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SEKH

Iwas only half aware of the Blood banter in the back of my skull. Honestly, even my surroundings, which was not ideal. Though with all my queen’s Blood around her, I didn’t need to be quite as vigilant as I scanned the history of House Valois.

A challenging endeavor to be sure. Almost as challenging as finding pants Rik wouldn’t split open every time he moved. Many people flowed in and out of the former queen’s blood circle, making it challenging to pinpoint who might be important to trace, and who might be a casual sibling of no true importance.

Especially any of the Dauphine’s former Blood.

I’d started with the nameless thrall Guillaume had killed. Not the alpha Thierry had helped us identify, which was bad news for sure. The Dauphine’s alpha was still out in the world somewhere, lying in wait for our queen. Plus we had no idea how many others.

The thrall came and went from House Valois several times over the centuries, which meant he was known to Rosalind and had access to her blood circle. Even after her grandmother’s death, she hadn’t revoked his access.

:Could she have shared Blood with the Dauphine?: Shara asked.

Startled, I focused back on her, unaware that she’d been watching me See the thrall’s history. :It’s certainly possible.:

:I wondered if that was why she and her Blood bled so much when I called the Dauphine’s blood to me. I thought some of her blood would be hers, her own, if that makes sense. But all of her blood responded to me.:

:You are very powerful, my queen.:

A feeling flickered through her bond that took me a second to identify.

Fear. A child afraid of the dark. Feeling small beneath a crushing weight. As if my mighty sphinx sat on her chest and she couldn’t breathe.

I dropped my hands to her shoulders, the same as Rik usually held her, and stepped closer to her chair. :You don’t have to carry the weight alone, Your Majesty.:

:It’s not that,: she whispered, even her mental voice tremulous. :I don’t want to make a mistake. Act too quickly. Attempt to heal what cannot be healed. Just because I can do something doesn’t mean I should.:

:Which is why you have such excellent Blood,: Guillaume said. :You’ve surrounded yourself with the best of the best, my queen, and I don’t say that lightly or arrogantly. There’s a reason each of us is here with you. Even your humans have proven themselves to be exemplary and loyal. You have the best advisors around you, and even better, you listen to our counsel.:

Rik returned to his spot at her back, though he didn’t muscle me completely out of the way. :And you always act from a place of love.:

:Thierry said my greatest strength is my love. But a strength can also be a weakness.:

:It makes you vulnerable,: I agreed, kneading her right shoulder. :That’s why the Dauphine struck directly at your family and your mother’s former Blood.:

:Rosalind called me sentimental,: Shara growled out, making my lips quirk. :If that means I fucking nail anybody who threatens my family, then so be it.:

Kostas continued measuring some of the other volunteers. No surprise the fucking dragon chose the most extravagant, ostentatious suit I’ve ever seen in my very, very long life.

:This is taking longer than I expected.: A touch of worry threaded her bond. :I don’t want to be out and about after dark. Have you Seen where the master thrall might have been turning humans?:

:Not yet,: I admitted, dragging my focus back to the thrall’s history. :He was extremely active at House Valois and disappeared in and out of other circles frequently.:

:Mark those circles for me.: A thread of cold, hard steel sharpened her tone. :If those queens dare to approach me to become siblings, I want to know.:

:I will,: I promised.

:I’m going to draw my blood enough to see if I can detect any thralls in the area.:

She lightly punctured her wrist. A drop of her blood welled, exposed to the air.

My canines ached. My mouth watered like I hadn’t tasted her in weeks. Months. Ever. My cock throbbed, swelling enough to strain the confines of my pants. I almost regretted finding humor in Rik’s situation. Colors gained taste and texture. Scents became glorious touch. My nerves pulsed, my skin electric with buzzing energy.

She shared the special view of the surrounding landscape with us, a rolling three-dimensional map of Paris. Teeming with humanity, the city glowed so brightly it was impossible to see anything else. At first. Slowly, our senses adjusted. A bright gathering concentrated around House Valois. All the sibling queens, shining more like faceted diamonds and precious stones than the humans’ twinkling stars.

One diamond closer to us. Shara touched the spot, and I could smell the owl Carys usually carried on her shoulder. She was nearly at the end of the shops, approximately midway down the length of Champs-Élysées.