Page 81 of Blood of the Fairest

Thirst burns its way into my gut so fast that I get lightheaded. I grip one of the four posts of the huge bed, my gaze dropping to Wulf's freshly rebandaged arm.

A slight red stain is already seeping through.

I want to say thanks, but no fucking thanks—but an embarrassing whimper sneaks out instead. My stomach clenches, angry at how empty it is.

The Huntsman places the warm mug in my hands.

"Drink."

As if I could do anything but that, with this smell wrapping around me.

When the mulled wine touches my tongue, I could fucking cry, it tastes so good. It soothes the burn in my throat as I guzzle the drink, and soon I'm left staring into the empty mug.

Damn it.

That helped, but I want more. I want that tart, cold flavor all by itself, like yesterday.

When I look at Wulf's arm again with too much longing, he begins unwrapping it.

"No. I'm not going to feed from you. Just…another mug, please?" I hold it up, sheepish.

He hesitates. Eris doesn't.

"Just drink from him," the mirror insists. "You'll fall ill soon if you keep resisting."

"I drank from him yesterday. I'll be fine."

"Crones, you are so fucking stubborn," he huffs.

"Oh, my sweet summer child, you haven't seen stubborn yet."

Wulf brings another cup of what I've decided to call Kool-Aid. I thank him, down it, and throw on a veil with my crown. Then I try not to look at his arm a single time as we leave the queen's chambers.

Directed by Eris, who tags along through stained glass windows, we make our way to the lower courtyard again.

The timing couldn't be more perfect. I get to the bottom of the steps just in time to see Merrick hugging his niece and chatting happily with Ingrid. Their bags of belongings sit on the ground near them.

Ingrid looks around the castle with wide, awed eyes. Meanwhile, Anika's discerning perusal quickly finds me.

She bows, elbowing Ingrid so she does the same. Others passing through the courtyard stop and bow or greet me in shaky voices as I pass them on my way to the newcomers.

"Welcome to Isenmere Castle," I say brightly. "You two have no idea how glad I am to have more women around. I swear, you can probably smell the testosterone wafting off of this place from a mile away."

Anika straightens, arching an inquisitive brow. Now that I know her background, I can't help but wonder if the rest of her noble family in Aurefeld is as stunningly gorgeous as she and Merrick are.

"Testosterone?" she asks.

"I just mean there are way too many dicks, not nearly enough chicks," I clarify.

Ingrid lets out a surprised snort. Then she claps her hand over her mouth like she's afraid she's just insulted the evil queen.

"I see you're putting in no effort to keep up appearances as Reinhilde," Eris mutters from some unseen reflective surface. "Just beware that no one becomes suspicious of you being someone else altogether, or it could become a problem that⁠—"

"That probably has something to do with women being banned from working here," Anika says meaningfully, unaware that she's interrupting my Adonis. She eyes the veil like she's trying to gauge what I look like under it.

"Right, that bullshit." I glance at Merrick. "How soon do you think we can fix that?"

"I'll send someone straightaway to spread the word that we're hiring. I'm sure we'll have half the women in Isenhold here to speak with me about a position by noon. A good thing, too, since that numbskull was keeping this glorious place understaffed," Merrick sniffs.