Chapter 32
SHARA
In a haze, I drifted in and out of consciousness. Not exactly sleeping—but unfocused. Relaxed. Resting my mind, all concerns laid aside. Just for a while. As my Blood came to me one by one again. Eager for a taste of the breeding magic flowing from my body.
For them, it was a miracle. Queens didn’t breed any longer.
Menstruation was a goddess-given miracle, and I couldn’t deny the extra wallop of power each drop carried.
I could feel the vibration in the air around me.
Life energy humming with joy, a celebration of the Mother’s greatest magic.
The ability to bring life into existence.
I didn’t take such a gift lightly. Even though the cramps worsened as the hours passed.
Achy all over, especially my lower back.
I wasn’t the kind of queen who demanded constant attention and worship, let alone someone who expected my Blood to wait on me hand and foot, massaging my muscles, lifting cups to my mouth, holding me with warm, soothing bottles against my skin.
But it felt incredibly nice, I had to admit. Mostly I laid on top of Rik in various positions—because he for damned sure wasn’t going anywhere when my period was driving him mad. Though my alpha kept his shit together. Even more importantly, he kept the rest of my Blood in line.
No one handled me too roughly or got greedy, even Mehen.
I didn’t bother with catching the blood inside my body with magic, not when I had so many eager Blood ready to devour every drop.
In the beginning, their hunger had squicked me out.
Periods were gross and messy. Even shameful.
Being on the run by myself, my period meant I had to leave town.
Immediately. I had to find a new place to hide every day by nightfall and hope to goddess I’d put enough distance between me and the monsters on my trail.
Rather than stressing about hiding the blood, now I could simply free bleed and trust they wouldn’t miss a drop.
Though I still had monsters on my trail.
Every hour of darkness that passed, the Dauphine’s former Blood would be turning humans into thralls.
An entire army ready to attack at a moment’s notice.
She’d known where my nest was, so I had to assume there’d be a pack nearby in addition to the goules.
But I couldn’t seem to muster two brain cells together to look at the mental tapestry and see if I could find them.
I hadn’t even checked in with Leonie to see what she found in her home. If we had any idea…
Thoughts drifted away. I couldn’t hold them.
Not with my Blood’s hands and tongues stroking me.
“We’re ready for anything,” Rik said against my temple. He held a freshly warmed water bottle against my lower back. “Let them come, my queen. They won’t be able to enter your blood circle. We’ll pick them off one by one.”
I shifted a little, though that made a soft whimper escape my lips. Moving shifted his dick inside me, letting more blood spill out. The flow was heavy now. Not that he cared in the slightest.
He relished every drop. Even if that meant some of my Blood took turns licking his balls and thighs.
Daire, of course, purring so loudly the bed frame quivered like mini earthquakes were shifting the house.
But Nevarre, Okeanos, and Tlacel had gotten in on the action too.
What was a little ball licking between vampire friends when blood was involved?
Especially period blood. They didn’t even mind if it was mixed with cum.
It made me snicker a little, even though that made my stomach complain on a rumble that was part pain and part hunger.
I barely recognized my own signals—but Rik was already gently lifting me off his near-constant erection and helping me sit up, my back against his chest. The sensation of blood slipping from my body made my breath catch on another groan. So fucking much. Goddess.
It took me a few moments to refocus. I wasn’t surprised by a tray with fresh, hot tea and a soothing bowl of egg drop soup with crunchy wonton strips and perfect steamed rice. One of my favorite simple meals when I was miserable at the peak of my heaviest days.
Vore hovered beside the bed, clearly eager to be of service in any way possible, though from the tightness of his eyes and shoulders, he wasn’t sure if he would be welcomed.
I couldn’t remember if he’d tasted the blood yet or not.
Everything was kind of hazy. But I thought not.
Even earlier… Before my period started. He’d come to my bed with Okeanos, but Sekh and Tlacel had been involved in the second round of their challenge.
I knew Vore had fed… but I couldn’t remember if I’d taken him into my body or not.
Shame tightened my throat and my vision swam with tears.
His eyes flared wide and he dropped to his knees beside the bed, his arms stretched out toward me, his hands clasped so together so tightly his knuckles were white. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I’m not worthy. Send me back to House Kijin. I understand.”
