“Like…” She inhaled sharply. “Could I actually get pregnant? Ithought there was more I would need to do beforehand. A sacrifice. I don’t want to be pregnant. Not yet. I have way too much to do. I still have to help Basilia and the other trapped queens. Bring the rest of the Isador Blood home. Clean up all the traps the Dauphine left behind. I don’t have fucking time to be pregnant. I’m not ready.”
The rising panic in her voice tamped down our aggression. The earthquake timbre even softened in Rik’s voice. “It’s harder for queens to conceive than humans, and you’re right, there’s usually more of a ritual a queen does to honor her goddess when she’s decided to carry an heir. Though those rituals have become more desperate since so few queens have been born in the last few centuries.”
“Plus you gained a great deal of power with the Dauphine’s fall,” I added. “New powers. A new goddess to honor. Not much is really known about Despoina, so it’s possible She’s a fertility goddess.”
Shara drew in a shaky breath. “Or She’s decided if a new queen is carrying Her Eleusinian Mysteries, then I’d better carry an heir too. If and when I decide to have an heir, will it be possible for a daughter to inherit Despoina’s gifts? Even though I’m not descended from Her line?”
“But you are now,” Rik said. “You carry Her blood you inherited from the Dauphine. Even if you didn’t directly ingest it, all that blood, all that power, is yours to access, as well as Scathach, Coatlicue, and Guinevere. Now Oya too. As you take more siblings, you gain access to their powers through their blood—and their goddesses. Not just for yourself but all of House Isador’s future queens.”
Her cheeks paled, her eyes shadowed with exhaustion and worry. “I guess that puts a giant target on my back for the other queens descended from Despoina. Rosalind, the queen of Paris, is Jeanne’s granddaughter. She’s probably pissed that one of her goddess’ powers went to me instead of her.”
I pressed light kisses to her eyelids, trying to take some of that burden away. “Nothing must be decided now, this week, this year, even this century. It’s unheard of for a twenty-two-year-old queen to have an heir. Even queens raised in a nest must come into their powers and begin to build their foundational alliances and power base, which takes decades if not centuries.”
“You’ve had to figure everything out in a crash course of months rather than decades,” Rik said. “Rest now, my queen. As Xin said, nothing must be decided anytime soon.”
She laughed but without any amusement. Only wry cynicism far beyond her years. “When I manage to sleep, I have dreams and warnings of future attacks. Until all the queens threatening us are dealt with, the Triskeles seats are filled, and all the Dauphine’s victims are freed, there’s no way for me to rest.”
RIK
My alpha driverode me hard. Hormones pumped me up, increasing my aggression. Insisting I get inside my queen and stay there until she carried an heir.
But that wasn’t whatshewanted, and my love was far stronger than my alpha urges. Though that didn’t mean I couldn’t get inside her… Even stay. As long as possible. Especially if I could help her forget the duties weighing on her mind, at least for a little while.
“We can help you rest, my queen.” I gentled my voice as much as possible, though she still shivered against me. She heard the resonance and deep vibrations strumming inside me.Not Daire’s purr, but her alpha’s rumble. My desire to please her in any way possible. To always keep her safe—even from herself. Especially when her own drive to help others and right wrongs put her at risk.
She cared so much, for so many people. She gave of herself and her blood freely, even to the point of endangering her own comfort and health. Her passion burned as hot as her blood sparked with power.
Yet she rarely letustake care ofher.
During her feeding session earlier, she made sure each Blood was touched and loved exactly as they needed. Then she’d taken Leonie to her bed as well. I didn’t fault either Vivian or Leonie for the care and pleasure they’d given her, not in the slightest.
But I was her alpha. No one could take care of her like me. No one should.
I wrapped my palm around the front of her throat, spreading my fingers wide. Letting her feel my strength. My control. Not of her—of myself and each of her Blood. “All you need to do is lie back against me and allow us to take care of you. Endlessly. Think of nothing else, Shara, my queen. Only this,” I said, drawing my hand down the front of her body in a deep, soothing massage. “Let us take care of you. Let us treasure you. You’re safe here. Always. It’s okay to let all your stress go, just for a while.”
She hesitated for a moment, and then her entire body softened. Muscles uncoiling, she let the tumbling thoughts of strategy and plans go. Not giving up, not surrendering. Not submission. Shara fucking Isador never surrendered.
But she trusted me enough to set aside everything, just for a moment. Focusing instead of the firm grip of my fingers kneading her breasts. The heat of my palm gliding down her flank. I rested my hand on her stomach, letting my skin heat hers. A subtle heat and gentle massage to hopefully ease the beginning of cramps in her abdomen.
If she smelled more fertile because of the increase in her power base, then this period would likely be more powerful as well. Painful. Bloody. My mouth watered, my fangs throbbing in time with my heart. Though we wouldn’t need any fangs to drink the blessed nectar flowing from her body.
We would feast. Though she would suffer. Regret tightened my throat, even as my hunger surged. I couldn’t help my nature. But I could make her as comfortable as possible.
:Ready the hot water bottles,:I told Daire.:Let Winston know to have all her comfort foods and drinks on tap.:
While electric heating pads worked great, the old-fashioned rubber water bottles seemed to work the best on her cramping.
:Already done. All I have to do is fill one of the bottles with hot water when you’re ready.:
I took a deep, steadying breath, focusing all my will on control. Keeping my touch gentle and non-demanding, I eased my fingers through the wet curls to cup her pussy. Sparks of magic flared against my skin. Even my fingertips eagerly absorbed her blood. I swallowed a mouthful of drool, fighting my instincts. The urge to lift my fingers to my mouth and taste her. Or better yet, bury my entire face between her thighs.
Light as butterfly wings, I slipped my fingers into her wet heat. Lightly tracing the delicate skin. Smearing her blood, though that wasn’t my goal. Gentle, never-ending pleasure. Nothing hard or demanding. I didn’t jostle her. I didn’t want her straining to widen her thighs or take me deeper. That wasn’t important right now. Just easy, soothing touch until a soft moan escaped her lips. Her head tipped back against my chest, her hips shifting restlessly beneath my hand.
Just as tenderly, I sank into her. Unhurried and slow, keeping my fingers swirling in the blood I’d already spread. I didn’t thrust or pump. There was no need. Her blood coated my dick in pure magical power. We fit together perfectly, as if my body had been carved by her goddess to fill her exactly right.She moaned again, her inner muscles tightening. I smeared blood over her clit in a gentle nudge that sent her gasping over the edge into climax. Swirling my fingers just enough to keep her pleasure humming, rolling waves of bliss to carry her into full relaxation.
Now it was time for Xin to take over. I gave him a nod, and he slipped down her body, his touch as gentle and soothing as mine. His lips soft, pressing nibbling, moist kisses along her skin. I was the bass, and he added harmony, a perfect accompaniment to the pleasure rolling through her bond. A slow, rising melody that crested to climax and then receded, carrying her further and further out from shore. Until she floated on nothing but blissful sensations, cradled between her Blood.
Her fingers stroked his head as he kissed her stomach. Just as unhurried as me despite the promise of Nirvana below, he took his time stroking his tongue along her pubic bone, tickling the delicate skin above her hairline. Tracing the delicate whorls of dampened curls, he made no sound. But his Blood bond shimmered with an icy spike of sensation. He licked and stroked while I filled her, moving just enough to keep the hum of pleasure flowing through her.
