So the sounds of a scuffle had me jerking to a halt and whirling around in surprise. Though of course it wasn’t any of my Blood causing an issue.
The wolf king bellowed curses, swinging wildly at Xin, though he easily evaded the man’s attack. “Show yourself, motherfucker!”
“Please do not hold Ironheart’s attack as a mark against House Sunna, Your Majesty,” Dagny said. “We have no control over his actions.”
Ah. I understood the issue now. I had only welcomed House Sunna to the nest. “He’s not one of yours?”
“Fuck no,” one of the Sunna Blood retorted. The one who declared himself a king, though I couldn’t immediately recall his name.
:Kuros,:Sekh said.:You might recognize his name as Cyrus the Great, King of Persia.:
:I’m afraid I don’t know much about human history.:Aloud, I said, “Xin, leave it.”
Still as his silver wolf, Xin immediately loped to my side and dropped to his haunches, his tongue lolling in a very amused wolfy smile.
Eivind glared at me, his fists clenched at his sides, his shoulders bulging with frustration. “I’m not anit. I’m Ei?—”
I cut him off. “I know who you are. You’re not a part of House Sunna. Why should I trust you to enter my nest while they have sanctuary? I can’t vouch for someone I don’t command.”
I meant that to be the end of the conversation, especially after the troubling dream I’d had of a possible sunfire wolf. Xin nudged my thigh with his nose.:I can shadow him inside the nest. If you make him swear an oath like the knight did in the beginning, then I will eliminate him if he breaks his word before he even knows I’m there.:
:Are you sure he’s worth the trouble?:
Xin’s ears twitched.:It’s no trouble to me, my queen, as long as you’re willing to give him one last try.:
:I don’t know why he’s here,:I admitted.:If Karmen has intentions of claiming him as Blood, then I don’t want to send him away. She may need his blood to return to full power. But after our dream, I fear he may also mean her harm.:
:Then allow me to guard him. I’ll kill him between one breath and the next if he even thinks of harming anyone.:
I turned my attention back to Eivind, giving him a hard, considering look. “If you’re willing to swear an oath on your blood to harm no one inside my nest, whether Aima or human, directly or indirectly, now or anytime in the future, then Xin offers to shadow you inside the nest. Though I should warn you, Wolf King. You won’t know my silver wolf is at your throat until it’s too late. One move that he doesn’t like, and you’re dead.”
Eivind’s shoulders squared, his hands fisted at his sides, his upper body bulging. His golden eyes rolled, his jaws tight. Fighting to contain himself? Or trying to attack—but failing? I wasn’t sure. I didn’t see sunfires flickering around him, so I wasn’t sure if he was the creature from the dream or not.
I had no idea if it was me he feared so much, or Karmen. I’d met him twice already and allowed him to walk away free. I’d even see him in the dreamscape, howling and lonely for his queen.
Hisqueen. Not me. He wasn’t my Blood to take.
Finally, he bit his wrist delicately—as if he feared I would fall on him like a pack of ravenous wolves as soon as I smelled his blood. He stepped closer to my blood circle, each step heavy and slow, dragging his feet with dread. “I, Eivind Ironheart, swear to harm no one inside Shara Isador’s nest.”
It had to bemehe feared so much. Karmen was already out of sight.
It annoyed the shit out of me—because it embarrassed me. Yeah, I’ve been fucking ravenous in the past. Desperate for another Blood to come to my Call.
But he acted as if a single drop of an unclaimed Aima’s blood would turn me into a crazed beast, tearing him limb from limb in my haste to feed. No matter how miserable I might be, I’d never force someone to take my bond. Not in a million fucking years.
Besides, adding Vore and Sekh had toned down the punishing hunger. I still fed. A lot. But an innocent bystander wasn’t in danger of being ravaged.
:He has no idea what he’s missing out on.:Rik’s voice rumbled through my head.:You can tear me limb from limb anytime, anyplace, my queen.:
:Same.:Xin shifted back to his human form and stood directly behind Eivind. The man had no idea, I was sure. He was too terrified of me to notice the threat at his back.:Sign me up for that feast too, my queen.:
“Human or otherwise,” I repeated, keeping my voice smooth despite the sting to my pride. “Now or in the future.”
Eivind swore, his words quivering as the magic wound through him, anchored by his blood and mine. I nodded, andXin laid a hand on his shoulder, guiding him through the blood circle. :One twitch, Xin.:
He flashed a wide grin of anticipation.:It’s an honor to serve, Your Majesty.:
RIK
