Chapter 17 Lokken
LOKKEN
Sitting on the Ironheart throne, our queen quietly sipped her tea, oblivious to the power slowly spreading from her.
The wood was almost completely covered in fresh green sprigs.
Not from any one kind of tree but a multitude of different species, from oak and maple to spruce and hawthorn.
Thick roots disappeared into the ground without damaging the floors.
Even the air felt different. Charged with power ahead of a massive thunderstorm. The scent of fresh green leaves and tender shoots mixed with delicate blossoms, though I didn’t see any flowering buds.
“Let’s discuss what needs to happen to initiate a blood circle around the house.” The fresh green leaves around her quivered with delight, drawing her attention. Her eyes rounded with surprise. “Oh, goddess. Is that supposed to happen?”
“I do remember the Ironheart throne having leaves while your grandmother sat as queen,” Clara replied in a hushed voice. “But it wasn’t as lush, and I never saw them move or respond to her like that.”
Helayna’s eyes fluttered shut, her head tipping slightly as if she listened to something no one else could hear. “It wants… new blood.”
She reached toward the nearest hawthorn branch and pressed her thumb to a thorn. The short spike shuddered and immediately lengthened. More thorns bristled, rattling like tiny swords. “Did Queen Hrefna feed the throne?”
Clara clasped shaking hands together before her. “I don’t know, Your Majesty. I never saw any reference in the consiliari documents. I’m so sorry. I feel like I’m failing as your advisor in all things Aima. I didn’t have long enough with the queen to know these things before she passed.”
“It wants more than a few drops.” Helayna raised her gaze to me. “What’s involved in setting a blood circle?”
Everyone stared at me expectantly. “I’ve never seen one completed,” I reminded them.
“It’s something only the queen and her Blood do, and I’ve never served before.
In short, simple facts, the queen drops blood onto the ground in a complete circle around the nest. Once the circle is closed, no one may cross that boundary without carrying the queen’s blood, unless one of us physically touches them and brings them across into the nest.”
“I know that much,” she said, a wry smile curving her lips. “The cabin in Minnesota had a blood circle still standing when we returned from Hvergelmir. Why did you blush before, Clara?”
“Was it that obvious?” She laughed, blushing again and fanning her cheeks.
“Like Lokken, I can only tell you what I’ve heard, not what I know to be true.
Depending on the size of the nest, the queen must bleed for quite some time to complete the circle.
Her Blood are with her, of course, and naturally, when it’s closed…
” She coughed delicately. “She needs to feed to replenish her reserves, and let’s just say things may get out of hand while outside in the open air.
Something you wouldn’t want curious human eyes to see, I’m assuming. ”
Still munching on cake, Gunnarr asks, “So like a garden party?”
“What’s that?’ Helayna asked.
“Supposedly back a couple of decades ago, there was a queen who was famous for celebrating the full moon outside in the garden—in the middle of London, no less—with her Blood. Can’t recall what her name was, though.
Like full on naked bloody orgy.” His eyes widened as if he just realized what he said.
Shoving the cake into his mouth, he shook his head, mumbling.
“Sorry, my queen. I should keep my mouth full so I don’t blurt out such inappropriate rumors.
It probably never happened. Certainly nothing any of us would…
I mean, I’m game for anything, even naked garden parties, but—”
Far from being offended, Helayna laughed, a low, husky sound that strummed the base of my spine. “I’m beginning to see why making sure the humans are otherwise occupied would be in our best interest.”
“What about the cliffs?” Myrk asked. “The house leans out over the edge, so it’s impossible to walk a full circle.”
“Do I have to walk it? Or can we fly around the house?”
Everyone looked at me again. As if I knew any flying Blood in service to a queen. “It’s the blood that’s important. You’re building a boundary, setting an intention to keep everything out that doesn’t belong. Whether your feet touch the ground or not shouldn’t matter.”
Though I hated the thought of me and Gunnarr standing around waiting for them to complete the circle. I didn’t think it would matter one way or the other as far as the circle was concerned. I just wanted…
To be used. Included.
Needed.
I tried to keep my face smooth from any inner turmoil. She had enough pressure as queen already. She didn’t need to include every single one of us in everything she did. As more Blood came to her Call…
Eventually it’d be impossible for her to even spare each of us five minutes.
