choked up. It’s good stuff.”

She sobbed, trying to claw out of the stronghold. “Oh, gods, please let me go to him! Dison, I should’ve told you from the beginning who I was,” Rebekah said, ignoring Jeremiah’s taunting. “I wasted that time hiding for nothing. Oh, this is so unfair!” She whipped her gaze from one thug to another. “He hasn’t done anything wrong. Kristof’s death is on Jacoby’s hands! Let him go! Give him a chance!” They answered her pleas with cruel laughter. A tear streamed down her cheek, then another, and he could stand to see them no more.

“Pussies,” he gritted.

The shorter male came round from Rebekah’s back to his, pointing the sharp arrow into his skin.

Dison lifted his head, wanting Rebekah’s beautiful face to be the last thing he ever saw.