Page 33

I tried not to allow my gaze to linger on the man lying beside our new queen. Out cold. Drained. Like me earlier. Though he was in her bed and readily available for her to drain again at her leisure, which I knew was his greatest heart’s desire.

As I moved quietly about the bedchamber where I’d once served her mother, I could admit at least to myself that it was so much more than a longing to be back in this bed. Even with an Isador queen.

I was not prepared for how much I longed to be with Khalid too.

“You’re welcome to join us, Gerard,” Shara said.

My gaze jerked to hers. Hopefully I didn’t look as guilty as I felt. “Shall I move Xin out for you?”

She moved closer to her big alpha, straddling his hips, but I didn’t miss the quirk of her lips. I wasn’t sure why until I checked the spot on the bed where the other Blood had been lying just moments before. I couldn’t see him, no surprise. The wolf was invisible to me unless I focused intently on her bond and used the resonance of her blood to find him. But while I was moping, Xin had roused himself and already slipped from the room.

“No, but you may join Khalid on the other side of the bed.” Pause. “If you’d like.”

One of the other Blood reported for duty, taking Xin’s spot on the mattress, though he remained a polite distance from our queen while she was with her alpha. As nonchalantly as possible, I shucked my clothes and joined them on the bed.

Behind Khalid. Trying not to look at the strong, broad curves of his shoulders. The long line of his back. His lean flanks and hips. Some Blood carried evidence of their beast in their physical shape. To me, he’d always looked like a sleek, wicked fast jackal. Fleet of foot, curious eyes noticing everything, infallible sense of smell.

“I love learning more about you through each other’s eyes.”

Damn. I was still staring at him. My hands clenched into fists, fighting the urge to stroke his back. With my queen only feet away. I’d barely answered her Call and already struggled to hold my attention on my duty.

“It’s alright, Gerard.” The gentle tone of her voice made my throat tighten even more. “You love him. I will never interfere⁠—”

I made a sound, a choked breath, a ragged cry, not sure. Not denial or regret or even a sound of protest. Shock, perhaps, that a queen so young had seen so deeply despite my best efforts of concealing the depth of my emotions. Especially for another Blood, when we’d both just sworn to her. I didn’t want to ruin his chances.

Sensing my turmoil, or perhaps just rousing himself so he could serve our queen yet again, Khalid lifted his head. I couldn’t see his face. I didn’t need to. I felt the beam of his smile to the soles of my feet. The gleam of his eyes. Brown at the center, ringed in gold.

She leaned closer to him, cupping his cheek. “How would you feel if Gerard fucks you while I feed again?”

The golden rings in his eyes must surely be nearly all the way to his pupils now, turning his gaze to liquid sunlight. “I’d swear I’ve died and passed beyond the veil to the Mother’s embrace.”

She kissed his forehead and then raised her gaze to mine. Her eyes cut straight to my heart. “Did my mother not allow you to be together?”

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to look away. “She did. Though in most courts, having Blood care for one another is seen as a hindrance. In courts with strict hierarchy…” I shook my head. “To be blunt, my queen, we’d end up at the bottom of the barrel. With only ten Blood, it didn’t matter much in your mother’s court.”

But here. Now. Shara already had so many Blood…

“I want him to have every opportunity to serve.”

“Well, in my court, I love knowing my Blood care for one another. Especially if they on occasion allow me to participate and share in that love.” She frowned in thought, turning her head to look at her alpha. “Other than Rik, we don’t really have a hierarchy.”

“I do my best to ensure everyone has a turn,” he replied easily. “Because you enjoy being surrounded by love.”

“Some queens see it as a betrayal,” I whispered, even as I buried my face against Khalid’s back so I could breathe in the warm silk of his skin. “A failure. To uphold our bonds to the queen.”

“Not me. My first two Blood to ever answer my Call still love each other.”

“Plus there’s an added boon, my queen,” Rik said in his deep alpha rumble. “You can enjoy many more of us at the same time if we also love one another.”

Her sultry sigh of bliss only made me even harder. I lifted my head so I could watch him stroke her. Make love to her. A beautiful sight to see after so long. Lovers touching each other. Enjoying each other. It’d been so fucking long I’d almost forgotten what it could be like in a court that celebrated pleasure and passion. Her eyes fluttered open, our gazes locked. A shyness crept into her bond. A hint of a blush on her cheeks.

“I like to watch,” she whispered as if admitting a great sin in a confessional.

I couldn’t help the broad grin spreading across my face. “Me too.”

“Me three.” Though Khalid arched his back, rubbing against me like a cat. “Especially while I’m being fucked.”

SHARA