She rose from the throne without giving it any more of her blood. “Clara, please inform the staff who live with us to stay inside the house this evening. Everyone else is dismissed.”
“Even the security staff?”
“Yes. After the blood circle is set, their jobs will be easier anyway.”
Clara inclined her head. “At once, Your Majesty. Would you like to open the Reykjavík house as well?”
“Yes, if possible. Is tomorrow enough notice? I’m not sure what’s involved in opening a house that hasn’t been used in decades.”
“There’s a skeleton staff there all the time since it was the former Ironheart seat.
We could leave within the hour, and they’d be ready for you, Your Majesty.
Though a few hours’ notice will certainly allow us to determine which staff will stay here and who will go with us.
Will you wish to spend a few nights in Reykjavík or return here the same day? ”
“Tomorrow is fine once I’m up, and I’m not planning to spend many nights if at all. This is my home.”
Clara smiled warmly and inclined her head.
“I’m so very pleased to hear that, Your Majesty.
The staff will be situated within the next half hour.
Please don’t hesitate to use the intercom if you need assistance with anything, no matter how seemingly inconsequential. Pàtair and I will both be available.”
Helayna waited for her consiliarius to quietly shut the door behind her.
Then she looked at each of us one by one, her eyes slumberous.
“I want you all with me for the blood circle. Every step of the way. Can my dark alfar each carry one of us so we’re all together?
Or is that too much weight to bear for so long? ”
Myrk snorted. “I could carry the ice giant over the ocean back to Minnesota if that’s your wish, my queen.”
“Not so far as Minnesota, but that’s good to know.” Her lips quirked, a twinkle glinting in her eye. Then she pulled the sweater over her head.
And I lost the ability to think.
HELAYNA
I felt downright decadent in my new clothing, all the way down to a beautiful matching bra and panties in black silk and lace. The silk felt absolutely incredible against my skin, so I’d requested more items in the sumptuous material.
I especially loved the way my Blood looked at me. I didn’t need fancy clothes or expensive luxuries, but if they could look at me like this…
I’d wear nothing but lingerie the rest of my days.
I started to stand so I could remove my new pants, but the fresh leaves on the throne immediately began to wilt, so I quickly sat back down. “I don’t want to get blood on my new clothes, but I think I need to give more so the new growth doesn’t die.”
“Easily solved, my queen.” Dorr bent down, slipped his hands beneath my arms, and quickly lifted me so I stood on the seat of the chair. The tender shoots remained.
“Do you think a little more blood will help, or am I going to have to stay on the throne to keep the new growth?”
He shook his head. “You can’t possibly remain seated in the throne day and night. You wouldn’t get any rest.”
True. “I guess we’ll find out.” I unbuttoned my slacks, and he helped me slide the material down my legs. I held onto his shoulders, lifting one foot and then the other. “I guess the real question is how much blood will be required.”
My Blood drew closer, but I handed my sweater to Lokken to fold. Gunnarr had chocolate on his hands, and my Blood weren’t used to handling human clothing.
“I think the better question may be how much are you willing to give?” Lokken asked gravely, carefully folding my clothes like priceless artifacts. “Since your mother never took the throne, it may need more than a typical transfer of power.”
Dorr passed my slacks to Lokken to fold as well. I debated for a moment on keeping my lovely new underthings on, but if we were going to have a bloody orgy…
The tips of Gunnarr’s ears and the apples of his cheeks burned bright red. “I’m so sorry, my queen. My damnable tongue flaps quicker than my brain can slow it down sometimes.”
I hadn’t realized I was broadcasting my thoughts to my Blood at all. “I’m not offended, Gunnarr. I think we should start a new tradition. Instead of a garden party, we’ll have a party on the beach.”
I turned around so Dorr could unfasten the clasp of my bra.
He passed it to Lokken reverently, and then my panties.
I’d been completely naked countless times before my Blood without a thought, but it was different this time.
Five glorious, tempting men stood in a loose circle about me.
Close enough to touch. Though none of them would so much as lay a finger on me without permission.
They’d watched me disrobe. They knew I was going to bleed.
Hunger pulsed through me. All around me. A loop of increasing need.