“No, never. You’re more than worthy, Vore. I’m so sorry. I should’ve made sure you felt welcome, as welcome as Leonie. No, even more. Goddess, it was your first night in my nest. You’re my Blood. You depend on me to feed you and take care of you, and I didn’t.”
Tears streamed down my face and my breathing came short and choppy. Rik let out a thrumming bass growl that rattled the teapot, making Vore shrink even lower. Which only made me feel worse.
Reaching around me, Rik grabbed the cloth napkin and shifted me enough he could gently wipe my face.
“It’s not your fault, Vore. You’re not the reason she’s upset.
Our queen is more emotional when she’s breeding, which brings out my alpha instincts even more.
You did nothing wrong. No one’s sending you back. ”
“I didn’t take care of him.” I sniffled, trying not to outright sob. But Vore made a choked sound, shredding my heart enough I let out a wail. “I’m a terrible queen!”
Rik gripped my chin, giving me a gentle shake. “Look at him, my queen. Listen to his bond before you jump to conclusions.”
Gulping for air in between sobs, I turned my head.
Vore still lay across the side of the bed, his face down on the mattress.
His shoulders and back heaved and he still made sounds.
Muffled against the bed and muted by my crying.
Though as I pulled myself together, I realized he wasn’t crying like me.
He was laughing.
The man who’d been unable to speak for centuries. Chained and gagged by his own house to keep him under control. The same man who’d finally found his voice during our first night together—only to scream and bellow with pain. Letting centuries of bottled-up rage boil free.
He laughed.
“Forgive me,” he gasped, finally lifting his head.
Tears streamed down his cheeks too, but his red eyes glowed with soft radiance.
“I’m not. Laughing. At you. Never. My queen.
Only…” He stretched out a hand toward me, and this time, I reached out and clutched his fingers in mine.
“You’ve done so much for me, my queen. You freed me.
You even freed my monster. You allowed me to be of service in a way I never dreamed would be possible.
Even if you never touch or feed me again, I would lay down on my belly before you and beg leave to kiss your feet.
Yet you weep because you think I might be unsatisfied in this new reality, which is better than anything I ever dared dream in my entire life. ”
I hiccupped but at least I got the waterworks under control. “Then why did you say you were unworthy?”
He dropped his gaze to our hands, and his cheeks bloomed with color. “I saw some of the others. Feeding. I thought—” His shoulders quivered. “I have no such expectations, my queen. I’m a flesh eater. I’m happy to simply exist in your court however you wish, even if I never taste your blood again.”
Ah. He thought I wouldn’t want a flesh eater that close to my delicate bits. I had no problem whatsoever with his jagged teeth or darker urges. I trusted him—because he had fully surrendered control of his ushi-oni to me.
Before I could say anything, my stomach growled again, driving Rik to pull the tray closer beside us. He shifted me enough to cradle me in his left arm. Then he picked up the spoon to feed me himself.
I opened my mouth to protest but he just stuck the spoon in my mouth before I could say anything.
“Let us take care of you, my queen.”
Which had multiple implications. I knew my alpha inside and out. He chose his words with intent and spoke them out loud for a reason.
I nodded. “If you don’t mind,” and then accepted another bite of soup.
“We love and treasure every moment of existence with you, Shara Isador, last daughter of the Great One. Especially when you allow us to worship you like the goddess incarnate you are. Vore, our queen is in need of cleansing. Do not so much as scrape her with your teeth.”
“Understood, alpha.” Despite his words, Vore hesitated, flickering another quick glance up at my face. Silently asking for permission, needing that extra little bit of security that I wouldn’t be offended, or worse, scared of him approaching.
I gave a gentle tug on his hand, encouraging him to come up on the bed with us. “If you don’t mind,” I repeated.
Though his brow furrowed, he eased up onto the bed carefully, making sure not a single drop of soup dripped from the spoon as Rik gave me another bite. Though something did drip. On my leg. Again.
Drawing my gaze back to his face. Saliva dripped from his mouth, glistening on his chin. Droplets dampened the gray sheen of his shirt. “All food is sacred, let alone blood from a fertile, powerful queen. Why would I mind a chance to hold one drop of such precious magic inside me?”