I made it through the incredibly long dinner without fucking anyone, much to my Bloods’ disappointment. My fangs throbbed in time with my heart. Not to feed, exactly, because Rik had already slaked my thirst. I wanted to sink fangs into him just for the pleasure of it. To be inside him, and feel his pleasure roaring through our bond. As the festivities continued with a band setting up in the corner, and a crew removing the tables, I didn’t know how much longer I could last.

So, of course, my Blood found reasons to come closer and tempt me.

Nevarre bent down close so his hair slid over my bare shoulder and asked if he could fetch me anything. Guillaume kept playing with his knives, popping a blade up from thin air and twirling it, the flash catching my attention. He thought about deliberately nicking himself.

:Don’t even think about it.: I warned him. :I know you’re too skilled to ever cut yourself accidentally.:

Ezra and the older Blood he’d been paired with were getting along famously after a few gigantic mugs of beer. I thought he was fairly well distracted, until he offered to sing me a dirty limerick.

Even Xin joined the games, startling me when he seemed to materialize between me and Gina. :I thought I’d use my gift later and search the nest. See if she’s got anything to hide.:

Squatted down beside me, he braced his arm on the table and leaned in close. I loved every part of a man’s body, especially my Blood’s, but I’m pretty sure people must have written poems dedicated to Xin’s forearms. His muscles didn’t bulge like Rik’s, but veins and ligaments roped beneath his skin. My eyelids fluttered a moment, remembering when I’d taken him alone. The way his powerful, lean body had worked so hard to please me, even when he feared he was breaking into a thousand pieces and would never be able to serve me again.

:That’s a great idea.: Even in our bond, Rik’s words rumbled with deep, low bass. His rock troll wanted to come out and play too. :I can’t believe she’s only got four Blood and has still been able to defend herself from Skye all these years.:

Daire leaned across the table and propped his chin on his hands, braced on his elbows. “Maybe you’d like to dance, my queen?”

He didn’t even purr, and I still shuddered at the thought. Swaying to music, him draped around me. I’d never be able to keep my fangs out of him.

Mehen slammed his palms down on the table on either side of Daire and leaned in with an aggressive shove against his back. His eyes glittering with emerald fire. “I’m eager to punish him for you, my queen.”

Mayte watched all this with a mixture of amusement and, dare I say, arousal on her face. “Punish him for what?”

Arching his back so he could rub against the other man, Daire batted his eyes at her. “Everything.”

I had my hand fisted in his hair, jerking his face around to mine, before I even realized I’d moved. “Don’t give her your kitty-cat eyes.”

“These eyes…” He gave me a long, slow, sensual blink, his eyes blazing with heat. A deep purr rattled the table enough my wine glass tinged softly against my plate. “Are only for you, my queen.”

Mehen’s bond rumbled like a distant thunderstorm. :Please, Shara, my queen. I’ve been good. For me, at least. I even let the bear go first.:

I didn’t have to ask Daire what he thought about the other Blood’s plea. :The big mean dragon should definitely punish me for you. We’ll provide a loud distraction so Xin can more easily slip away undetected.:

Daire knew full well that Xin didn’t need any help, not when he would vanish without a trace.

“You allow them to…” Mayte didn’t finish the sentence. “Sorry, that’s none of my business.”

I looked at her, the blush spreading across her cheeks, her lush lips softly parted, her tongue darting out to moisten them. Her alpha and the other three pressed close, drawn to her need. Just as my Blood were drawn to mine. She wanted very much to be a part of my business.

The two other men standing expectantly in front of the table had no reason to look at me. Especially not with that dark, sensual look.

Mayte saw me take note of them. “My older twin brothers, Itztli and Tlacel. Everyone in my nest is at your disposal. If there’s anything you need… Or want…”

“We ask that you accept us as Blood,” one of the men said.

At first glance, I couldn’t tell them apart. Bronzed, lean, lithe, tremendous warriors by the way they stood and held themselves. They were attractive, yes. I could be interested in them.

Could be.

I narrowed a hard look on them, which seemed to surprise them. That only infuriated me more. They actually thought I’d fall over myself accepting them? When I had seven Blood I loved more than life itself?

“I don’t take Blood for strength or numbers or political gain. Being my Blood comes with certain…”

“Requirements,” Rik bit off the word, his voice graveled.

“Risks,” Mehen snarled, and even Daire shot them a dark look as he stood, though he didn’t draw away from my other Blood. “Service without reservations.”

Guillaume flicked the knife to his other hand without even looking at it. “Honors that you can’t possibly fathom.”

The two men glanced at each other and then shrugged. “Like what?”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “Do you honestly think I’d take two men as Blood who stood by and watched me step into a trap that nearly killed me?”

A small, strangled sound escaped Mayte’s throat. Her brothers whirled on her. “What?”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“You didn’t warn her about Skye’s geas?”

“How could I?” She shot an imploring look at me and back to her brothers. “I was afraid if she knew, that she wouldn’t even try, and I had to protect… us.”

That small hesitation sent alarm bells going off in my head. She was hiding something. Attractive or not, powerful or not, smart politically or not… Even if I disregarded exposing me to such risk by not telling me of the geas, there was no way in hell I’d sign on blindly to become her ally when she kept secrets from me. Let alone take her brothers into my Blood.

Studying them both, I started to see small differences between them. They both had shoulder-length dark hair, but one wore his hair in a high pony tail, and the other had his swept up in tight braids on each side into a ridge that fell down the top of his head like a mane. They both had tattoos on their cheeks, but one was a black sun and the other a red spiral. They wore black suits like my Blood, but with dark red shirts underneath and no tie, leaving the neck of their dress shirts opened.

A glint of gold and green flashed at the black sun brother’s throat. Some kind of jewelry, I guessed. He looked at me and for the first time, I felt a twinge of pity for him. The abject longing on his face was like a knife to my heart. Not for me exactly, since he didn’t have any idea who I was. Not really. No, he longed for what I represented: power, honor as my Blood, and stature among his people. “You know how long we’ve waited for a queen of our own.”

“I know, I’m sorry,” Mayte repeated, swiping at her eyes. “I’ll fix this.” Squaring her shoulders, she met my gaze. “Your Majesty, name your price for full restitution, so that you may freely consider my brothers as Blood. Whatever it is, I’ll pay it, unless it harms any in this nest other than myself.”

“It’s not that easy.” She flinched, and I hurried quickly to explain. “I made an oath that I would never take a Blood that I didn’t love.”

“You…” the other brother drew my attention, his voice rippling with melodic undertones that still managed to rumble. “You love them? All of them?”

“Yes.”

He started to step closer, but Guillaume and Xin slid in front of him, blocking his path to me. “Will you not even give us a chance to earn your love?”

Gina leaned close and whispered, “It would be a smart political move.”

I nodded slightly, keeping an eye on them. “But can I trust them? Or her? After what they’ve done?”

She shook her head slightly. “No way to know unless—”

I blew out a sigh. Unless I tasted their blood. And then it would be too late.

Rik stood slowly, drawing the twins’ gazes to him as he unfolded his impressive body to his full commanding height at my side. :You don’t have to decide anything tonight. They might need some convincing about who’s alpha, and I’d rather not subject you to any further strain tonight.:

That sealed it for me. If they wanted Rik to bash their heads in, they could wait another night. I had more important things on my mind. I stood too. “I will consider your request and give you a chance to convince me and my alpha that you belong with us. But not tonight. After what happened earlier, I need to rest first.”

Resigned but with her mouth a firm slash of determination, Mayte stood. “Of course, Your Majesty. Let us show you to your rooms.”