“I suppose . . . yes.” I wasn’t sure at all where this was going. The sudden talk of vampire rights and politics had thrown me.
“Well, then. What I want you to do is simple. I could phrase it as a request, but as my son’s sireling—and therefore directly aligned to me in terms of lineage—you may consider this a direct order. We need you, Menolly, firmly ensconced in the Court of the Vampire Nation. I intend to make you an official member of the family. Consort is all well and good, but because of the nuances the breathers—” She paused, glancing at Nerissa. “Pardon me, I do not mean offense. Mortals, shall we say? Humans, especially, put a great importance on alliances. Therefore, we need to officially induct you into the court life.”
“Okay . . .” There was something coming that I hadn’t quite grasped yet.
“I am decreeing that you and your wife will both marry my son. You will both take on the title of princess. This is not up for debate.”
And with that, the bricks tumbled down, and Nerissa and I were left slack-jawed and silent.
Chapter 11
Nerissa found her tongue before I did. “You want me to marry Roman, too? What the hell? Menolly and I are already married.”
I winced, but Blood Wyne didn’t seem upset. In fact, her voice softened. “I know this is a shock, but trust me, I have good reason. Menolly, you are related to me because he has re-sired you. But I want your succession in the monarchy assured.”
That was a new one. “But . . . you are the Queen—and Roman will be the King after you, right? And what about your other children? Wouldn’t they resent me?”
All I knew was that Roman had seven brothers and sisters, and Blood Wyne had turned them all. The youngest two had been turned when they were twelve, before they hit puberty, and from what Roman had told me, they ran off and had never been heard from since.
His brother Caleb, until recently the Vampire Nation’s regent in western Europe, was a strikingly handsome, and equally violent, man. In a brief meeting a short time back, he had attempted to woo me away from Roman with the intention that we institute a return to the old days when vampires sought to be the scourges of the world. He had broken with Blood Wyne, and last we heard, he had resigned as regent and struck out on his own. But that still left four other siblings, including two who were total mama’s boys from what Roman told me.
Blood Wyne laughed softly, leaning forward. “What has Roman told you about his siblings?”
I glanced at Roman, who nodded for me to answer. “Only that two ran off long ago, and I met Caleb—we did not get along.”
“Yes, well, Caleb is no longer regent. He seeks to move against me, but I intend for him to be long dead before that happens. My twins, they were staked, long ago. A mother knows these things, and so does a sire, and I was both to them. Viktor and Encee are sweet boys who tag after my skirts. But they know perfectly well they are not fit to rule, and they are content to remain at home. In this monarchy, intelligence matters. The pair are loving, but they have no capacity for leadership. Anastasia might have taken the throne, but she prefers to play her part from behind the scenes. She told me once that she would do anything to help except to wear the crown. As she put it, ‘A crown brings with it attempts at assassination.’ And she is correct.”
That made six, and Roman was seven. “What about your eighth child?”
Blood Wyne glanced over at Roman, whose expression turned dour. He hung his head and shrugged. The Queen returned her gaze to me. “Our dark Paulette. To be honest, she remains imprisoned in my castle. A beautiful captive, as mad as she is immortal. I cannot bring myself to stake her, and yet she is thoroughly an animal. Her mind could not handle the years of life my blood gave to her and she slowly slipped into her predator. We feed her, make sure she has comfort, but she must never be allowed to escape or she would terrorize the land—a dark queen caught by the feral madness of her soul.”
Images of Sassy Branson flashed through my mind; she had lost the battle to her inner predator. She had begged me to stake her, and when the time came, I did. Even as I staked her heart, I was hating myself for it, but afterward, I saw her spirit walking free from her body, at peace once more, and I knew I had done the right thing.
“You should let her go. I don’t care how much you love someone. Keeping them alive in that state? It’s cruel.” If Blood Wyne wanted to be honest with me, she’d get honesty in return.
“I have told Mother the same many times.” Roman stood and paced around the room. “I will do it, if need be, but you know we should set Paulette free.”
