Bone and Blood Volume I

10 - The Nest, 1926

Murderous screeching echoed through the pit. Torani jolted awake. Shot to his feet. Sent Rek rolling on the ground. Vaeilentha charged into the cocooning den. Torani blocked the tunnel with his arms and wings to keep Rek safe. Rek was not the target though.

Vaeilentha grabbed Torani and slammed him into a wall. Her black fangs extended. Her alluring, sweet breath polluted and putrefied the air. She finally put together the words, "Why. Are you. Here?"

Through bared teeth, "He's mine."

Shocked wide eyes. Slack-jawed disbelief. Nails swiped at his face. A solid hit. Her hand went to his stomach to gut him. He caught her wrist. Twisted it. Spun her around. Pinned her face to rock. Teeth to neck. The imagined extasy of draining her dry. Reducing her to food. A poetic taste of her own medicine.

His mouth refused to bite.

Her wings fluttered in his face, startling him. She broke free. Whirled around. Pounced on him. Snapped at his throat. Only grazed him. He held her back by the shoulders. Her teeth sank into his wrist. He threw her to the ground. A grub's primal buzzgrowl roared out of him.

She returned call, rising to her feet unphased. He fell back a step. Feinted towards her. She fell for it. As she stumbled past him, he got hold of her again. Pin to wall. Teeth to neck. Just. Press. Down. He could do it this time. It was for Rek! He just had to—

Serana ripped Torani's head back. "DON'T YOU DARE!"

The failed prince whipped around, giving another buzzgrowl. A glint of fear in her eyes. He had not meant to do that. Not to her. His arms dropped limply to his sides. Vaeilentha saw her moment. Snatched his hair. Snapped his head back. He fell to his knees. She raised two fingers like talons over his eyes.

Demeko pushed between them, shoving Torani into Serana. Serana easily tackled Torani to the ground. He had already given up. Vaeilentha tried to slip past Demeko. He bullied her into the wall. She emitted another buzzgrowl. He held firm. Queen's will would not falter. Stalemate achieved.

Rotero stalked into the tunnel. "Whatever this is, it's over," he hissed. "The queen says it's over."

Vaeilentha struggled against Demeko's grasp. "That filth deserves—!"

"E-NOUGH!"

Vaeilentha fought harder to escape. Rotero grabbed her neck. Squeezed hard. She stilled, glaring through a wince. He released her slowly. His fingers left marks.

She roughly cleared her throat as she rubbed at it. "Knight, did you truly just—?"

"Delivered for the queen. With love. Pull yourself together, princess."

After another ragged breath, Vaeilentha exhaled smoothly. She glanced at the worker. He cowered behind the cocoon's remains. "I came here to claim my rising knight. I intend to do so."

"As is your right. Demeko, leave her be."

Demeko's expression was conflicted, but he cautiously released Vaeilentha. She brushed imaginary dirt from her dress. Once that show was complete, she leisurely walked to the worker. Kneeling, she pulled the cocoon away. She reached out for Rek.

He ducked from her hand.

"Shhh, it's okay. No more fighting. No more loud noises." She tilted his head up. "This wasn't the best start for us, was it? No worries. We'll have plenty of time to make up for this little mishap." Her fingertips reached the spots on his neck. His expression faded to dull compliancy. "My rising knight."