“Of course. Rik will behave, right?”
“Ribbet, ribbet.”
She elbowed him playfully.
:I’m not sure how to shift back.:
“I think about the creature sort of folding up and tucking away inside me in a hidden pocket. Then when I want to shift again, I just start to pull it back out and it springs up out of me. Though the cobra queen has a mind of her own. When she takes over… I can’t really control it. You seem to have more control over your buffalo.”
Maybe. Though I hadn’t tried to do much but stand here and stare. At my queen. She yawned again, her eyelashes fluttering closed. On her back beside Rik, she lay relaxed and unconcerned, even with a massive horned beast looking at her. Mynostrils flared. Blood still flowed from her vagina. Not as much as before but a steady stream. Even with the way she lay, I could see blood on her inner thigh.
Would she allow me to?—
“Yes,” she mumbled, half asleep. “Just don’t shift again.”
The buffalo folded up so quickly I staggered. Though I quickly gained my balance and started to jump toward the bed.
Rik made a low warning rumble, his eyes narrowed and hard.
Gulp. Yeah. Slow. Gentle.She’s resting. She doesn’t need to be jostled and tossed about.
Though that would make the blood flow even quicker. Not that it needed any help, I noticed as I carefully climbed into the bed and crawled closer to her. Blood had started to pool on the sheet beneath her.
I set to work cleaning up every drop.
35
SHARA
Ilost track of the days and nights I lay in bed. Languid and relaxed, sprawled carelessly as my lovers came to me. Feeding on me. Cleaning me. I fell into a sort of restful trance, enjoying their attention, yet also drifting.
Pleasure rippled back and forth like gentle waves flowing with the tides, sometimes pulling me under to sleep. Sometimes waking me up to gasp and quiver between hot bodies and eager mouths. I fed on them all. Their pleasure, their blood, their touch. Countless times.
Finally, though, I slept, heavy and unaware. No dreams. Just peaceful rest.
When I woke up, I knew at once my period was over. My reserves were full. My power recharged and ready to blast full-on jets to Mykonos. I had queens to save, and thralls to kill, so let it be.
By the time I got dressed and headed downstairs, my stomach was growling. I plowed halfway through my plate of pasta before I even said a word to Gina, who watched me eat with a bemused smile on her face.
I paused the eager shoveling so I could drink some of the perfectly sweet iced tea. “Is Gwen coming?”
“She’ll pop through when we’re ready to start planning the trip. I wasn’t sure how quickly you’d want to go to Greece, but I can see you’re feeling much better.”
“Absolutely. The rest did me good.” My lips twisted in a grimace, and I pointed my fork at her. “Don’t say I told you so, either. The first few days were hell. Where are Leonie and Regina?”
Gina passed a handwritten note to me.
My dearest Shara,
I didn’t want to disturb you since you were finally resting. I woke up this morning with an urge to go home. Not to New Orleans, but to Africa. Oya told me my Blood would be waiting for me on the bank of our river. I would have asked your permission to leave, but you were so beautiful sleeping, I couldn’t bear to wake you up. My sincerest apologies if you awake, and I’m not there to kiss you good morning. I’ll return as soon as I find at least my alpha.
Yours forever,
Leonie
Aw. She even drew some XOs at the bottom.:Best of luck with the alpha hunting,:I whispered down her bond, letting my words flutter gently like dandelion fluff on the breeze. If she’d found a Blood… She might be busy claiming them. I didn’t want to interrupt, while also letting her know I was awake.
“Regina’s proving to be quite the find,” Gina continued. “I can’t wait to introduce her to Kevin and see what kind of brilliant shenanigans they get up to. She’s managed to find several of Leonie’s contacts. We’re still looking for any news of Zelie or the practitioners who might have been capable of the goule spell. Julie arrived last night. For now, we put her up in a hotel in town, until you’re ready to meet her.”
