Ruler [Blood Magic, Book 3]

Chapter 56: Blood of the Queen

The moment we were through the door to the royal chambers, Keel had my back pressed up against it, his hungry mouth seeking out mine. His fingers descended on the top clasp of my robe and freed it. Shoving the fabric aside, he released my lips only to sink his fangs into my neck. Warmth, rightness, and influx of desire flowed through me, weakening my knees. I was for him and he was for me. All of him. All of me. For the briefest of moments I forgot about what he'd done to Boras and about the magical war machine rolling in our direction. I forgot about everything except for how his long, lean body felt pressed against mine as he slaked his appetite with my blood.

"I've wanted to do that all day," he groaned, when he finished drinking. "I thought I'd be jealous seeing you take the necks of all those Nosferatu, but that wasn't what I was feeling. Not at all."

He didn't need to explain further; his next kiss did all the talking.

I only wished I'd found the day's events half as erotic. My fangs had been in so many Nosferatu I wanted to scrub them with a Brillo pad. Each had tasted slightly different, but none were as delectable as Keel, whose blood occupied a world all its own, feeding me both life and power. Keel who had changed on me yet again.

"What's wrong?" he said, pulling away. "You seem distracted."

"In Arthos' words, I think I'm having trouble 'adjusting to my station.' That didn't feel like power today. It felt weird and unnatural."

Keel stroked my temple, then tucked my hair behind my ear. His fingers left a tingling trail everywhere they went, making me long for more of them, more of him. "It didn't look unnatural. If I hadn't been able to sense your emotions, I wouldn't have known your discomfort. You're getting much better at this."

I sagged against the door. "Maybe I don't want to be better at this."

"Sometimes royals must lie, Mildred. Do you think I'd still be here today if I hadn't practiced deception? The odds were always against me. I needed to even them."

"I know, I know, it's just overwhelming. And you threw a spell at Boras. Boras!"

"He needed to comply and I don't have time to lock him in the cells for a month."

I closed my eyes. Sometimes he made me so tired, especially when he was completely missing the point. "Maybe we shouldn't use that kind of magic on our friends."

"I thought you two didn't get along."

"We don't, it's just..." I looked past his chest at the room, which had been cleared of our wedding night mess. How was I supposed to explain this so it made sense to him?

"The situation called for a display of power," he continued. "Would you prefer I'd had him whipped?"

"No, but-"

"Does it make it somehow worse that I used magic?"

"Stop twisting my words," I said, ducking out from under his arms, suddenly hungry for my personal space.

"I'm not. I'm asking you a question."

"When I walked into that throne room this morning, I thought I knew who you were and now I don't - again. We don't use magic like that."

"You mean, you don't."

I started towards the gym, certain if I didn't hit something soon, my beast was going to rear its head and remove my choice in the matter.

Keel snatched up my forearm, stopping me before I'd taken five steps.

"Let go," I demanded, shaking myself free.