As Esetta said, there was always a way around a blood oath. With enough time and blood. If I were willing to pay the cost.
I wasn’t willing to pay the cost of losing one of my Blood for one fucking second, let alone while I attempted to maneuver my way out of a sibling oath.
Imightbe the stronger queen, but I wouldn’t know for sure until we exchanged blood. Even if I could command her bond, I would never want to entrap her, or any queen for that matter. Which honestly gave me even more insight into Basilia’s situation.
What choice would a trapped, desperate, starved, powerless queen have? I was fucking lucky with Leonie. I’d acted without thinking about the risk to either of us. Though I had to wonder about that human in Kansas City who’d been contaminated with Marne’s blood. If I’d tasted it…
Could I have commanded Marne then? Or would she have won? Especially given how green and inexperienced I was as a brand-new queen.
:The volume of blood exchanged matters as well, my queen,:Guillaume said.:You gave of yourself freely to Leonie. Without thegeneral, the amount of blood you sacrificed to heal her would have decimated any other queen. Your capacity to drink and hold power shields you somewhat from other queens, because you could simply drain most of them. But a strong, Triune-level queen given a huge amount of your blood to restore her power would be a devastating force to unleash on this earth.:
“There’s no debt between us,” I said. “I’m honored you came to us for help. I don’t see us becoming siblings, either, though I’m eager to build a friendship with you if you’d like to do so. I’ve seen our blood mingling in a much different manner than a sibling bond.”
Karmen stood and regally inclined her head. “I would like to be friends. Your doctor recommended I come back in a week. Is it acceptable for me to visit here again?”
I rose from my chair and went to take her arm so I could escort her back outside myself. “Of course. I’d love to see you. House Sunna is welcome to visit us any time it’s convenient for you. We’re just a Smoak away.”
The humans scrambled up from their chairs to follow us outside. At my blood circle, I paused and took Karmen’s hands in both of mine. “I don’t think Heliopolis will be able to reach you inside any blood circle. Do you have a place of safety where you can protect yourself?”
She nodded. “I do. Dagny has prepared a place.”
“Perfect. If you have any questions about Aima court life, I’m always happy to chat. Safe travels.”
She hesitated a moment, as if trying to decide whether she needed to curtsey. But then she startled me with a quick, hard hug. She clung to me. Just for a moment. “Thank you.”
“Always.” Then I dropped my voice even more. “I had a vision of a wolf wrapped in sunfires. I believe he meant you harm.”
Releasing me, she only nodded, her lips tight. “We are aware.”
Speak of the devil, before she could enter the waiting portal, a scuffle between Eivind and his human friend drew her attention. At least it was outside of my blood circle, so we weren’t responsible for any blood that might be shed between them.
I started back to my house, determined to give Karmen whatever privacy she needed to sort her personal life. If she wanted or needed my help dealing with the wolf king...
:I’m ready.:Xin stood close behind Eivind, still invisible, even as Karmen approached him.:I can kill him now before he can cause her any trouble.:
:Return to the nest,:I ordered him.:I don’t want any of her Blood to think we mean any harm to her. Unless she asks for help, Eivind is her issue to deal with.:
:Understood, my queen.:
Xin trotted after me as his wolf. When I stopped at the door and turned to him, his ears perked. “After she’s safely gone home, see what he does. If you have the opportunity, warn him about what we saw.”
His wolf didn’t howl but I heard a mournful whine in his bond.:I think it’s already too late for him.:
Choices. So many seemingly small choices could have kept Xin from me. Except for one undeniable fact—that separated him from Eivind forever.
Xin heard my Call and came to find me.
When Eivind heard his queen’s Call, he’d left her to die in an alley.
I gripped Xin’s ruff and pressed my forehead to his. “Thank you, my wolf.”
:Always and forever, my queen.:
42
SHARA
Flopping down into my chair, I winced at the formal place settings. “Sorry you went to so much trouble, Winston.”
