By midafternoon, the strength from my feeding had faded, my clothes loosening around me, and I felt relieved. I’d shut myself away in my study for the duration of the morning until I felt more like myself. Beyond Maudoric, I didn’t want anyone to know that I’d found mykyrana. Especially not my brothers.
Maudoric wouldn’t tell a soul. But for now…it was best I kept the discovery to myself.
My bleary gaze was looking over the expansion proposal for the South Road, which would lead further beyond Vyaan and connect to Salaire next. Orb lights were being installed next month, an off-planet order that had been pricey. But they were permanent sources of light and would ensure safer transport of exports and traveling caravans between the territories.
I had my own doubts and opinions on prioritizing the South Road’s completion when there was a threat of war looming. I’d opted against the plan, arguing that we should use our funds to begin increasingdravaextraction. Kylorr black steel. It was mined from the Three Guardians, a mountain range close toErzos.Dravaweapons and structures were virtually unbreakable and were invaluable in a time of war.
But Kythel had reasoned that the road would make it easier to defend the Southern territories. Vyaan and Salaire, specifically. The transport ofdrava,of food, of much needed supplies was made a priority. He wasn’t wrong. Then again, neither was I.
Kylorrcouldtransport supplies by flying them, but it expended a lot of energy, and some required groups to manage the weight, all tethered together. It was dangerous if even one Kylorr succumbed to exhaustion, potential for taking down the entire grouping, especially if they were flying with something as heavy asdrava.
My brothers had been split, but Azur, as eldest, had made the final decision, siding with Kythel. Which hadn’t been a surprise.
Maudoric entered my study with a tray of food after a short rap on the door.
She eyed me as she set it down on the small table near the window that overlooked the south side of the village.
“Where is she?” I asked first, the question nearly unconscious.
“In the gardens,” Maudoric replied. “I have a few horticulturists keeping an eye out for her.”
I inclined my head. When I hadn’t been able to find Erina yesterday, when no one had known where she’d disappeared to, I’d…panicked. A strange burst of deep fear that didn’t make any logical sense. If not for one of the horticulturists’ report that he’d seen her near the starwood blooms before sundown, I would’ve searched the keep from top to bottom.
After a similar scare this morning, a mere twelve hours later, I’d tasked Maudoric to keep tabs on her whereabouts. I wasn’t going to secure mykyranaonly to lose her so quickly, no matter how repelled I felt about the situation.
It would be unwise for me to lose her. A blood mate was a powerful weapon, especially if war came.
Maudoric cleared her throat, and I looked up. “Lydrasa of House Azola is waiting in the atrium. Would you like me to turn her away?”
A sharp annoyance pierced through me, but I reasoned it was only habit. Lydrasa came to me every couple days like clockwork. She had for the last several months. We aligned. She was more than willing, and I’d been…needful. Anything to suppress that awful sensation growing inside me.
A sensation I assumed had begun because of Erina. She’d come to work at my keep two years ago. It was no coincidence that that was when it had started. Even beneath her awful artificial scent, that beastly thing inside me had recognized her for what she truly was.
A part of me was angry. That I’d suffered so long and so needlessly, constantly driven to distraction. Nights of restless sleep, chased by bouts of fucking that had only momentarily dulled the ache.
“Send her up,” I told Maudoric, hearing something in my neck snap when I rolled it. If she was surprised by my answer—now that I had a blood mate—she didn’t show it. Her expression was carefully blank.
I stood from my desk, going to the window. Sunlight skimmed over my face as I heard my Head Keeper leave the room.
Now a part of me wished I’d taken the larger office in the East Wing so that I might overlook the gardens. So that I might see where Erina was spending her time.
A gruff scoff of disgust came from me.
No.I refused to be one of those males who pined over their blood bonded like a lovesick fool. There was nothing romantic about this. I intended to use Erina like a drug, to make me feel like my old self. That was the deal. She would lead an easy, pampered life from here on out. She wouldn’t have to worryaboutanything. All I required was her blood…and for her not to get too attached in the process.
My attentions couldn’t be diverted from Vyaan, from the entirety of the Kaalium right now. We were on the precipice of uncertain change. I didn’t need to be distracted by a female of all things.
Once, I’d scorned Kythel when he’d believed he could resist the pull of his blood mate in favor of marrying a daughter of a noble House. I’d laughed at him. Maybe now fate was punishing me.
Lydrasa entered my study, a sensual smirk already poised on her lips. “Door open or closed?” she teased.
It had always turned her on…the possibility of getting caught. I’d felt the way her cunt had clenched around me tight when Erina had walked in on us the other day.
Normally I’d have her bent over the desk by now, the tension snapping in my bones, making me want to crawl out of my skin.
Now? My cock didn’t give so much as a twitch.
Another thing taken from me,I thought.The ability to fuck others.
