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Leonie was still out with Josephine, trying to pretend that nothing had happened. Barely holding it together while the other queen took delight in terminating House Montmorency’s staff.

:Come back if you need to. I’m sure Josephine can handle things herself.:

Leonie leaned against me in her bond, arms around me, our heads together. :I’m fine, my queen, just emotional. You’re the one who had to endure everything. Though fair warning, I’ll probably burst into tears as soon as I see you. I’m so glad you’re alright.:

Rik got to his knees and then helped me up out of the tub. Holding me, drying me like I was a baby. And I let him. I wanted the comfort as much as he did. I stroked his shoulders and the broad planes of his chest. His massive size at odds with his extreme gentleness and care. My hair was loose, soaked and heavy with water. Taking his time, he squeezed out the excess moisture with towels and then wrapped me in a silk robe.

He carried me back into the bedroom but didn’t immediately climb into bed. Instead, he sat down in one of the armchairs where Mayte, Tlacel, and Itztli waited, armed with wide-toothed combs and more towels. I could have used magic to dry and style my hair, simply willing the strands to do my bidding. But even such a small act would take effort. And I was so fucking tired.

Weary to my soul.

I lay in Rik’s lap, my head resting against his arm so my hair flowed down over him and the arm of the chair. Eyes closed. While my Blood and their sister ever so carefully combed and dried my hair by hand.

My twins. Almost parted from me.

We Aima live a very long time. They’d been alive for hundreds of years already, so my twenty-two years was nothing but a blink of an eye. But the thought of spending even one day without them…

Let alone likely centuries of the rest of my life…

Intolerable.

My throat ached, my eyes hot and dry. I didn’t have any tears left.

Itztli leaned down to lightly press a kiss to my cheek. “If you were alive and well with the rest of your Blood, then so be it. We would have waited for you, as long as it takes.”

My jaws ached. Only then did I realize I was grinding my teeth together. My anger sparked again, a red-hot flame licking in my veins. “You died. She was going to keep you.”

“And we wouldn’t have changed one moment,” Tlacel said. “I will die again if you might live.”

I reached back and tangled my fingers in his hair. “No more dying. Please. I can’t bear it.”

“You cannot protect us from our fate,” Itztli said.

Mayte leaned down to kiss my forehead. “No more dying from you, my queen. Especially twice in one day.”

“Though I will never forget the glorious look on your face when you stood against a goddess to reclaim us,” Tlacel added.

A twinge of conscience made me wince. “I suppose Coatlicue is very angry with me.”

Itztli’s breath hummed out, and I could almost hear the flash of his smile. The broad, easy, rare smile I’d seen at Her throne, gone in an instant. “Let’s just say it might be ideal to offer a sacrifice to appease Her.”

“I didn’t break our agreement. I simply refused to fulfill our bargain until we could all be together, which was exactly what we agreed to anyway. Though I will gladly make any sacrifices you suggest to honor Her.”

“Blood, always,” Tlacel replied. “Especially yours.”

“Mixed with ours,” Itztli added. “Though we have plenty of time to make such a sacrifice. She, too, rejoices in our victory. Our continued lives honor Her in everything we do. If She hadn’t wished us to return, we would not be here.”

I rolled over so I could look at them, propping my chin on my hand. “We can do it now, so I may make amends.”

Itztli unsheathed his obsidian blade and drew the razor thin edge over his palm. Then his brother’s and sister’s. My nostrils flared, my breath deepening involuntarily, drawing the scent of their blood into my body. Mingled on the blade, the scents of jungle and jaguars, feathers and fur and flowers, brought my hunger roaring to life.

I held out my other palm, and he cradled my fingers in his. He pressed the very tip of the blade to my skin but didn’t draw my blood yet. Allowing the mingled blood to slowly drip down the edge to pool on my skin.

“Coatlicue, Mother of the Gods, please accept our sacrifice.”

Tlacel added, “Teteoh Innan, Your Sons of Zaniyah live to honor You with every moment You allow us to breathe beside our queen.”

“Mother of my sire, Huitzilopochtli, thank you for allowing our queen to love us all another day,” Mayte said.