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“That and plenty more, my queen. Eventually he simply held the pitcher and allowed his blood to pour steadily from the spout as he continued bleeding. With his help, I believe we stabilized your reserves.”

My breath sighed out and I nodded, my heart aching for him. “He needed a little distance to protect himself. My hair didn’t grab him, did it? I wouldn’t want to terrorize anyone who wasn’t into being bound.”

“Not at all. By then, you were sleeping soundly, and your magic seemed to know he wouldn’t be ready to tolerate even your hair touching him.”

“I wasn’t sure he even carried any of my blood since he seemed to bleed it right back out on the floor.”

Rik hesitated long enough I lifted my head to search his face. “Traces only, my queen. The bond is there, though thin. You could still compel him if you needed to, but only because of your strength.”

“I don’t want to compel anyone, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“You won’t be able to use his bond to see through his eyes or use his senses or beast. Not like the rest of us. At least not until he’s fed deep and well.”

“He didn’t seem to mind feeding on me earlier. He just couldn’t hold on to my blood.”

“I didn’t want to risk it while you were asleep, especially if he couldn’t control himself again. If his hunger is as immense as his capacity, then feeding him will be risky, especially if your reserves are thin.”

On the surface, I felt fine. I’d fed well on my Blood. I’d drained dozens of treacherous queens dry and then enjoyed hours of pleasure and blood with my closest siblings. I’d even added four new Blood to the fray.

Yet I’d gained so many more responsibilities and powers through those acquisitions. Those powers must be sustained. Filled with blood, just like Warwick said in the dream. Maybe I was the deep, treacherous hole laced with shards. Desperate and hungry for more.

“How long did I feed? While I was asleep, I mean.”

“You’ve been down nearly twenty hours, my queen. I cycled everyone through twice, including Warwick. Even Sekh had to take a break and let the sphinxes fill in the gaps.”

Goddess. I let out a shaky breath. Twice. Through eighteen living Blood, one of them not even Aima with a near-infinite ability to tap blood thanks to She Who Dances in Blood, and the other a knight who might have drank from some unknown grail cup to make him nearly as bottomless.

As much as I hated to admit it…

I needed more Blood. Always. Because if I didn’t address the situation immediately, I might seriously end up hurting one of them. And then we would all die, just as Warwick warned.

But not just any Blood would do.

Closing my eyes, I sank into the tapestry, letting the world flow beneath me. Twinkling stars of humanity, an ocean of lights sparkled in all directions. I drove my thumbnail into my palm enough to draw a drop of blood so I could lace my power through the Call. Wrapped in darkness to shield my intention from watching eyes. Just in case.

I might be the strongest known queen in the world, but I couldn’t forget the woman who’d assisted Jeanne. Someone powerful enough to shield her identity even from the Dauphine. Who would she have dared trust enough with her plans to bring the Knight of Pestilence to her house?

I didn’t like not knowing. They could be watching me. Bidding their time. Waiting for me to make a mistake.

So I kept the Call tight and secretive, looking nearby for anyone who might suit.

My hunger knows no bounds. If you revel in blood, come to me. But only Blood I will love.

I cast the Call out into the tapestry. Silent, swift wings cut through the stillness, already shooting toward its destination as if drawn by a magnetic force. Something pinged, a metallic ringing sound. Steel sang as if Guillaume had unsheathed his mighty Templar blade. Red began to glow on the horizon of the tapestry. Not far away from the blazing city of lights. Already moving towards me.

I opened my eyes. “A new Blood is on the way.”

“Only one?”

I rolled my eyes. “For now. Though I’ll Call again when we get to New York.” I sat up on his lap so I could look up into his face, reaching up to stroke his cheek. “Thank you for taking care of me so very well, my alpha.”

His eyes gleamed and he let out a low rumble. “It’s always my greatest pleasure to take care of you, Shara, my queen.”

43

SHARA

Dressed in another flowing, loose Egyptian-style white gown—this one fresh and not stained by pestilence or blood—I sat at a small table in the adjacent outer room, chowing down on tacos. Either Rik must have ordered someone to pass the word to the kitchen, or perhaps Winston was just so talented at his job that with the added boon of carrying my blood, he simply knew my latest craving without anyone telling him.