“Since when?” I feel as though I should feel more shocked.

Why does it feel like I know this already?

“Since the day you were born.” My mom acts like I might shatter. “It comes from your dad’s side.”

“Maybe he should go there with you,” I suggest, though I want to go.

My mom smiles sadly. “I wish that were a possibility, but your father was banished a long time ago.”

“For what?” I wonder.

She hesitates. “It’s probably better if he tells you.”

I have moonlight blood in me. The most powerful magic runs through my veins. The most powerful magic that can drive a vampire insane.

I shudder at the thought. I’ve heard rumors of the moonlight descendant losing their minds against the forceful magic flowing in their bodies. I’d be more nervous, except …

“How is this possible?” I ask. “First, I’m supposed to be the queen, who’s the most powerful vampire there is. And now I’m supposed to have moonlight blood in me.”

“I don’t know why you’re confused,” Rhyland says. “The two go together well.”

“Yeah, but I’m not powerful,” I remind him. “Not even a little bit.”

He brushes his knuckles across my cheek. “You’ll get there. You’re better than you think.” His eyes stray to my mouth, as if remembering the kiss.

His gaze is so intense I have to look away.

I focus on my mom. “Why have you never told me this?”

My mom hugs her arms around herself. “I was waiting for the right time to tell you.”

“And now seemed like the best time?” I ask, and she shrugs. “What else have you not told me?”

“Probably a lot of things, but most mothers can say that.” She presses her fingertips to her temple. “I’m getting a blood headache. I need a drink.”

“I think we all need a drink,” Rhyland says, looking at me. Or, my neck, anyway. “You definitely need one.”

“Yeah, probably.” My lack of enthusiasm doesn’t go unnoticed.

Kingsley chuckles while my mom sighs exhaustedly.

“Such a handful,” Kingsley remarks, resting his elbow against the shelf.

I toss a scowl in his direction before looking at Rhyland. “So, I have to go to the Land of Moonlight to fix this?” I gesture at my neck.

Rhyland nods. “And we should leave as soon as possible.”

“We probably can’t go for a few days or so.” My mom fishes her phone out of her pocket. “I need to call in a few favors to some witches first and then we’ll go from there.”

I smooth my hand along Aeribella’s head as she begins to stir. “Since when do we associate with witches?”

My mom casts an edgy glance at Rhyland then looks back at me. “Since we need some extra protection spells. It’s going to take a lot of magic to make sure you’re protected while in the Land of Moonlight.”

I crook a brow at Rhyland. “Maybe you can ask your little witch friend who helps you cast all of those spells.”

He scratches his neck. “Yeah, maybe.” He lowers his hand to his side and straightens his stance. “Come on; let’s get you fed while your mom makes some calls.”

He doesn’t give me a chance to protest, snagging ahold of my hand as he strides out of the room.

“Why do we need to leave the room for you to feed me?” I ask as he guides me down the hallway toward my chambers. Or, well, I’m fairly positive that’s where we’re going.

I really need to take a tour.

He glances at me curiously from the corner of his eye. “Do you want to do it in front of everyone?”

Since my fangs twitch simply thinking about the taste of his blood … “Probably not.”

He grins as if I just handed over the key to my heart. “Well then, you have your answer.”

“I guess I do.” Wanting to regain the upper hand, I pick up my pace and hurry down the hallway, being the one to lead him.

He chuckles, letting me take the lead.

Thankfully, I find my chambers without too many wrong turns.

“My stuff is here,” I say as we enter the room I slept in last night. The curtains are open, and outside the window, the night sky is dusted with glimmers of silvers, pale purples, and sun-kissed golds.

“Your mom must have had some of the guards bring it inside.” Rhyland walks around my room, taking everything in.

As he passes by my silver jewelry box, he stops and fiddles with the latch. “What’s in here?”

“Just some old jewelry. Honestly, I haven’t looked in it for ages.” But my fingers long to open it up now to see if the choker is inside.

Wait until he leaves.

I set Aeribella down on the bed and move in front of Rhyland, drawing his attention off the jewelry box. “So, are you going to feed me?”

His eyes darken. “You seem eager?”

I shrug. “Just eager to get these burns tamed down.”

His eyebrow cocks. “Is that the only reason?”

“Yep.” Liar.

Sucking his lip ring between his teeth, he rolls up his sleeve with his gaze glued to mine, his fangs materializing from his lips. Then he lowers his mouth to his forearm to split the flesh open. His scent instantaneously floods the air. Before I can even process what I’m doing, I lean in, seal my lips to the open wound, and suck in a mouthful of his warm, intoxicating blood.

“Raven …” he groans, threading his fingers through my hair and urging me closer.

I suck in another shallow breath and somehow manage to keep my fangs tucked in so I’m not directly drinking from his vein. I worry how much longer my self-control will last, how much longer I’ll be able to not give in to my queen title, to him. To his blood.

He tastes so good …

My eyes slip shut as he begins to steer us somewhere.

A suck of blood later, my legs bump against the side of my bed. With a gentle nudge, I fall back onto the mattress, and his arm breaks free from my greedy lip grip.

I open my mouth to beg for more, but he’s already climbing onto the bed with me and lining his body over mine. Then he lowers his arm to my mouth and closes his eyes as I seal my lips to his cool skin. My legs wrap around his waist and he presses down against me, groaning.

“God, you’re killing me, Raven,” he moans hoarsely in my ear.

I grind my hips against his in response while I drink and drink and drink, drinking myself into a magical frenzy, my head spinning … Or maybe it’s the room. I start to lose control, my fangs snapping out—

He jerks back, panting, his eyelids fluttering open. “Easy,” he whispers.

I bob my head up and down, exhaustedly content, feeling more than blood high.

Trailing his finger along my cheekbone, he places the softest kiss to my lips. “Sleep,” he whispers.

“I don’t want to …” Sleepiness encompasses me and drags me under, pulling me away from reality.

I capture a little piece before I pass out entirely. A little truth. A little revelation.

He put another sleep spell on me …