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SHARA

Ididn’t want to spend one second longer in Palais de Valois. But I couldn’t afford to risk taking an unknown entity into my blood circle. Especially one who’d just killed me and my Blood, however unwittingly.

Warwick’s blood had healed us. He flowed in all of us now, even Guillaume.

But he didn’t carry my blood.

Emotionally, mentally, I didn’t want to deal with him right now, especially after Sekh’s breakdown. His blood soothed all the ragged edges in me, but I was still raw.

:Then you don’t deal with him,: Rik said. :Leave him here. One of us will guard him. You can examine him at your leisure when you’re ready, my queen.:

:He’s injured, bleeding, and still in pain. It wouldn’t be right to leave him hurting if I can heal him, especially since he healed us all.:

Though I didn’t know if I’d be able to heal something that the Elixir of Life hadn’t been able to mend.

With a regretful sigh, I licked my bite closed and lifted my head from Sekh’s throat. He’d already healed the gouges from Mehen’s claws. My stone general dipped his head and pressed his forehead to mine. “Please don’t ever die again, Your Majesty. I don’t know that my heart can take it.”

I stroked his cheek with my right hand, my left arm curled around Mehen’s neck, hugging him close. “I can’t promise to never die. I’ve died twice just today. But I do promise to never ask you to kill me or anyone I love ever again. I’ll find another way to make sure we all go together to Isis’ embrace.”

I pressed a kiss to his cheek and the top of Mehen’s head. Then I raised my hands up to Rik. He lifted me and carefully set me back into the chair I’d used before we went up to the attic.

First, I touched Gwen’s bond. :If you’re free, I’m going to talk to Warwick now and see if I can heal him.:

:We’re on our way,: Gwen replied immediately.

:May I join you as well, Your Majesty?: Mayte asked in the bond, still hovering closely in my mind. :I have some experience with plagues and healing, and it’s been so long since I saw you. I too would love to be at your side.:

:I hate to take you away from Xochitl.:

:Tepeyollotl and Grandmama will stay with her.:

I didn’t want to appear weak to any of my siblings, but I trusted Gwen and Mayte as much as I trusted Leonie and Carys. Leonie needed to keep up appearances with the new siblings, and Carys wasn’t a healer. :It would be nice to have as much assistance as possible.:

:Then we’re on our way as well, Your Majesty,: Mayte said.

:Daire and Gerard, go meet them at the fountain and bring them to our queen,: Rik ordered.

As they left the library, I felt Guillaume approaching and heard the shuffling steps of the wounded knight. Guillaume supported him, helping him walk the few short steps to stand before me. Still bleeding profusely, Warwick left a blood trail across the floor. On the way down from the attic, someone had grabbed a blanket to wrap around him. Every step pained him, his face drawn and pale. Yet he still started to kneel before me.

“That’s not necessary,” I said quickly. “Can someone grab a chair for Sir Warwick?”

Nevarre dropped a chair behind the knight and Guillaume eased him down to sit. Warwick slowly slid his injured leg forward, and fresh blood pumped from the wound. I’m plenty used to blood and gore now, but it was an ugly wound. It started high in his inner thigh, angled up toward his groin, nicking his femoral artery and nearly damaging his genitals. Not enough to kill him—but completely emasculating him with constant pain.

Even though I’d fed well and deeply on Sekh, Warwick’s blood sent a vicious spike of hunger through me. He’d given me his blood, though I had no memory of his taste. He seemed sane despite centuries of imprisonment and solitary confinement. Or perhaps he was simply too drained and weakened by constant pain to indulge in anything more than existing. Even though I’d tasted his blood, I didn’t receive any of his thoughts. Maybe he really was that calm and empty.

Or maybe he was extremely good at shielding himself.

Taking a deep, centering breath, I opened my senses. Looking at him through my power, though I didn’t draw my blood yet.

An ocean of blood flowed from him. Waves lapped around his legs, flowing in and out like the tide. A white horse galloped along the beach, very much like what I’d seen in Gerard’s bond the first time, though this one galloped through blood not water. Each hoof sprayed blood around him like glistening rubies that never marred his shining white hide. Lightning cut the darkened sky, and I could smell the promise of rain in the air.

Pounding hooves neared. Echoing all around me. Then Guillaume’s hell horse reared behind me, stretching over me with his massive platter-sized hooves reaching for the sky, screaming in challenge. The smell of sulfur engulfed me, blending with the scent of rain and ozone. Rearing and pawing in answer, the white horse let out a ground-shaking trumpeting neigh. Lightning tore the sky and exploded into the earth, raising the fine hairs on my arms.

White stallion versus black stallion. Created to fight—destroy—each other.

Shaken, I opened my eyes, not aware that I’d closed them. Guillaume still stood beside Warwick, not shifted, not behind me at all. :Is he your enemy?: