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Gina stepped forward with a single piece of thick parchment written in her elegant script. “This is the oath my queen expects to receive from her siblings today.”
Kimora arched her perfectly drawn brows and accepted the piece of paper. “I, Kimora Damas, daughter of Damona, swear my blood and all my house to Shara Isador, daughter of Isis. I offer every drop of my blood to my queen to strengthen our alliance.” Despite her elegant bravado, the pitch of her voice sharpened ever so slightly. She swallowed, her voice brittle. “May Isis strike me down if I ever think to betray my bond to Isador.”
I leaned forward and curled my fingers around her nape, stroking my thumb on the elegant column of her throat. One big fat curl lay over her shoulder bared by the old-fashioned gown. I was tempted to play with it, twirl it around my finger. But that would be mean. Right?
:Like a cat toying with her chosen mouse,: Sekh drawled. :Better yet, give her a good chase, Your Majesty, before putting her out of her misery.:
Cruel. Cold.
Surprisingly tempting.
Perhaps the power was getting to me as well. Or perhaps it was the bottomless pit of my hunger. I didn’t want to be the kind of queen who deliberately hurt people before killing them, though anger still burned like acid in my veins every time I thought about the look of terror on Carys’ face last night.
Kimora came here today and dared to swear never to betray me—when she’d already done so. She deserved what she had coming.
I pressed my mouth over the cut, resisting the urge to sink my fangs into her. Not to give her pleasure, though of course she would climax. But to feel the meat of her in my mouth. To possess her. Be inside her. If she were going to be my sibling, perhaps. But I didn’t need to draw out this judgment.
I drank deeply, swallowing her down. She tasted of apples and sweet grapes on the vine, though ripened too long in the sun. A touch of cider vinegar as her fear sharpened. She felt the dip in her reserves, the sinking sensation as I pulled on her blood and power. Draining her.
Her power curled inside her like a whip, but before she could lash out, I simply absorbed it. My power grabbed on like one of Okeanos’ tentacles and smothered her strike.
Eyes closed, I was still aware of Guillaume’s blur shifting past me like a ghostly Grim Reaper. The unmistakable crunch of his sword cleaving the alpha’s head from his body. The thud and roll across the stone. More steel and scuffles. Other Blood attacking. Trying to defend their queen before it was too late.
Though it had been too late once the ancient doors closed.
19
GUILLAUME
As the Triune Executioner, I’d killed Blood and queens for centuries at Desideria’s command. Before she took my oath, I rode in every crusade and battle I could find. For centuries.
I’m a killer. I’ve always been a killer.
Yet I’ve never relished killing as much as I do now in my queen’s service. Killing in the name of Shara Isador has never been sweeter.
Her cold fury wound through my bond like a deadly river. Her indignation. It offended her that these queens dared to present their oaths to her after what they’d done. They had no honor. Their oaths meant nothing to them. Even if she didn’t choose to kill the ones involved with the Dauphine’s nefarious plots, they would find a way to break their oaths despite the blood tying them to her. They’d find ways to subtly weasel their way out of any fealty or loyalty to her.
She could never trust them.
But it was more than her distrust. Her justified anger.
These queens offended Her too. Not just Isis but the Great Mother of All.
Gerard and I made quick work of the Blood who dared step toward the dais. The man was good with a rapier, even though we weren’t dueling for show.
He laughed in the bond, easily keeping the rest of the Blood away from the dais. He danced side to side, an elegant waltz of death. :Save a couple for me, mate.:
I grunted. :Sorry. I’m not used to having help.:
:Fuck you,: Mehen retorted. :I don’t need a fucking piece of shiny metal to kill.:
:If you shift, your fat ass will take out the columns,: Sekh said.
:Motherfucker—!:
Laughing, I turned back toward our queen, intending to retake my spot beside her on the dais. Transfixed, I couldn’t move. I could only stare in awe.
Shara still fed on the other queen. The blue fall of her skirts tumbled like elegant water over the simple white of my queen’s gown. She hadn’t worn a crown today. I hadn’t realized why until now.