Blood Wyne lingered on my face, searching my eyes. “I will consider your words. But if someone sets her free, it must be me. I both brought her into this world and birthed her into her life as a vampire.” A veil of exhaustion seemed to sweep over her face, but then she shook it away and cleared her throat.
“Back to the matter at hand. You see why we need someone who can claim the throne if something happens to me, or to Roman. Menolly, you are my choice. I trust you will not have the desire to claim it too soon. Yet, should you be forced to ascend, you would rule wisely and well.”
As the information began to soak in, I found my mind churning with questions and reasons why this wouldn’t work. And yet . . . and yet . . . there was a part of me that understood her reasoning. I was already considered the official consort, but that gave me no real authority when push came to shove.
Blood Wyne seemed to sense my ambivalence. “Be assured, this is a political match. Roman will not usurp Nerissa’s place as your spouse, except in the Vampire Nation.” She turned to Nerissa. “And this is of benefit to you as well. Since you will be considered Second Wife, you will be given the same respect and guarantees of safety as Menolly will. This will cement Menolly’s powers within the Vampire Nation. Those who are hesitant now will have no choice but to accede to her authority. Remember, because Menolly killed her original sire, a horrific sin in the vampire community, she has been ostracized by those who value tradition at all costs.”
Nerissa frowned, and I could see the gears clicking in her head.
I turned back to Roman, who was once again seated by my side. Everything made sense, given the nature of everything going on. I didn’t want to admit it, I didn’t even want to think about it, but having me as an official part of the court might help. The status of consort was basically that of a glorified mistress.
Nerissa finally found her voice. “What do you expect this to be, then? What would that do to my marriage with Menolly? I really don’t want to live here.”
Blood Wyne laughed. “Think, girl. How many matches have been made for the throne that are based on love? Queens and kings have been living separate lives since the beginning of time. I do not expect Menolly to cling to Roman and ignore you. While, yes, you would be required to live here after the coronation, I have no expectations that the two of you stay here every moment, or that you give up your jobs. Nor will your marriage to Menolly take a backseat.”
“How can we be sure?” I finally spoke up. “What assurance do we have that you won’t try to edge out our marriage in favor of my alliance to Roman?”
With a soft smile, Blood Wyne shook her head. “Roman may not wish to admit it, but I can tell very well where your heart—and Nerissa’s heart—rests. And, as much as my son may wish, I think it’s best to call a trump a trump. The two of you love each other in a way that transcends logic. And neither Roman nor I will ever seek to break that bond. If you live here, you will have your own suite together, and you may come and go as you please.”
“We couldn’t possibly move here until after Shadow Wing is taken care of, even if I were to agree now.” I cocked my head. “You know that’s out of the question.”
Blood Wyne remained impassive. “We will decide that in time.”
Nerissa stared mutely at the vampire queen. After a moment, she turned to Roman. “If we agree—i
f Menolly does this, will you swear by your life, by your fangs, by whatever is sacred to you, that this isn’t your way of trying to take Menolly away from me?”
I started to interrupt, but she held up her hand.
“You see, I get it,” Nerissa continued. “I really do. Her Majesty makes sense. What we’ve seen the past few days . . . what I saw when I went out on those calls with Chase . . . was horrendous. The hatred, the anger, and the destruction aimed at not only vampires but the entire Supe Community? It’s terrifying. What’s worse is that I know it’s just the tip of the iceberg. And having Menolly in a position of unquestioned power would help a great deal.”
“How so?” I still didn’t quite see why I was the front runner.
“You never think you’re important. Not you, not your sisters. But Roman and his mother are right. You don’t understand what rock stars you D’Artigo Sisters have become in the area. The Fae will listen. Other Supes, who might not take kindly to vampires—like my Pride—will listen. Humans will listen because you are from Otherworld and you still wear that glamour like a cloak. This would help because you could also be a liaison between the Vampire Nation and the United Worlds Church.”
