AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Carys, Frank, Gina, and Kevin sat at the table. By the looks of it, I was going to be neck deep in folders before we even got home. I heaved a dramatic sigh, making Gina laugh softly.
She lowered the phone and muted it. “Let’s just say the calls are coming in faster than we can keep up. I even put Frank to work on running background checks for us.”
Typing madly, Kevin glanced up as we passed, grinning from ear to ear and clearly in his element. “You’re not going to believe all the intel we’re getting now, Your Majesty. It’s going to take months to unravel everything.”
The sparkle in his eyes said he couldn’t fucking wait.
I punctured my thumb and drew a drop of blood so I could strip off Desideria’s jewelry. “Can you add these to the legacy when we get home?”
Gina’s mouth hung open with shock, but she nodded. “Of course, my queen.”
Upstairs, Itztli and Tlacel stood on either side of another set of French doors, pushing them open for me as we approached. Jansen halted outside. “Please let me know if there’s anything we can get for you, Your Majesty.”
“Do you prefer Parker or Jansen?” I asked.
“Jansen, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, Jansen.”
The bedroom was still mostly white and blue, but a darker indigo with touches of silver. A normal king-sized bed looked small compared to the monstrosity I had at home, but it would be perfectly fine for a few hours.
Even for what I intended.
And because Rik was the best alpha I could ever wish for, my new Blood already waited for me. Of course I didn’t have to ask him to make Vore available.
Standing beside a blue-velvet chaise with his hands behind him, he must have jumped in the shower as soon as the boat landed. His black hair was still wet, swept back off his face. Someone had hooked him up with a button-down red shirt and black pants. Nicer than most of the guys wore, so maybe Mehen? Though he preferred three-piece perfectly tailored suits if he was dressing up.
:There’s a wide variety of men’s clothing upstairs,: Nevarre said. :All types, sizes, and styles. Mehen’s still trying on shit and deciding what he’s taking home.:
Esetta must have arranged for all the clothing ages ago. Yet another example of her seeing a hundred steps ahead of everyone else.
“I’m glad you found something comfortable to wear,” I said out loud, trying to put Vore at ease. Usually I was the nervous one bringing a new Blood to bed. But his shoulders were tight, his bare feet planted wide, as if he was braced for battle.
He inclined his head but didn’t say anything out loud.
Internally, it was a completely different story.
His bond screamed. Shards and razors. A multitude of jumbled thoughts and words. Clamoring, clashing emotions. But most of all, pain.
So much pain it stole my breath. My fingers convulsed on Rik’s arm and my knees buckled. He snagged me up in his arms and carried me to the chaise. Dropping to his knees, he settled me on the cushions, holding my hands in his. Pressing kisses to my knuckles and palms. His gentleness despite his massive size always undid me, soothing me like nothing else. Though I couldn’t help the tears.
Vore hadn’t been able to speak. For hundreds of years. He hadn’t been able to walk as a man, let alone pick out something as insignificant as clothing in colors that pleased him. Eat food. Let alone interact with other people.
He’d been silent and chained his entire life.
Worse, he’d been seen as a monster, not a person, even by his own family and house. They’d done their best for him, but they were terrified of him. He’d been terrified of himself.
He still was.
Which was why he gripped his own wrists behind his back. He needed the restraint. The familiar position of having his arms bound to his sides. He didn’t trust himself. He certainly didn’t trust me to control him, and why should he? He didn’t know me, other than the Blood bond I’d given him.
He fully expected to kill and devour every person in the house. Starting with me.
“Tears.” His voice cracked, shredding his throat with the effort of communicating beyond the ragged screams inside his head. “You fear me.”
I shook my head and held out my right hand, but he stared at my trembling fingers like I offered him one of the Dauphine’s revolting leeches.
“I don’t fear you at all. I’m crying only because I feel your pain through the bond.”
