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“What are you suggesting?” Shara asked.

“Nothing, my queen. Only reminding you that every person in this room, this entire fucking house, belongs to you. Gladly.”

Vivian stepped closer to Shara and began helping her remove her clothing. “A Blood only ever sees their queen. My focus is on protecting you, Shara, my queen, until I’m invited to be not just a Blood but your lover. Even then, my focus is on your pleasure, even if I’m fucking one of your siblings for you. You could march all your new French siblings through this bedroom stark naked, and I wouldn’t be able to tell you anything about their bodies unless you invited them to join us.”

Relaxing, Shara laughed softly. “So what I’m hearing is I shouldn’t worry about other queen’s Blood ogling mine.”

“Or other queens,” I added. “Trust me, Shara, my queen, when I’m in your presence, you’re my focus. Even if I’m touching Vivian or another sibling. Our goal is to bring you as much pleasure as possible.”

“We would always rather touch you directly,” Mayte added. “Though with your permission, touching one of your Blood to bring you pleasure is almost as wonderful.”

Rik made a low growl that widened my eyes with surprise. Jenrade even eased closer to me, as if he feared he might need to intervene. But Shara’s alpha didn’t move. “What you’re remembering from House Skye is abnormal Blood behavior, my queen. Keisha allowed it to try and exert dominance over you.”

Picking up on my confusion—and evidently Mayte’s—Shara explained. “When we first went to deal with Keisha, some of her Blood fed on mine, even though I expressly warned them not to touch them. It was awful, feeling Daire’s dread and alarm at the thought of another touching him. Feeding on him. The only reason I didn’t immediately strike them down was because I knew my Blood carried my cobra queen’s venom. Keisha’s Blood paid a terrible price for daring to touch what’s mine.”

Vivian dipped down enough to lock her arms beneath Shara’s buttocks and easily lifted her, carrying her toward the bed. “I’d have sliced and diced their nuts if another queen’s Blood tried to feed on me.”

She tossed our queen onto the bed, making her laugh. “They were female, but I wholeheartedly embrace the sentiment.”

That sound. Pure, light laughter. After everything she’d endured in the past twenty-four hours. I could only stare at Shara, drinking in her beauty. Her skin always glowed with power but tonight she seemed luminous. Almost too bright to look upon. Her dark eyes glittered, casting prisms like faceted jewels, backlit with a billion stars. Her long hair un-wound itself like treacherous black snakes gliding across the bedding. Her lush curves gleamed like the polished altars of a goddess, even the shadowed hollow between her thighs.

I forcibly dragged my gaze up to hers, my fangs aching as badly as my pussy. “Please.”

She opened her arms and thighs, and I dove for her. Uncaring that I still wore all my clothes.

39

SHARA

Ipulled Leonie into my arms. In seconds, Mayte joined her after removing her pretty pink dress. Closing my eyes, I held them both, simply breathing in their lush scents. My skin drank the softness of theirs. Their power wafted over my skin like their goddesses’ breath flowing over me.

“I was so scared,” Leonie whispered against my throat, her lips a caress. “I can’t bear to lose you.”

“Me too.” Mayte’s head lay against my shoulder. “It’s been so long since I’ve touched you. Seen you.” She lifted her head and leaned down to rub her lips back and forth against mine. “May we please make time to be together more often, my queen?”

Her lips felt like rose petals. Her mouth tasted even better. I dipped my tongue between her lips so I could swirl against the holes in the roof of her mouth. :I hope so, yes. I have a few more trips to make to ensure everything remains secure against any of the Dauphine’s thralls that may still live to corrupt humans. But then I hope to enjoy peace at home with each of you.:

Though I couldn’t help but sigh. Every time I thought we would surely be able to enjoy some safety after eliminating a threat, some new danger exploded into a full-blown attack.

Mayte lifted her head. “There will always be threats and danger, both within and without the Triune courts. We must be even more diligent to find time for love.”

“You’re absolutely right. I should have come back to Mexico to see you more often. I bet I won’t even recognize Xochitl after she’s grown so much.”

Mayte laughed. “She’s grown at least three inches, and she’s absolutely into everything. I swear most days my Blood are busier keeping track of her than worrying about protecting me.”

“How’s Keras settling in?” Then for Leonie’s benefit, I added, “Zaniyah took him in when his mother was killed. He’s a young king rhinoceros. How old is he, Mayte? Six? Seven?”

“Eight now, my queen. Xochitl is his little shadow. Most of the time when she’s in trouble, it’s because she’s trying to keep up with him.”

“Two young Aima.” Smiling, Leonie shook her head. “You have your hands full. Jenrade’s also a rhinoceros if he would like to converse with another like shifter, though my alpha’s not a king. How do you control his shift? Rhinos can be quite dangerous.”

“We don’t control it,” Mayte admitted. “Xochitl does, which… yeah. It’s a problem most days because she doesn’t want him to control his beast. She wants to run around as her unicorn with him.”

“Wait. What?” Leonie shook her head. “She can shape shift? So young? Has she already come into her power?”

“She told me Isis came to her and took her through the Zaniyah tree to find Keras and bring him home. The Great One Herself. I know, I didn’t quite believe her either, especially since She’s not our goddess, but since she’s an Isador heir, I suppose the goddess may have taken an interest in her. Anyway, Isis helped her claim Keras as her Blood, and through their bond, she helps him control his beast. As a sign of Her blessing, Xochitl can also shift into a very sparkly pink and purple unicorn, which has always been her heart’s desire since she was old enough to talk.”

“Her father is a god.” Leonie’s eyes widened. “And she’s our very powerful queen’s heir. It sounds like Xochitl will be a force to be reckoned with.”