Chapter 40: Alkan - Fated to the Night King

Sena was sitting beside me when I opened my eyes as Danvers worked on the other side of the bed, disconnecting the tubing. My heart gave that painful lurch at the sight of her, and I braced for her questions. Maybe even her accusations.

“Thank you,” she said, and that had my brows raising. Not at all what I’d expected. “Thank you for saving them. And me. All my people.”

I grunted as Danvers pressed the small square of linen against my arm. “Haven’t saved them just yet. We’ve still got a bit to go.”

She leveled her gaze at me, and the link between us went tight. Growing stronger, and that want I’d been fighting back almost clawed its way up my throat. She was so close, so warm and alive, and the need to feed from her again simmered in my veins. The first taste of her had been intoxicating and I’d never tire of her.

"You’re done,” said my friend. “Doctor’s orders. You need to feed and rest. In that order.”

“I should stop at the garden first,” I argued, but to my surprise, it was Sena who stopped me.

“Gil and Chancel stopped by the library, wanted you to know they have guards posted in the garden. They wouldn’t tell me more than that, other than they have it handled for you.”

“Precisely. You can deal with that traitor’s punishment after you’ve followed my recommendation. Feed. Rest. Then be a king again.”

My lips curved up, slightly, because it was funny when my old friend took the rare risk to boss me around. Even after all he’d been through in life, he still had spirit.

“Fine. Feed. Rest. That I can do.”

Danvers gave me an authoritative glare, then stepped back out into the larger, open space, leaving me and Sena behind the relative privacy of the screen.

“I owe you a feeding.” Sena’s voice was firm, and I was happy to see that despite Valmont’s attempt to frighten her, bully her, or even worse, she was still here. That was determination I heard. But it was also incorrect.

“You don’t owe me anything.”

She shook her head. “That’s not true. I agreed to be your Source. That means you feed from me. And based on what the doctor just ordered, you need to be fed. Which is what we’ll do.” She pushed up her sleeve, baring her wrist, and my fangs dropped down with hunger. She stepped closer, settling herself on the edge of the table I was reclined on, and held her hand out in front of my mouth. The memory of her taste surged forward in my mind, and I craved it once more. When I opened my mouth to protest, she stopped me with her lips over my mouth. “Feed. Just enough until you have enough strength to leave here and then we’ll return to your rooms. Where we can negotiate new terms.”

That idea intrigued me, but she was also right. I’d been drained by a lot of what had happened over the last few days. Donating for Danvers, building the bond with Sena, and just managing the court, all required energy. Life force. And my Fated Soul was sitting beside me, offering me her own to replenish what I’d used.

“Fair enough,” I said, giving her an arched brow. “But I warn you. I’m quite skilled at negotiation. You’ll find I’m fierce about getting what I want.”

She smiled, and the connection between us brightened. I took the wrist she held out to me, my fingers gently supporting her arm, and pierced her skin with my fangs.

The dizzying taste of her filled my mouth and I swallowed, loving the way our link instantly blazed with energy. She gave a low moan, one that only I could hear, and she leaned closer, bracing herself with her free hand.

Knowledge spilled into my mind; emotions layered into all of it. Just like it had when I drank from her in front of the court. Her fear of Valmont, the anger that had fueled her when she fought back against him. Her affection for Danvers and Gus, Leah, even Gil and Chancel. Worry for the people she’d left behind.

And then there was me. Complicated feelings, intertwined, whirling, hard to separate. But there was no resistance or hatred that I could detect. No dishonesty in her blood. Not this time.

Four more swallows and I released her reluctantly. She stayed where she was, her eyes dilated with desire, and I wanted to see that again. When I had her alone, where no one might see all the things I wanted to do with her.

“You all right, little spy?” I asked, tracing the line of her vein that I could sense beneath her soft skin. Her breath caught, and then she nodded. “Good. Then we can go. Rest is next on the list, as we were ordered.”

She cleared her throat. “And negotiations.”

"Negotiations. After we rest.” This time, it was I who kept her from arguing. “I am the king of this court, in case you’ve forgotten. So, when I say we will go rest, that’s what we will do.”

There was a devilish look on her face when she smiled. “As you wish, my King.”

Those words, a teasing copy of how she’d heard others address me, meant so much more than she realized. They sent a shot of desire and aching want searing through me. Making me wonder. What would she look like saying that to me when we were alone, in my bed, bodies connected the way our souls already were?

I hoped I might find out.