I frowned, beginning to understand what she was saying. I hated thinking of myself in any self-important way, but false modesty was as annoying as false pride. My sisters and I did stand out in the community, and because of our interactions, people paid attention to what we had to say.
Nerissa turned to Blood Wyne. “Pardon me for saying this, Your Majesty, but both you and Roman are inaccessible. And you’re fucking scary. Hell, I’m terrified to be here. I’m scared I’ll say something that will set you off and boom, no more Nerissa. My wife is scary, too, but she is a part of the community. The Wayfarer saw to that. So I understand what you are saying, and I agree that this may be a wise move for you. For the Vampire Nation. But I want guarantees. I want proof . . . I want to have something concrete that I can hold in my hand to calm my fears that you won’t try to take Menolly away from me.”
“What assurances can we give you?” Blood Wyne leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk. “I want your cooperation. You are not only beloved by Menolly, but also by those who favor her. The last thing we want to do is to be seen as taking her away from you. Not if we seek to further our acceptance with the world of mortals. Tell us what you want in return.”
Well, this was a fine thing. My wife and my consort’s mother were bargaining as if I weren’t in the room. I was about to say something when I realized that, no—this was a good thing. They were coming to terms on their own, without my interference. Which meant a great deal for Nerissa. I sat back and kept my mouth shut.
Nerissa pointed to Roman. “You. I need you to seal the deal. Become my blood-oath brother. If you go back on your word after that, I’ll have the right to stake you without any repercussions. You agree to that, then we have a deal. I’ll marry you, along with Menolly, and we’ll move in here after her coronation.”
“Your coronation, too, my sweet.” Roman’s lips turned up in a wicked smile. He was enjoying playing cat and mouse with Nerissa. “You marry me, you’re both my princesses, although you could never ascend to the throne without becoming a vampire.”
“So not interested in becoming a vamp, let alone ruling them.” Nerissa’s gaze never left his. “Then we have a deal?”
“You have my word and yes, we have a deal. But . . . we exchange blood vows my way. I drink—a very little—from you. And you, my dear, drink a few drops of my blood. Are you game?” His gaze was totally fixated on my wife.
I felt like we had reached a line that—once crossed—would forever change the nature of our lives. And it all hinged on Nerissa’s answer. I didn’t have a say in this. She needed to fight this battle on her own. She was establishing her line, her boundaries, her rules.
Nerissa stood up and walked over to the desk. Blood Wyne sat very still, staring at the pair with an expression that mirrored my own incredulity. But she seemed inclined to the same course of action I was taking: Leave well enough alone.
Roman and my wife were jousting for position in my life. Nerissa would win if she went through with it, even though she would be giving in to Roman in terms of the blood sports. Because anybody who could claim Roman’s life if he broke an honor code held a dagger over his head, and nothing in his position could refute that. Especially when witnessed by the Queen of Vampires herself. She might be his mother, but I had the feeling Blood Wyne was all about the letter of her law.
Nerissa leaned across the desk to stare Blood Wyne in the face—an act so foolhardy and brave that even I recoiled from the idea. My wife had plenty of courage, that was for sure. “You heard him? He agrees to my terms?”
Blood Wyne nodded, her fangs coming down. But she did not lunge, did not react in any other fashion. “I did. But you’ll need a blade, my dear, unless you choose to cut flesh with your own fangs.”
Nerissa arched her eyebrows. “Now there is an interesting idea. Roman pierces my neck with his fangs. I pierce his flesh with mine.” She turned back to him. “I agree to your terms. Fang for fang, my Prince?”
He laughed, a little too harshly, in a way that made me realize she had turned him on and he was ready to play.
I stepped in. “Remember—she doesn’t get hurt.”
He waved off my concerns. “Always part of the bargain, my love. All right then, werepuma. Fang for fang. You and me. Let’s go.” And, in a quick stride forward, he was by her side. “You might not want your dress to get bloody, and if we do this right, it will.”
“The same with your fancypants outfit, Liege.”
