“I’m told Kirsten teleported you here, which means no one could follow her. Fawn sent vampires Kirsten didn’t know to retrieve you.”
He chuckled, and my heart warmed. My love was going to be okay.
“I’m glad we didn’t kill her, the first time you and I met her. If we had, she wouldn’t have been able to bring me to you.” He looked at Ajax and Arabella, who’d just sat down to yet another meal. “I felt what Gwen did, but she couldn’t have done that without the two of you. It was a stronger power of three. Arabella was part of it.” He looked at Ajax a little longer, and then gave me a questioning look. He knew the wolf had helped, too.
“Someone needs to fuck Arabella soon, so she canchangeand replenish,” I pointed out.
“I’m okay, Ma’am. Two meals and some time. I’m fine.”
I sent feelers out and discovered she was right. She shouldn’t be, but she seemed mostly replenished. “I don’t know how, but you are. If you can feed Kieran again, he’ll get more of the energy from ourpower of threeritual.”
I’d felt Kendra, off to the side, making sure we were okay. She’d been focused on the monitors, and yet, she held us, somehow. We had her in Abbott’s stead. He’d already given her the metaphysical keys so she could access the power of his territory. If something happened to him, she’d be our Master. Abbott still fully held the reins, but she had easy access to his power, and she sheltered us with it. It was as if she somehow helped contain us, so the energy we had stayed in our little unit and none spilled out.
The four of us took a shower together. The saferoom bathrooms have a wall of showerheads. There’s zero privacy, but none of us needed or wanted to be alone. We were still connected on an energy level, even when not touching.
“I should go back and fight,” Kieran told me, “even weakened, I’d be a help. I fear we’ve been set up to lose, and I don’t understand it. In centuries past, Abbott leaves if victoryisn’t a sure thing. He risks much by placing himself in this battle when we have such a slim chance of finding our way to victory.”
“Technology has changed everything,” I reminded him. “We must think globally. Just as losing the Second World War would’ve meant the entire modern world’s loss of the light if the darkness had won, we’re in the same position now. This battle, here, in this city, will decide the fate of the world. How could he be anywhere else?”
Our instructions, if we lost this battle, had us fleeing to a city in northern Russia. A few hundred vampires would mean an influx of over a thousand people, including guards, support staff, and companions. If evil took over, we’d hide out in a mid-sized city in the middle of nowhere, in the frozen tundra. I’d purchased homes and even an old school we’d converted into apartments. Abbott had people living in the homes already. People who would welcome us with open arms, should we need to escape civilization for a few decades.
Or centuries.
And yet, Abbott hadn’t taken us there before the battle. Had he thought victory was a sure thing?
No, Kendra told me.Aaron Drake convinced him he had to take a stand. Without Abbott and his people, our side had zero chance of winning. So, for the first time since I’ve known him, Abbott stayed to fight when he knew we might lose.
I hadn’t realized I was thinking out loud, but I had been. I needed to do better. My shields were a mess after working so hard within thepower of three.
Ajax held Arabella in his arms while Kieran took another twelve ounces from her. She was truly strong enough to give more despite the fact she hadn’tchanged. There was some power there. She didn’t show it, and she was young, but the little swan was strong in character and body.
I noted our wolf seemed especially protective of the little swan, and I wasn’t sure why, but I approved. I liked seeing her small body in his big, strong arms. She was perhaps two inches taller than me, but still quite small compared to our strapping werewolf.
We all dressed after our shower, and while everyone was preoccupied, I took a look at their shields. The swan maiden’s shields were strong, and yet, they were open to the three of us. The same could be said for Ajax’s. Kieran’s were locked down, though I saw tendrils reaching out to the three of us.
“Arabella. It’s possible we’ve claimed you in a way that will anger your Queen.”
She smiled up at me. “I know. I feel it, but I’d do it again, given the choice. I’ve never experienced anything so magical in my life. I’m honored to have been a part of it, and even now, my soul hurts at the idea of being sent away.”
I felt Kieran’s gaze on me. He understood what we’d done, and the possible ramifications. Rules can be bent and twisted during times of war, but we’d shattered this particular rule.
I sent him a shortened version of what I intended to do, and I sensed his trepidation even as he approved of the plan. The swan maiden was a submissive. Strong and sure of herself, but she wanted to submit. Queen Sophia might tear into Abbott and us for this later, but I was determined to try to hold onto what we’d created.
“Okay then.” I met Arabella’s gaze. “Until we figure out where we go from here, I am officially gifting you to Ajax, who you should know was gifted to Kieran and myself.”
She nodded. “So, I kind of belong to you, but not directly. For now, I’m stuck with the wolf, which I have to tell you makes me pretty happy. It doesn’t make sense, but he feels like sunshine to me.”
I smiled. “Heismy sunshine, so your words make perfect sense.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ajax
Other than the few sessions Spence arranged for me with a prostitute, I’ve never had someonegivento me. And, with the prostitutes, it was more like renting them than owning them. I’d had a few sessions with a prostitute who liked being bossed around and held down, and I’d thoroughly enjoyed my time with her. Spence had promised Abbott would find a way to make sure I had an opportunity to Top someone warm-blooded at least a few times a month. So far, that’d happened with prostitutes mostly, though I’d been to a few RTMC parties, and they always sent Genie to me.
And so now, as I looked down at the tiny little swan, I was conflicted. She’d been given to me, and she said it felt right, but did she really have a choice?
“How old are you, Arabella?”
