:Forgive me, my queen. That is not my concern.:Outwardly, I took a deep breath and forced my shoulders to relax. At least I’d shifted back to the human form, so I hadn’t scored the floor with my talons. “Lokken, I formally ask you to provide any needful advice that will aid in our queen’s protection. Do not hesitate to inform me. I am our queen’s alpha by her will alone, and I’m not of this world. There are many things I simply don’t understand.”
Tension bled out of the other Blood. “I didn’t want you to think I was trying to challenge your authority, alpha. Of course, I will eagerly do anything to ensure our queen’s safety.”
“What do you suggest?” Helayna asked, still leaning against me.
“Until the blood circle’s in place, your chambers must be secure at all times. We should have guards outside the house, patrolling the grounds and looking for anything out of place. It’d be best to go in pairs.”
Relief flowed through me as well. Instinctually, I’d been on edge since we left the safety of her last nest. No, before, when the sunfires had attacked and she’d almost drained herself trying to save her home. Nothing felt safe now, especially without even a blood circle generally capable of keeping anything out. “One dark alfar, one Aima, on guard at all times. That way we won’t be entirely incapacitated during the daylight hours.”
Lokken nodded. “Even once the blood circle is established, it’ll be best to continue regular patrols, though the threat should be greatly reduced. There are creatures called thralls that sometimes prey on our queens, and of course, some queens think nothing of sending a Blood into another queen’s nest to kill as many as possible, sometimes even the queen herself. I’ve heard legends of entire nests being exterminated by a single knight.”
“Goddess below,” Myrk growled. “How do we tell the difference between a new Blood she’s Called, and someone who may wish her harm?”
“I’ll know,” Helayna assured us. “I’ll do regular checks now so we know when to expect a new Blood is coming.”
“You and me, buddy.” Gunnarr slapped Svar on the back with a wide grin. “Let’s go guard some shit.”
Svar hesitated, looking at our queen. “Since it’s night, am I allowed to shift with the humans around?”
“I don’t see why not. Clara said they were used to serving in a queen’s House, so they’ve seen all manner of Blood before.”
Darkness exploded out of him with a flap of black wings and a powerful body. He clashed his teeth together and dived up thestairs, using his limbs to scale the walls.:They’ve not seen the likes of me before.:
Gunnarr shifted to his white bear, letting out a plaintive grumble as he lumbered up the stairs.:No fair. I’m always going to be stuck on the ground while you zip around overhead like a fucking bat.:
“I would also post a Blood at the top of the stairs,” Lokken continued. “If we have greater numbers, then another guard at the bottom. You, alpha, will of course be her last defense, though if possible, you should have two or three Blood with you to ensure she has plenty of blood to fuel any defensive attack.”
“So two outside, two on the stairs, and two or three plus Dörr.” She blew out a sigh though her lips quirked with amusement. “That’s a lot of Blood, Lokken.”
“Not at all, my queen. Ideally, you’ll have at least ten. Probably more if you’re as strong as I suspect.”
Her head tipped slightly, her eyes closing as if she looked inside herself. “I don’t think I’m as strong as you think. Certainly not compared to Karmen.”
“I have no idea who she may be, my queen, but the force of your Call knocked the wind out of me. I dropped to one knee behind the podium and gripped the wood so hard it broke into pieces around me.”
“You were close?—”
Lokken shook his head. “As your consiliarius noted from the beginning, House Skathi is known for our frost giants. Jötnar are notoriously hard to Call as Blood. You would have been able to Call me even if I’d been at home, a major feat indicating depth and power you haven’t begun to tap yet.”
I nodded in agreement. “You Called me out of a sleep that had lasted over a thousand years.”
“I don’t feel strong, though.” She rested her head against me, her heart heavy with failure and regret, which made me wantto pound this entire island into rubble. “I could barely keep the cabin from catching fire and burning up around us. If help hadn’t arrived?—”
I couldn’t bear such self-recrimination in my queen. Turning toward her, I dropped to my knees and waited.
For her head to rise. For her eyes to meet mine. For her heart to lighten.
It took a few moments, but she did finally look into my eyes. “With only three dark alfar Blood, who are entirely incapacitated by the light of the sun, you stood alone against a multitude of burning solar creatures. The Triune queen who came to help could barely hold them off despite her mighty Aima Blood, who were unaffected by the light of day. I don’t fully understand what Triune means, my queen, but if you’d had more Blood to aid you, I’m confident you could have done the same as her. Only Karmen could deal with the sunfires, because she is their queen. Of course they responded to her will immediately, as we will respond to yours without question.”
Her eyes gleamed with all the darkness of Hel, her power swelling inside her, washing away the lingering traces of doubt. “My darkness, how I love you.”
I started to bow to her, fully intending to press my face to the floor before her. Overwhelmed by her love for a creature like me.
She cupped my cheeks, stilling me immediately. I was still in my human shape, but I could feel my essence expanding inside me like a dark storm. Ready for her Call. Eager to rush to her aid, whether she needed the monster, or only its blood.
“The ice man has a point, my queen.” Myrk followed the other two Blood up the stairs, pulling the bottom door behind him. “Call if you need me.”
Longing echoed in his bond, but he left without hesitation to take position at the top of the stairs. Her breath blew out softly. “More Blood seems impossible to manage.”
