Page 47

I sighed. There it was. Of course she wouldn’t want any of her Blood to face off against the Executioner.

I touched Rik’s bond. :What do you think?:

Without any hesitation, he replied, :Any one of your Blood will fucking devastate hers, my queen.:

“Very well. Choose your opponent, House Adrienne.”

Standing at his queen’s side, her alpha was a fairly big man, though compared to Rik, he looked like a toddler. I couldn’t guess what kind of beast he carried, or what kind of weapon he used. I hadn’t noticed him approaching the dais to judge whether he was a swordsman or not.

:From the way he stands, I’d say he prefers a mace, though he might use a battle axe,: Guillaume said. :He’s a blunt-force kind of fighter.:

“He says there’s a woman among your Blood,” Lisa said. “He chooses her.”

:Fucking A,: Vivian crowed in the bond. :I’m on my way, my queen.:

VIVIAN

Any chance to fight for my queen was a boon. Add in the opportunity to rub a misogynist’s face in his own shit, and I was downright giddy.

Though Shara looked fucking pissed. She tugged on my bond, bringing me to kneel in front of her before facing off with the challenger. Daire slipped to one side, making room for me to get close to her. :He’s a fucking prick. Don’t worry about me, my queen. I’ll feed him his own testicles.:

:I’m not worried. I just wanted you to drink well and deep before you fight him.:

Oh, fuck yeah. A triple dose of pure glee rippled through Smoak, sending sparks flaring around me. She could have offered me her palm, though the small wound she’d made for the other queen might have closed off already. But Shara fucking Isador was making a statement to every queen in this ballroom.

The most powerful fucking queen on the planet fed her Blood often—and well. Making us more powerful every single time we tasted her blood.

She leaned closer, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me into her embrace. The gold necklace rose up like armor, protecting her throat. But she knew that would happen. A smug smile curved my lips as I dipped my head to her breast. I sank my fangs into the sweet curve and drank. Or rather, I opened my mouth and let her pour into me like a fountain.

Stronger than ever. Fire raged in my veins. All the solar power I’d inherited from Helios gleamed in my blood like molten gold. Every cell in my body vibrated with sheer joy and vitality. My muscles pumped with speed and power. So fucking high on her blood I wanted to rock her shit right here on the throne in front of everyone. :Please bite me, my queen.:

:Once you’re done with the challenge, my bite will be your reward.:

I licked my bite closed and gave her a quick, hard kiss before hopping to my feet. :Then I’ll kill this motherfucker quickly.:

Stepping down off the dais, I reached over my shoulders and unsheathed both of my short blades. I faced the crowd, casually twirling the blades, waiting for the challenger to join me in front of the dais. Flames shimmered and danced around me.

“No shifting,” the queen said.

Shara’s bond thickened with deadly shadow and brutal intensity. “Gina, what are the rules for formal challenge before a Triune queen?”

“Only the two champions may fight,” Gina replied. “Otherwise, there are no rules, Your Majesty.”

“I’ve already given you one concession in allowing your alpha to choose his opponent, Lisa.” Somehow, she made her name sound like a filthy curse, and I fucking loved it. “Don’t presume to dictate non-existent rules to me or my Blood.”

“I won’t need to shift to dice up this asshole’s tiny little dick and shove his own blade up his ass.”

The alpha made a low rumbling growl that was probably supposed to intimidate me as he stepped away from his queen with a large heavy staff over his shoulder. Thick and slow, he lumbered like Rik’s rock troll, even though he hadn’t shifted. “No blade, woman. Only mace.”

“Even better, asshole. My alpha sneezes louder than you’ll ever be. You sound like a snoring grizzly waking up after a winter nap. No offense, Ezra.”

:All he’s got is a fucking shit pile for brains,: Ezra retorted.

The alpha thumped his fist against his chest. “Gogmagog son. No roof if I shift.”

Mimicking him, I thumped my chest. “Ra daughter. Scorch beard if I shift.”

“I break you. Then kill your queen.”