She circled him. Puma was flaring. I could feel it. I had seen her transform so many times I’d lost count. Right before she changed to go running through the forest, Puma would rise and I would always feel a leap of fear in my heart. Nerissa in her Were form was a wild creature, free and passionate, and able to kill with a well-placed blow to the heart or head.
The pair moved to where they were in front of the desk, unencumbered by furniture. They stripped off their clothes and for a moment, I cringed. His mother was in the room. But then common sense took hold of me. Blood Wyne was an ancient vampire. Somehow the rules of mother-son modesty pretty much flew out the window when you really thought about the nature of the beast and what we had been discussing.
Both Nerissa and Roman were magnificent when naked, and I wanted nothing more right then than to slide between them for a bit of three-way action. But (a) Blood Wyne. I really didn’t feel like fucking my wife and my lover in front of her. And (b) the one time we had tried it, Nerissa and I ended up pushing Roman to the side and his ego had been sorely bruised. So I stayed right where I was.
Roman slaked his gaze over Nerissa’s body. “You’re absolutely lovely. Menolly knows her beauties.” He bared his throat. “You can’t kill me unless you stake my heart. I’m going to trust you to hold to our deal. Blood brother, blood sister. Fang for fang. Do your worst, my beautiful Were, princess-to-be.”
Nerissa stood back and then, in a transformation that I knew so well by the sight of it, shimmered. Her spine lengthened as arms and legs shifted, face contorting into the silken, sleek muzzle that marked her as one of the big cats. As the beautiful tawny beast emerged, Nerissa let out a long, low growl of satisfaction. She was beautiful, strong, and muscled. Puma, cougar, mountain lion, call her what you will, my Nerissa was deadly and brilliant.
Roman’s nostrils flared as she neared him. He’s afraid, I thought. He’s really afraid of her.
But he held his ground, standing stock-still as she approached. She padded toward him, pausing when she reached his side. Then, with one massive movement, she rose on her hind feet, standing taller than he was. She leaned against him, her huge front paws draping around his neck. He glanced at me but kept his composure, waiting, his neck fully exposed.
Nerissa li
cked him, from neck to face, then stared directly into his eyes, her muzzle inches from his lips. She let out a loud grunt, then a rumbling purr as she bared her fangs and scraped them across his throat. The blood welled and began to run down his alabaster skin.
With a huff, she leaned in and licked, as another cloud of shimmering light cloaked them. I blinked, startled, and when I opened my eyes, she was there in her human form, her arms wrapped around his neck, her lips pressed to the cut, lapping softly. The sight of them together, along with the energy filling the room, was driving me nuts now. I wanted to be with them, to fuck them both, to take them down in a mad orgy of tongue and breast and pussy and cock.
Roman let out a long groan as she sucked up his blood, then stood back.
She wiped the blood off her face onto her fingers and held them up in a salute. “I pledge never to harm you or your mother. I will be your wife, along with my wife. I will do my best to help your cause as long as it does not conflict with my other oaths, and as long as you swear oath back to me.” She bared her neck to him.
I tensed as he neared her.
Wrapping his arms around her body, he slid his fangs deep into her flesh, moaning and shifting as the blood sprang up and he coaxed it into his mouth. Nerissa gasped, letting out a little cry that I knew meant she was enjoying it. A sudden spurt of jealousy crossed my thoughts. She usually saved that cry for me—we played with men, but our hearts belonged to each other. Roman laved her neck with his tongue, cupping her waist with one hand and her ass with another as she rubbed against him. He was hard, erect, and firm, and she wrapped one leg around his waist, sliding down on his cock, driving herself onto him, sealing the deal with her body as well. But they didn’t move, didn’t take it further.
After a moment, he pulled away, his voice so husky that I expected him to come right there in front of us. “I pledge never to interfere with your relationship with Menolly. I pledge never to upstage you, never to step in where I am not welcome. I pledge my protection and whatever I can do to help you in your cause, in your life, in your path.”