CHAPTER ELEVEN
Royal Vampire Nest, Blood Kingdom
Daire
“Bloody beautiful.”I lean down to study my Omega’s gorgeous, freckled face, wondering at how deeply she can sleep even in the middle of an enemy court.
I haven’t slept properly from the moment that I was captured in Rune Forest. Every time I close my eyes, I see dragons circling against the moon wreathed moon, Ciara blasted by the flames, then her ash and wisps of shadow scattered onto the nighttime breeze.
I imagine that I smell the stink of seared feathers and flesh.
My shame.
My destruction.
My fall.
I guess that it’s lucky because I mustn’t let my guard down anyway.
I haven’t been safe from that moment, first as a prisoner of the dragons and now, wearing a disguise to capture the Shadow Vampire King himself.
Lanlin more or less tore off his own half-brother’s cock and balls for daring to use his magic on Freya.
What in the name of the Shadow Devils would he do tome?
The Shadow Queen Slayer?
I sigh, leaning down to take a deep breath of my Spark’s calming rose scent.
We’re both sleeping naked.
There is nowhere I would rather be, no matter the danger.
Tremors caused by the pain from iron poisoning run down my wings. Now that I am alone, I allow myself to grimace.
I glance around at the world, which is blurred to a mix of colors like smeared paint around me.
The Bloods move more quietly than dragons do. It is harder to keep up with where they are without my full vision. On the other hand, however, their palace is filled with powerful aromas, along with a constant background hum of music, which makes up for it.
I adjust the nest, which I built out of blankets, more firmly around Freya.
I lean down to sniff the blankets — they smell of intoxicating incense.
They smell of Lanlin.
Typical of my savage wolf to feel safe in the Shadow Vampire King’s nest.
Yet how far can I trust this Alpha with Freya? He has saved our lives and risked his kingdom for her.
He has shown the same devotion that I feel but haven’t been able to offer.
My chest is tight.
I want to offer Freya the fucking world. Sit her on the throne in the Winter Court. Dance with her between the sacred ash trees with blossoms crowning our union, before we rut under the endless stars. Then build the farm for her, which she always dreamed about, beside the frozen waterfalls.
But I can’t.
I can’t even promise that she will haveanyfuture with me.
