Not now.
A trickle stopped my heart.
Dawn above, not now.
A nearby vampire sniffed the air and my blood ran cold. Dommik whirled to meet my gaze, fangs jutting into view.
Seriousness coated his features. “Are you…?”
Another vampire twisted their head, searching for the source of fresh blood. Fear and urgency took over my senses as liquid seeped between my legs.
What was the fucking safe word?
“Pray,” I whispered—that wasn’t it. “Prayer. I need to say a prayer.”
Rhazien lifted his head, fresh from his feed. His gaze darted from my position behind Dommik’s broad shoulders and his commander’s ready-to-fight stance.
“Majesties, Lady Reyva is unwell and needs to retire,” Dommik announced to the frenzied regents.
“Humans,” Eryx scoffed, rolling his eyes. “They’re simply not worth the fuss. Honestly, Rhazien, I don’t see why you bother.”
Yes. Yes, let me leave,I thought.
“No. She must stay.” Rhazien reached for me, grabbing my unoccupied hand so quickly, I hadn’t yet let go of Dommik’s. Ligaments in my arm screamed at the stretch from the aggressive motion.
My center was hollow and I hoped Rhazien hadn’t seen. His lip curled, eyes glinting with undiluted fury as Rhazien’s gaze bounced between us.
He hadn’t been the only one to notice our interlaced fingers.
“You’re not as boring as I thought. Youdoshare her, then!” Eryx erupted into laughter, looking to others as they joined in. “I guess old habits die hard or not at all, right, Dommik?”
From the edges of my vision, thirsty vampires crept closer.
I’m going to die tonight,I thought as I struggled for breath.
“She ismine,” Rhazien snapped, crushing my lungs as he squeezed me against him.
While I was grateful for his protection, disgust flared at his petulance.
“Mmmm.” Eryx sent his brows to his hairline in disbelief.
“Ma—jes—ty.” I coughed. Dark orbs fixated on me.
“Mine,” he growled at me through gritted teeth.
It was then I felt something both familiar and strange. Fear. But not a fear I’d experienced before, not for Rhazien. His eyes were so darkened, I could barely make out the green of his irises. His features were stretched and snarling as if accusing me.
This wasn’t the Rhazien I knew.
I lifted my hands to his cheeks, trying to remain calm and keep them from trembling. Every instinct told me to do whatever it took to de-escalate the situation. I rubbed my thumbs against the stubble of his cheeks. “Yes. Yes, my love. I’m yours.”
Love.
I didn’t know if I meant it, but the word settled him. He exhaled through his nose and touched his forehead to mine.
Come back to me,I thought, not taking my eyes off him.
“Mine.” His declaration was sealed with a fevered, metallic kiss.
