Page 44 of Shadowbound

“Well?” he says gruffly. “What is there to explain?”

“The role of a Blood-servant is mainly to protect his Mistress,” I tell him. “And of course, if she grows thirsty, she may drink of him.”

“Then why didn’t you drink of me?” he asks and I can see hurt in his eyes now. He feels I’ve rejected him. “Is it because the peasant was another NightBorn?” he asks. “Is DayBorn blood not good enough for you?”

“My darling Paladin, I’m sure your blood would be exquisite,” I assure him, stroking his hand and arm. “But I cannot drink of you.”

“Why?” he wants to know, but at least he’s listening now.

“If I drink of you, I’ll Bind you to me so tightly it will be terribly painful when we separate.” I give him a level look. “And you know as well as I that we must separate in time. You swore your oath to your GodKing long before you pledged yourself to me.”

He looks stricken for a moment and even though I’m not wearing the Jewel of Knowing, I can guess his thoughts—he doesn’t want to leave me.

Truth be told, I don’t want to part with him either. I’ve never felt so close to anyone before—not even Kraven back before I knew his true intentions and thought I loved him.

Seeing that look on his face and knowing that it matches the feelings in my own heart decides me—it’s time to move forward with my plans.

“You know I’m right, Alaric,” I murmur. I reach for him and cup his bristly cheek in my palm. “We have to part eventually, but first we must go to the City of Night to retrieve the Heart of the Eclipse. We’ll go tomorrow.”

He looks surprised.

“You think I’m ready? Is my training over?”

I don’t tell him that his training was over some time ago, that I’ve been avoiding making this trip. Both because I dread traveling to the City again, and because I hate the thought of losing him when this is all over.

Truly, I’ve been putting this off too long.

“Yes,” I tell him. “Your training is over. Now come join me in the bath—I want you near me.”

“Yes, Mistress.” He strips and enters the bath to take me in his arms. He isn’t as submissive as usual though. He bends me over one muscular arm and takes my lips in a possessive kiss—it’s like he’s laying claim to me, proving that I’m his when it’s supposed to be the other way around.

I want to protest but somehow I can’t—I’m too caught up in the breathless kiss and the way he strokes my fangs with his tongue, teasing their points as though he’s daring himself to draw blood.

“Don’t, Alaric,” I tell him when the kiss breaks at last. “I told you—it will be agony when we part if I take your blood.”

“What if I don’t fucking want to part?” he growls. “And how do you know it will hurt so much?”

I look away.

“You’re not the first Blood-servant I’ve had,” I say, evasively. I don’t want to speak about Kraven.

Alaric gives me a searching look, like he wants to ask for more details but he must sense that I won’t give them. At last he nods.

“Let me bathe you, Mistress,” he rumbles. “Since you won’t take my blood.”

“Do as you wish,” I tell him and tug at his hair to bring him down for another kiss. I don’t know what’s wrong with me—I’ve never kissed any of my Blood-servants before. It’s too intimate. But somehow I can’t resist my Paladin.

I let him bathe me and massage me and then spend as long as he likes between my legs, tasting me, which is his favorite form of submission. I don’t let him come, however. He’ll need every bit of repressed desire to power his Celestial Fire if we run into problems in the City of Night.

And I’m afraid we’re most definitely going to have problems.

22

Alaric

The City of Night is bigger and grander by far than the Citadel of the GodKing. I hate to admit it, but it’s so. The vastness of the city can be measured by the sparkling lights that illuminate it. They spread across the dark horizon like hoards of flicker-flies as we approach.

We traveled here by magic, though I was concerned and didn’t want to at first. But Sylvanna assured me she was rested and recovered and though I thought she looked a little pale when we arrived at the city gates, she didn’t stumble or faint. I’m staying close to her side anyway, though. I don’t take my Lady’s safety for granted.

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