Chapter 477: Ameline's Warning
I know I should have been much more focused on what was happening around me as I was led out of my chambers by a pair of vampires, once Batsheva had enjoyed her little recess, and toward the throne room instead of thinking about Sebastian.
But oh, my, my, my. Those lips. That magic. My body still tingled.
So much for Quaid.
Who said that? I turned my head a little as we passed the entry to the main room only to catch sight of a black-robed figure behind a statue. One white hand swept the hood back a little, Ameline's crystal blue eyes locking on mine.
Choke.
We need to talk, she sent. Watch your back.
I couldn't think fast enough to latch onto her, nor, I supposed, did I have the power. And then I was past her, every pair of eyes on me, including Mom's and Margaret's.
Did I dare mention Ameline was here? And what did she want?
Watch my back. Since when was the ice princess herself on my side?
So much churning going on, I needed a moment to reorder everything, but didn't get that moment. Though I wasn't the only one who needed time to think about my choice, from the look on Batsheva's face when I faced her again, she'd figured out a way to turn my decision to her advantage. Or at least thought she had, because she smiled and nodded to me in what I can only assume was gracious welcome as she gestured for me to come closer.
"Our clan will be richer for your presence," she said. "We wish you welcome, Sydlynn."
Batsheva will kill you the moment she can. Ameline's mental voice was as cold as the rest of her.
Duh, I sent. Since when do you care?
She laughed. Don't start thinking we're besties, Ameline sent, the vampire in her as icy as she was. But you have something I want and I will not allow Batsheva to have it. Or the Brotherhood.
What do you know of the Brotherhood? Leave it to Ameline to have more information than I did. Irked me to no end.
I said we'll talk. Her amusement was as plain as it was chilly. But believe me when I say I'm here to protect you and the vampire essence you carry. For now, you have an adoption ceremony to endure.
She wasn't kidding. A short ceremony in what I could only guess was Austrian or some other language I didn't speak involving the vampires bowing to Batsheva over and over again and I was suddenly swept forward by Piotr's hand on my back while Charlotte growled and twitched next to me all the way to the foot of the throne.
Flawless. Not a crease or a blemish or a wrinkle to be seen on the vampire Queen's face. But no matter how beautiful death had made her, to me Batsheva would always be ugly.
Her power was nothing to sneeze at, I had to admit, as a wave of spirit magic rose from her and engulfed me. I had a moment of real fear, a flashback to the beach and almost drowning. I felt the same way, the pressure on my lungs to take a breath, the head-over-heels rush of primal strength, though it was only my insides enduring such treatment. The vampire essence grasped onto me and steadied me even as Batsheva's power gripped me tight in a band of pressure I'm sure was far more than necessary.
One thing was clear. The ancient spirit energy she commanded was flawed, tainted by centuries of influence from vampire Queens with only their own ambitions to please them.
Yes, the vampire sent. Precisely. Before I attached to Cesard to preserve myself, I was pure. And thanks to you and your magic, I am again. She shuddered. Another reason why I will never join her, or the other. They are no longer me, Syd.
There was nothing to say, not when Piotr gripped the back of my neck and shoved me forward, offering my throat to my soon-to-be Queen while Charlotte's growling turned to huffing whines. She had to hold it together. There was no other choice. And she did, bless her.
Somehow, she did. Even when Batsheva, lips split in a horrible smile, bent and pressed her lips to my skin. My pulse pounded, the cold of her mouth raising goosebumps along every inch of my exposed flesh as the tiniest of pinpricks broke the skin.
The worst of all of it, the most hideous part, was the sucking. I wanted to strike out at her, disgust and rage boiling, my demon clawing at my insides so hard I worried she might hurt us both.
I'd endured a lot of things in my lifetime. But having evil personified drink my blood with her cold, clammy lips locked on my bare skin took the cake, cutlery, plates, kitchen and house.
Which I'd burn down if it would remove the memory.
She pulled away at last, just when I was sure I couldn't do it anymore, lifting her arm toward me with a lazy smile, her tongue sliding out to lick her ruby lips, my blood staining her white, white teeth.
I'd never stop shuddering. Nevernevernevernevernever.
Her white wrist lifted, her own fangs cutting the skin at the pulse, a single drop of blackish blood oozing to the surface to pool between her tendons.
"Your blood mingles with ours now," she said. "Time for ours to live in you."
Hell no to the gazillionth power. No one mentioned drinking her damned blood from her ewie arm while everyone watched.
Oh. My. Swearword.
Piotr forced my head down and I let him. No way was I going to be able to do this on my own. Eyes squinched closed, bile already rising, I parted my lips over the pool of blood and drank.
I wish I could say it was gross. But the vampire part of me saved me from the disgustingness, showing me the light inside her blood. And yet, there it was, the taint, the filth under the brightness of spirit.
It was all I could do not to puke in Batsheva's lap.
Piotr released me the moment I did as I was required, backing away so, when I was done, I rose on my own power, glaring into the Queen's eyes.
"Be welcome," she said. "Beloved child of Moromond."
I couldn't wait to kill her ass.
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