Daire, Ezra, and Itztli moved room by room through the house, senses wide open, searching for anything else alive. Vivian and Tlacel guarded two of Leonie’s original Blood who stood unstaring, unmoving, empty shells—but still alive. With a tiny push, I’d be inside them, seeing through their eyes. Making them move or even speak like puppet dolls.
I didn’t think there was any way I could use the Dauphine’s power to bring them back to the Blood Leonie knew. Though I didn’t want to kill them and destroy their bodies until she had a chance to see them herself. So she’d understand why I’d ordered her Blood killed.
:Not yet,:Itztli reported.:Though the stench has spread up here as well, so my nose alone won’t be able to detect an intruder.:
“If I may provide a suggestion?” Guillaume asked, waiting for Rik’s nod. “Allow me and a couple of Gwen’s knights to guard outside where we can see any of the Dauphine’s swordsmen coming. But also take Sir Lancelot into the darkness with our queens, in case any of her Blood lies in wait at the pit.”
“Agreed,” Rik said. “We need to keep our swords spread out as much as possible.”
Lancelot lifted his sword in a salute. “High praise that you trust me with your queen’s defense, Sir Guillaume.”
G lightly tapped the tip of his sword to the other knight’s with a wry twist of his lips. “I’m counting on General Sekh’s impenetrable stone hide as much as your sword, sir knight. Though the larger, heavier Blood might be at a disadvantage in the mud if forced to shift.”
“Unfortunate but true,” Sekh replied, shaking his head. “If I shifted in that crawlspace, I’d bring the whole house down on top of us.”
“If we may provide a suggestion as well?” Okeanos asked. Though when everyone turned to look at him, his eyes flared. One of my shyest Blood, he hesitated until I smiled and reachedout my other hand for him. He came nearer to take my hand with Vore behind him. “Our beasts are better equipped to move through mud and swamp. I’ll be large enough our queen won’t even need to touch the ground, and Vore’s thinner legs will be more mobile.”
“I like it,” G said approvingly. “Alpha?”
Rik’s big hands flexed on my shoulders, and he let out a grumbling growl. “I admit my rock troll would also be useless in cramped quarters and unknown depths of mud. Though I hate to let you out of my sight for a moment, my queen.”
“Then I’m doubly honored to accompany our queens,” Sir Lancelot said. “Alpha to alpha, no harm will come to either of our queens while I yet live.”
“I’ll keep the bonds wide open,” I assured Rik. “I’d like to preserve Leonie’s house as much as possible until she can decide whether she wants to remain here or establish a new nest without such dark memories. Vore, can your beast fit into the basement without damaging the upper level?”
He gave me a simple nod, though his eyes remained tight. Once he shifted to his ushi-oni, he feared he wouldn’t be able to shift back. I’d given him a bite of my flesh to help him fully shift out of his beast last time. For hundreds of years, he’d been muzzled and chained to keep from eating everyone around him. Even his own family. His sister. No one was safe.
:You are safe with me,:I reminded him.
He drew a deep inhale.:Though I still hold your flesh inside me, my queen, I hunger. The ushi-oni will be even more ravenous after a small taste of your flesh and blood.:
I let my bond weigh heavier, my will and intent like the iron chains he’d depended on before.:Your beast obeys its queen, and I will ensure its needs are met without harming the innocent.:
He inclined his head.:Thank you, my queen. The ushi-oni emerges at your command.:
:Shift, my Blood. I need your help to save our friend.:
The ushi-oni unfolded out of him, swelling larger and wider. Sweeping black horns of a massive bull. Thick shoulders, neck, and chest to carry such heavy horns. The lower part of his rounded spider body glistened like black obsidian. Plus six angular legs marked with jagged spines as sharp as any knife.
Sir Lancelot let out a low whistle of appreciation. “Are you sure you’ll be able to fit into the?—”
His words died off as Vore ducked and swung his head to slide the first broad horn through the doorway. Twisting his body and flattening his legs out, he scuttled sideways through the doorway into the darkness beyond, his legs slicing through the mud so easily there wasn’t any popping or sucking sounds as he moved.
I released Gwen’s hand. “You’re welcome to wait here?—”
“Nonsense,” she said tartly. “A little mud never hurt me. I’ll try to stick to the walkway and have Lance carry me if needed, but I’d rather keep his sword arm free in case we’re attacked.”
Lancelot stepped through first and then turned to take her hand. Releasing her power, she glowed with soft pearly light. The White Enchantress, the legendary once and future Queen of Camelot, stepped into the grim cellar without hesitation.
Still holding Okeanos’ hand, I gave him a nod, and his mighty kraken exploded upward in a tangled squirmy mess of tentacles. Still holding my arm, he effortlessly pulled me up against his octopus-like body. His thicker tentacles swept across the ground, pulling us into the darkness.
:I’m at the pit,:Xin said.:There are chains down into the mud, but I don’t see any sign of movement or life.:
:Don’t be fooled,:Thierry said in my head.:A single drop of blood will bring the leeches swarming to the surface. I killed a lot of them to feed myself and Leonie, but the Dauphine noticed the flow of power decreased. Then she sent me to the swamp. I’m sure she put more of the leeches back over the years to keep feeding on Leonie.:
:Anybody know the best way to kill a bunch of leeches?:I asked.
:Fire,:Mehen said immediately.:Crispy critter those fuckers.:
