The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(73)

Luca got caught up in King-things for the rest of the morning and it was a few hours until he realized Kit had disappeared. He eventually found him just as he was shutting the door to the twins’ room after putting them down for their afternoon nap. Luca turned him around quietly and searched Kit’s pale and drawn face. There was something bothering him.

“I have a surprise for you, two surprises actually.” Luca said and steered Kit into their own rooms next door. The palace was in a dreadful state. The three rooms the old Alpha stayed in were decorated in the height of luxury that would have put Hendrick’s pack house to shame but Kit had flatly refused to go into any of them. Luca agreed. It remained obscene for them to live as the old Alpha had when half the people shivered on bare stone floors, and hadn’t enough to eat. It would take months, possibly years, to right the wrongs that had festered for generations. Sleeping in a simple room, especially curled around his omega, was hardly a hardship. Luca clasped Kit’s hand and pulled him into the smaller room just off theirs, which they had been using as a bathroom. Kit gasped and his eyes lit up.

Luca had managed to get him a bath. A bath currently steaming with hot, fragrant water. Kit groaned and Luca turned him around so he was gazing up at him. “The necklace I had planned was spoiled, since Tara got her hands on it, but there was something else I had made. Gabriel has been keeping it safe for me.” Luca very carefully sank to one knee and brought out a small box from his pocket.

“Luca,” Kit pulled at his hand. “Get up. What are you doing?”

Luca beamed. Gabriel had unearthed a lot of human history and tradition. This one he doubted even Kit knew about. He opened the box carefully and Kit’s eyes grew huge at the simple platinum band set all around with Tanzanite. Each stone glinted and reflected the blue in Kit’s eyes. “My darling, will you promise to be my mate? To love me forever, and never let me go?”

Kit’s eyes swam, and Luca jumped up and hugged him tight. “Only if you promise the same.”

Luca slipped the ring on the third finger of Kit’s left hand as Gabriel had said it went. Then he quickly undressed them both. “Get in before you get a chill,” Luca instructed. He stepped in and held out his hand.

Kit opened his mouth, but Luca stopped him. “Marianne arrived just before I found you. Aislin and her two brothers are coming for tea.” Marianne was the twins’ new nanny. She was also mother to three children, one of whom was Aislin, the little girl with the burned hands Kit said he had met while on his way to rescue Luca. All four of them adored Ari and Adera.

“So we won’t be missed for a while, then?” Kit clasped Luca’s hand and groaned in delight as Luca lowered him into the water, then pulled his back flush to his chest.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?” Luca asked as he drew the sponge up and down Kit’s chest. Kit stilled. Luca tried to think about the last thing they were talking about. “It’s the coronation, isn’t it?”

Kit seemed to try and slide lower, but Luca cupped his cheek and tilted his face so he could look at him. “What is it, sweetheart? What’s bothering you?”

Lucas couldn’t help brushing a kiss on the side of Kit’s neck, but looked back up when Kit didn’t reply. Kit’s eyes filled and Lucas felt the pain in his heart. “Darling, what’s the matter? Did someone say something?” He growled and the water sloshed alarmingly.

Kit sniffed and couldn’t seem to help the giggle. “Remind me never to get in a boat with you if you are angry.” Luca grinned and the water calmed. Kit sighed and settled back onto Luca’s chest. “It is the coronation, yes. I had a word with Gabriel and he is as convinced it’s as important for me to be there as you.”

“For the humans,” Luca agreed. Kit nodded, then he swallowed. “You don’t need to be nervous, you know. It’s basically a big party.” Luca tried not to groan as Kit wriggled slightly, and really, between the twins and his new job, he hadn’t enjoyed much “alone” time with his mate recently.

“But what if they don’t think I’m good enough for you?” Kit burst out.

“What?” Luca said incredulously.

“I’m nothing. Street-trash,” Kit mumbled disconsolately.

“Sweetheart, what do you think would have happened if I had mated Tara?” Kit was silent. “We wouldn’t have the close ties with Christoph. We wouldn’t have the quick trust of the humans, and we definitely wouldn’t have been able to stop the fighting so quickly.” He pulled Kit’s face around so he could look in the beautiful blue eyes he loved so much. “Not only are you perfect, but you have saved hundreds of lives. I love you more every day. My heart beats for you.” Luca caught Kit’s lips with his own. Gently, completely. Every part of Luca’s mouth touched Kit’s.

Kit broke off for air and Luca clasped his hips and turned him back, lifting him slightly out of the water. “What are you?” Luca groaned out the question as he lowered Kit onto his aching cock and buried himself in Kit’s welcoming heat.

“Made—” Kit gasped out, but Luca finished the sentence.

“For me. Always.”