“More power,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “More sacrifice.”
“Let it all go, Shara, my queen.” His deep rumble was soothing, even for me. His big palms stroked over her body in gentle gliding touches, lulling her to rest. “You carry a great deal of power, but you don’t have to carry it alone. Let us carry you through to the other side. Just for a little while.”
Her hair slipped free of the twisted knot she kept at the base of her skull like a tumbling black waterfall. “Okay.”
“I’m going to lift you so it’s easy for Leonie to receive your offering.” He waited for her nod, and then he carefully picked her up. Effortlessly holding her in his beefy arms, her head back against his chest. He guided her closer to me, letting her thighs settle over my shoulders.
I drew in a deep, trembling breath, filling my senses with her musk and the thick scent of her blood. Hunger rose in me, not just for her blood but for her pleasure. I wanted to feel her come on my tongue while her blood filled me. If she was up to it.
A sweet peal of laughter rippled through her bond.:I’m always up for it. Though I may not be able to return the favor until I sleep awhile.:
:You already gave me more pleasure than I dreamed possible.:Intending to be as gentle as her alpha, I pressed a kiss to the dark curls covering her center. But even her pubic hairs tasted of the magical mixture of blood and her own desire. I rubbed my mouth deeper, licking the outer edges of her pussy. I couldn’t taste much more blood. Her Blood must have cleaned her very well indeed before she used the magical plug.
I swirled my tongue over her opening, tasting the natural slick of her body mixed with the spark of magic. Slowly melting like a warm candy on my tongue. I locked my mouth tighter over her and the plug dissolved, letting a gush of hot, rich blood fill my mouth.
Indescribable.
I thought I was prepared. I thought I understood.
Instead, I groaned and dug my fingers into the mattress,holding on for dear life. So much power. Raw, uncontrolled life magic. Chaotic and beautiful and fierce. Stealing my breath, dragging me under a crushing wave like an avalanche. Except this was a hot flood straight from the Mother of All. It was like trying to hold the Amazon River inside a teacup. Not the volume of blood—the sheer, pure power.
Magic surged through me, hitting my own gifts and exploding in a riot of color and energy. Swirling higher, cascading out of control. I shook and trembled, muscles spasming. Mind wiped. Nerves lit up, on fire, crackling with a million sensations. Even my brain felt swollen, too large for my skull. Pressure. Cracking open the confines of bone and skin.
Shaping me into something new. I heard voices around me, though their words didn’t make sense.
Dazed, I lay still, breathing hard. I didn’t feel right. At all. Had I passed out? I’d be pissed if I missed my opportunity to worship my queen and drink as much as she allowed.
:It’s alright,:Shara whispered in my mind.:You shifted. You gained a new power.:
:I shifted?:I panted, blinking, shaking my head.:Into what?:
:A very large buffalo.:
Buffalos were often seen as a sign from Oya, a sacred creature of strength, though they were also temperamental and aggressive. A line from an old proverb echoed in my head.
Whoever waits in a buffalo’s path waits for an attack.
I laughed. Or tried to. It came out more like a strange groan. Carefully, I lifted my head, mindful of how close I’d been to my queen. Though I shouldn’t have been concerned. Rik had already removed her from harm’s way, putting the width of the giant mattress between us. I lay on my stomach, my legs awkwardly sprawled in all directions. Too many legs. Head too heavy. Horns. Snagging on the bedding.
My entire body twitched at the thought of what horns could have done to her. Gored her. Torn her apart.
“I’m fine. As soon as you started to shift, Rik moved us out of the way.”
“I’m used to queens doing crazy shit,” he replied.
“Hey, now. Don’t make me turn you into a toad.”
“Ribbet.”
She laughed, and it was like a perfect spring rain moistening the cracked earth after a long, painful drought. “Toad, not frog, silly.”
He settled back down into the bed with her beside him. Though he braced on an elbow at her back, ready to leap into action and remove her if I made any threatening moves in her direction.
I blew out a heavy snort as I got to my feet. Er, hooves. It would take some getting used to, but maybe I could gallop over the hills and bathe in the river when I went home. My heart yearned to feel the ground rumbling beneath my pounding hooves.
Shara yawned. “Are you coming back to bed?”
I swung my head back to look at her. Who, me? Her alpha was in bed with her—but she looked at me.:If I’m allowed.:
