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:We’re ready,: Leonie replied.
Carys didn’t say anything, so I focused on her bond. She was still in the library, focused intently on a thick leather-bound book. I knocked a little more firmly, waiting for her attention to pop to me. Then I repeated the announcement.
:I’m packed and ready, my queen. Though I could use some help with my bags.:
Several large totes were piled around her feet. Some shopping bags with her precious shoes, but I guessed the others contained books.
:I’ll go,: Mehen offered, his voice deceptively innocent despite the surge of draconian interest in what Carys might have stashed in her bags.
:Not you,: Rik said before I could ask or respond. :Tlacel and Itztli are already on their way to the library.: After a slight pause, he added, :Lew too. There are quite a few bags.:
Durandal stood and offered his hand to me. Warwick still knelt in front of me, making it difficult for me to get out of the chair without stepping on him. The wound on his neck still bled profusely. “How do you stop bleeding?”
He startled, his fingers floating up to touch the wetness dripping down to coat his shirt, as if he’d forgotten the wound. “In the past, it had to be licked to turn off the stream.”
Guillaume reached over the man and grabbed me underneath my arms, lifting me up and over him to set me down on my feet. “Good luck licking your own neck, Sir Warwick.”
“Next time, jab the knife up his ass,” Durandal suggested with a laugh.
We started toward the door, Rik and Sekh close behind me with the sphinxes. Durandal and Guillaume on either side.
While Warwick scrambled to his feet to follow. “You’re not going to seal the bond, Your Majesty?”
“It’s sealed. I have your blood already. Now you carry mine.”
“But… I assumed you might wish to close the small wound. Unless you don’t mind a trail of blood through your house?”
I paused at the head of the stairs, turning to look at him, though it was hard with Sekh and Rik so close. Warwick tried to come around to Sekh’s side, but Isi let out a warning rumble. So he quickly changed directions, moving around on Rik’s side. Though my alpha gave him a heavy, intent stare that made him gulp.
“You said the wound must be licked.” I waited for his nod. “But you don’t want to be touched. So how would you like me to close it, Sir Warwick? Are you trying to entrap me into betraying my promise to you?”
His eyes flared wide and he paled. “No, absolutely not, Your Majesty. I merely thought… Well. I am bleeding, already, and with your bond, I understand better that I’m not in any danger from you. If you wanted to feed enough to close the wound…”
“Ini will close it for you,” Sekh suggested. “Though she might take a bite of you first.”
Sighing, I turned and headed down the stairs. I pulled the spilled blood into me so we didn’t leave a mess for Harvey’s team to deal with. Then with a nudge of my magic, I willed Warwick’s skin to close. “There. No licking required.”
If I hadn’t been listening to his bond… I might not have heard the slightest sigh of disappointment.
46
SHARA
Everyone waited for me to join them at the bottom of the stairs. First, I took Harvey’s hands in both of mine before he could bow. “Thank you so much, Harvey. We had a wonderful stay in Paris.”
“We’ve been so honored with your presence, Your Majesty. Please say you’ll come again very soon.”
“I plan to, yes, at least once a month. Possibly in two to three weeks, but I’ll have Gina confirm as we get closer.”
He raised our hands and kissed my knuckles. “Goddess be with you, Your Majesty, until we see you again.”
He escorted me outside to the fountain. “Should we install one of the human guards to protect the fountain after you leave?”
“I’ll lock it so no one may enter without my permission, but adding more human guards to the grounds is a wonderful idea. Frank has put together a great team.”
I smiled at him and he turned as red as Gina’s blouse. “A pleasure, as always, Your Majesty.”
“Shara. Please. Without you, none of us would still be alive.” I turned my attention to Kevin. “Is Janelle expecting us?”
