Lanlin’s lips twitch. “Are you going to say that it is too sudden? Talk it over with Freya; you have until the weekend. But youaremy Blood Lover. If you don’t let me feed…”
TheI will starvehangs between us.
Or possibly, theI will turn feral and eat you anyway.
I’m not sure.
Still, how the tables have turned.
Lanlin is like Aurelius. Neither have understood just how in control I am.
It’s almost sweet.
Lanlin studies me, silently waiting.
His patience impresses me.
How far can I push him?
I hold out my bleeding wrist, and he makes a fast move toward me. He grabs my arm but doesn’t move to drink, glancing up at me through his dark lashes, waiting for permission.
Wow, vampires are trainable. I didn’t need that book on vampire care after all.
My lips quirk. “How are you going to prove that you’re worthy of my blood?”
I expect Lanlin to banter back or snarl, but instead, his brow furrows in thought.
He appears to take my words as a genuine challenge. “Would you like more honey and date bat cakes? Would it please you for me to decorate this nest differently? I killed Sobek for you. I executed Nebet with my own hands because she hurt you. Is there anyone else you would like me to slaughter?”
I stare at Lanlin in shock.
He offers more honey and date cakes in the same breath that he tells me he killed his own High Priestess for me, an enemy fae?
Oh, he’s worthy.
He’smykiller.
I rest my hand on Lanlin’s strong shoulder like I’m sealing another deal. “You just made yourself worthy, bat. I have one more request.”
“Name it.”
“I love your bestial side. My ravens are my soul, aye?” I squeeze Lanlin’s shoulder, making sure that he is fully focused on me, rather than the scent of the blood that must be driving him mad. This is the moment that I have worked towards. “But Freya can’t shift. Some arsehole in her kingdom suppressed her magic. Your animalism power may be able to free her. If you can do that — free our Omega’s inner wolf — then you can drink from me as often as you like.”
“As you wish.” The moths’ eerie light dances across Lanlin’s face. He licks my wrist, savoring the blood. He shudders. Tremors wrack him, before he murmurs reverentially, “my feathered god.”
Then he lowers his fangs to my wrist and bites.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Blood Kingdom
Freya
Shadow throws backher head and roars, shaking her mane. Darkness snakes out of her, winding around me. Only, I’m not scared of it now, or of riding on the back of this demonic lion or of her sister flanking me on the other side as my bodyguard.
I’m not scared of the darkness of this Blood Court or it’s monstrous king.
I’m not only an orphan, thief, or spy.
