Chapter 13
SHARA
Our two flesh eaters strolled back into the nest together, laughing and talking as if they’d known each other for centuries. Vore had even been able to transfer back to his human form without needing me to assist him. Great. Except he wasn’t able to conjure up wizard robes like Merlin.
Luckily Nevarre wasn’t the only Blood who packed a bag, though Guillaume’s basketball shorts combined with Ezra’s spare plaid shirt made an interesting outfit choice.
Vore came to stand before me, his body language relaxed, his eyes soft and bright. He even dared a slight smile that tugged at my heart.
“My queen, your enemies have been destroyed, and no innocents were harmed.”
I held my hand out to him, but instead of taking my hand in his, he dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to my knuckles. I turned my hand enough to cup his cheek, sliding my fingers into his thick black hair. “Thank you, Vore. You did well.”
“We eliminated all evidence except for scraps,” Merlin added. “Quite a tasty feast if I do say so myself. I haven’t fed so well since the Battle of Arfderydd.”
Vore leaned in closer, pressing against my legs.
His bond rippled like a serene, gentle mountain creek gurgling around stones.
No screaming. No pain. For the first time in his existence, he’d been able to fully embrace his gift and his true nature without fearing he would lose control and hurt loved ones.
He laid his head on my lap and let out a soft sound of pleasure as I combed my fingers through his hair.
“Are we ready to go out to the swamp, then?” I asked out loud, lifting my gaze to Guillaume. “Or should we regroup at home first?”
“Xin and Itztli went over this entire place looking for clues,” he replied. “I don’t think we’re going to learn anything else about the Dauphine’s movements here.”
Rik rumbled deep and low. “It’s dark enough I don’t relish facing any thralls or boobytraps in unknown depths of mud and water.”
“Swamp?” Leonie asked.
“Thierry showed us a place about thirty minutes from here where he was held after the Dauphine took him from the pit. Xin found a small blood circle in the swamp, and there are four more of the Dauphine’s prisoners contaminated with human blood inside.
I’d like to eliminate them before they cause more havoc, but I suppose daylight would be best.”
Guillaume nodded. “Especially since we don’t know who they were. It may be hard to identify them at night.”
“So let’s go home and get some rest.” I looked over at Leonie. “You’re welcome to come with us.”
“Yes, please, my queen.”
“If you want to go pack a bag or grab any of your things…”
She gave me a sheepish grin. “I already packed a small bag. It’s by the door.
There’s not much I care to take, since everything here is contaminated.
Perhaps in the future, I’ll feel up to coming back and cleansing the entire nest, but I’ve never been more excited to leave home than I am right now. ”
“Speaking of packing a bag…” Itztli paused until I looked over to him. “Shall I bring the trophies from the cabinet, my queen?”
I shuddered. “No. I don’t want them brought into my nest, at least not until I know how we’re going to save the others.”
I touched Gina’s bond. :We’re getting ready to come home with a plus one. Leonie is coming with us to stay indefinitely.:
“By your leave, we’ll head back to New York City,” Gwen said. “There is something I wished to speak to you about soon, but there’s no rush. Certainly it can wait a few days.”
I nodded. “Absolutely. We can discuss however you prefer. Just let me know who should be present. If you’re available, we’ll either head out to the swamp or to Mykonos tomorrow.
I’ll give you a heads up when we decide.
Having your Bloods’ swords with us is always a bonus, especially against the Dauphine’s swordsmen. ”
“We’re always ready to ride beside House Isador, my queen. We don’t have any pressing business requiring my presence in New York City this entire week.”
Daire cleared away the tea service. Waiting for him to return, I stroked Vore’s hair.
Soft as spider silk, his hair clung to my fingers as if inviting more touch.
It made me remember how I’d wrapped him in my hair last night.
I bound his arms to his sides, giving him the security that I was strong enough to hold his bond.
Strong enough to control him. With nothing but my hair.
The more I touched Vore, the harder it was for me to focus on keeping the strands of my own hair contained in the fat bun at the base of my skull.
One fat curl slipped free and looped around his neck, making us both shudder.
His breath caught. He turned his head enough to look up at my eyes, gauging my reaction. Reading my emotions.
As he slowly opened his mouth and gripped my thigh in his jaws.
His teeth were like viciously sharp ivory swords, but he barely pricked me through the jeans. My extremely dirty, streaked jeans despite my effort at cleansing away the mud.
:I don’t care,: he whispered. :I’ll happily eat all the mud beneath this house just to taste your skin again. To know you trust me enough to let me touch you with this same mouth ready to devour your enemies bones and all.:
A small sound drew my attention back to Leonie. Her breath caught in her throat. Her cheeks were rosy. Her eyes round with surprise. Perhaps she wasn’t intimate with her Blood? Carys didn’t have Blood at all and was happily asexual. Maybe—
:No,: Leonie said quickly, though her blush darkened even more. :It just dawned on me that you really do love them. All of them. Even the more monstrous ones.:
:I do, and often,: I admitted, fighting the urge not to blush myself. :Especially the monstrous ones. Once we’re home, I’ll work on dampening your bond so you’re not exposed to so much overflow.:
:Oh.: She hesitated, dropping her gaze to her hands. Then she flicked a quick look back up at me, checking to see if I were still looking at her. :I’d rather you didn’t.:
An invitation? Or did she simply not want to lose this deeper connection we had? Not sure how to respond yet, I simply stood. Everyone leaped into action. Vore shot to his feet but stayed close because my hair was still looped around his throat. He could have simply flicked the curl away—
:Never,: he snapped vehemently, startling me enough I paused and Rik bumped into me, automatically wrapping an arm around me to keep me from stumbling.
Vore caught me up against him too, clutching me desperately. :Forgive me, Your Majesty. Please don’t send me away.:
One day. One day of freedom. Of even being able to speak.
One day of being my Blood. Of course he was off balance, possessive, and needy.
Especially given his long imprisonment in House Kijin.
:I will never send you away. You’re mine.
Always. You will always be welcome to speak to your mind, especially to me. :
:All of us?: Leonie asked.
I leaned harder against Rik, pressing my hand over his giant palm on my stomach.
Drawing silent strength from his steady presence.
She, too, had every right to be off balance and possessive.
These two newest bonds were more invasive than my other bonds, though that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. :Of course.:
:Then I wish to be yours too.:
:You are. You’re part of House Isador now.:
:No, Shara, my queen. I mean I wish to be yours, as much as your Blood. Please don’t send me away either.: In her bond, I heard desperate weeping and sobs. Screams. Begging for help. For someone to kill her. To put her out of her misery. Then, near the end, only “Isador. Isador. Isador.”
The lifeline Thierry had given her.
Me.