Queen (Bloodline Vampires 3)

I tilt my head to the side. It’s only then that I realize I’m still wearing the same clothes I had on when I fell asleep. It makes a strange sort of sense, but there’s no time to think too hard about it because Rylan moves forward, too fast to track even for my dhampir eyes, and bites me.

I expect pleasure.

All I get is pain.

He rears back with a muffled curse, his hand to his mouth. “What the fuck was that?”

I drop to my knees and press my fingers to the bite. It’s only two pinpricks from his canines, but the pain keeps radiating through me as if he injected poison into my blood. “What’s wrong? It’s never hurt before.”

Rylan removes his hand and there are burn marks on his lips. He shakes his head. “It has to be the pregnancy.”

“Or it’s this realm.” Malachi studies the space above us, though it doesn’t look any different from what’s around us in every direction. “I’m not prepared to blame the baby. We don’t know enough to say for sure.”

“For fuck’s sake, Malachi, no one is blaming that thing.” Rylan swipes his hand across his mouth again, as if he wants to scrub the taste of me right off his tongue. No reason for that to sting, but my logical side isn’t online right now. He shakes his head. “Something’s off, and it has nothing to do with this realm, if it’s even a realm. She might have simply pulled us into her dreams.”

“Which means the blood you just consumed isn’t really blood.” Malachi sounds calm. Too calm. “It might be the seraph bond attempting to protect her when she’s already weakened. We won’t know until we’re back together in person.”

“When that happens you can bite her first.”

I prop my hands on my hips and glare. “I’m standing right here. Stop talking about me like I’m a child.”

Malachi and Rylan both look away, expressions sheepish and irritated in turn. Which is when Wolf speaks. “Did you make a deal, love?”

The breath whooshes out of my body. He’s been so uncharacteristically quiet, I almost convinced myself he wouldn’t speak about what happened before. I should know better by now. There are few secrets between the four of us, at least when it comes to current events. The past is another animal entirely.

I make myself meet his gaze steadily. “Not yet.”

Malachi whips around. “What the fuck is he talking about? What deal?”

“I can explain. I—”

Wolf speaks right over me. “She asked me how to summon Azazel. When I refused to tell her, she compelled me.”

I don’t like the betrayed look Rylan sends my way. Even worse is the slow anger building on Malachi’s face. He drags his hands through his long hair. “We talked about this, Mina. It’s out of the question.”

“It was out of the question before my father took you three. It’s not now.” I’m protesting mostly out of spite, though. I can’t accept Azazel’s bargain now any more than I could before. I sigh. “Look, I’m not taking the deal. I thought he’d give different terms, but he didn’t, so we’re back to square one. If any of you have any brilliant ideas, I’d love to hear it.”

They exchange a look, but no one says anything. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. The three of them have gotten me out of several messes to date. I can’t expect them to do it when they’re captive and I’m free. “I’ll find another way.” I swallow hard, a burning starting in my throat and eyes. “I won’t bargain away seven years. I promise.”

They don’t quite look like they believe me, but that’s fine. I deserve the distrust after compelling Wolf. It was the wrong call, but panic got the best of me. That’s no excuse, and I won’t try to make it one. I lift my chin and open my mouth, but my stomach gives a horrible surge of agony that has me doubling over. “No. It’s too soon.”

“Mina!” Malachi’s hand brushes my back and then he’s gone, jerked away into the mist as if a giant hand reached out and snatched him. By the time I look for Rylan and Wolf, they’ve disappeared as well.

I barely get to curse before the world goes dark. The pain follows me into my waking, cramps that bow my back and have me clamping my teeth shut to keep a scream internal. This time, there’s no Grace to help. I turn onto my side and pull my knees to my chest. It feels like something is gnawing away at my insides, dull teeth ripping and tearing and Gods, it hurts. It hurts so fucking bad.

Until it doesn’t.

I blink through my watering eyes. I can’t keep from locking my body, waiting for the next wave of pain. It takes me much longer than I want to admit to slowly unclench and cautiously stretch out my legs. I half expect to find something wrong, but the pain has faded as if it never existed.