I licked my lips and asked, “Are they well? The wardweaver.”
The regent looked down at me, admiration glinting in his green irises. He squeezed my hand and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Yes, my jewel. They’re shaken, but they’ll recover. And we’ll get to the bottom of what happened. I promise.”
My thoughts bounced from the shade, to the wardweaver, to Aveen, and finally, Rhazien’s maker, Lorana.
Curled in the comfort of his embrace, I remembered there was still something he wanted from me. Something I had briefly forgotten about in our swirl of passion. I turned over the task soon to become my responsibility—locating the mysterious stone that would help avoid a future war between vampiric hives. The weight of success, and worse, failure pressed into me.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he prompted after a moment of comfortable silence. I considered asking him about the war and the shade, but I didn't want to pollute our happy bubble. I could live here a while longer, so I let it be.
“I’m just happy you didn’t leave,” I admitted, bracing myself for him to do just that. He always seemed to be leaving.
“I’m happy you didn’t kick me out.” He chuckled.
I propped my chin on his chest. “I wasn’t aware I had the power to do that.”
“Well, Lady Reyva—” blankets fell away as I placed myself fully on top of him “—you have a lot more power than you realize.”
I liked the sound of that.
“Is that so…Majesty?” I rolled my hips over his growing length, encouraging it into action.
The regent’s fangs slid into view and his stare darkened as I ran my hands through my messy mane, stretching my bare middle and accentuating my breasts.
“Reyva, I mean to court you…” He claimed my hips, stilling them. “And I need to feed soon.”
Right. He needed blood. Dread settled in the base of my neck as I wondered where his supply came from. The feeling shifted into sickening jealousy as I imagined him buried in the neck of some beauty, feeding as he ravaged her. Her imaginary full lips spread open, moaning in pleasure as she filled him with sustenance. My unexpected envy at the apparition inspired me to say something that surprised both of us, “Have me.”
His eyes went wide, darting from my flexed wrist back to my gaze. “You don’t understand what you’re offering.”
He was right. I thought this was a simple transaction. Blood for sex. What was I missing?
Rhazien sat upright and took my face into his hands. “The jewel of the Hive. My jewel.” I closed my eyes as he gave me a firm, deep kiss. “I’ll explain everything over breakfast.”
In my short time at the Hive, I had seen Alba complete her work with an efficiency and stealth that could qualify her as a most lethal spy. But this evening, she lingered, dusting already clean surfaces and tending to arrangements of fresh lilies. All in the name of watching Rhazien Kyrell attend to me like he was common staff.
The royal formalities from the ball were so far removed from the man in front of me now. No jewels or crown, no shirt, and pants only because I had insisted. The loose black fabric hugged the curve of his waist and I had to fight to keep my eyes focused on features above his neck.
He was burly and beautiful andmine.
Rhazien pulled out my chair, placed a napkin on my lap, and poured me fresh juice—he was overdoing it. But I let him. A younger version of myself was vibrating with delight at the level of care and attention from a handsome and powerful ruler. Plus, his blood still hummed in my veins, painfully aware of the distance of my skin from his fangs.
I exchanged a glance with Alba when Rhazien took the liberty of scraping butter across freshly toasted bread for me. “No, no. Allow me. Please,” he’d said as I’d reached to do anything. My chambermaid’s eyes twinkled with wonder between the ribbons of gray fabric.
There was no choice but to submit to his wishes. Rhazien may havenoticed, but didn’t relent. He simply tied half of his hair into a bun, surveyed his work at the table filled with colorful foods, and asked, “What else?”
“What else?” I stifled a laugh as I gestured to the spread. “I think everything from the kitchen is on this table.”
A triumphant smile spread across his speckled gray stubble. “Nothing else, then. Good. Good.”
I nodded before helping myself to the freshly squeezed juice and bacon. Flavors exploded across my taste buds. Rhazien’s blood heightened the potency of each savory mouthful. It was as if I’d never experienced bacon before this moment and I helped myself to seconds…and thirds.
We turned to a polite, rhythmic knock at my chamber door. Gray robes swiftly crossed to greet the visitor.
Gorvin entered, then paused at the sight of a shirtless Rhazien, who was proactively refilling my goblet. His expression was, as usual, unreadable. It was his loss for words that gave him away.
“Gorvin, how are you faring today? Didn’t get into too much trouble last night, did you?” Rhazien rested his ankle on his knee and settled further into the chair.
While Rhazien made himself more comfortable, I was less so. The short, silk robe barely covered my legs. To Gorvin’s vampire eyes, I was likely the picture of guilt. Rhazien’s traces would be all over me.
