In the Service of the King (Vampire Warrior Kings 1)

She moaned against his neck. Just a little bit more. I just… She rushed and gulped at the life-giving sustenance.

We have all the time in the world. Slow down. Take your time, dear heart. Savor. Remember? Never apologize for needing me.

After a few more minutes passed, Shayla’s thirst was finally quenched. Slowly, she released her mouth from his neck, shocked to see the deep impressions of her teeth marks in an angry circle.

She gasped. Oh God, I’m sorry.

For what? For being enthusiastic? For being a little rough? My fangs are still buried an inch into your flesh, yes? Teeth marks come with the territory. A warm chuckle accompanied the thoughts. I know what I said, Shayla, but I need just a bit more of you. You taste so good, I don’t want to stop.

Whatever you want, whatever you need, it’s yours, Kael. She stroked his hair and held him, adoring that he needed her as much as she did him. Her earlier urgency subsided, though it didn’t disappear altogether. Deep down, under her skin, a low-level need remained, maybe would always remain. She hoped so. She never wanted to lose this feeling.

Free from her earlier bloodlust, Shayla became aware again of the men surrounding them, heads bowed and eyes averted, but still witnessing their union  . The embarrassment or self-consciousness she might’ve expected never came. Her conviction in the rightness of all she had shared with Kael made it impossible to feel anything but confidence and pride and love.

Kael released her flesh and licked the wound closed. Because of his body’s natural healing powers, his cut had already knitted together.

He threaded his fingers into her hair and ran maddening openmouthed kisses from her chest, up her throat and over her chin. Finally, he claimed her mouth, tenderly, reverently. Minutes passed, or hours, she couldn’t really tell, before he broke off the kiss. Their marked hands joined, Kael pulled Shayla to his side. The warriors formed a line before them with Liam at its center. The fierce masculine approval they each wore made her feel she was one of them.

“My brethren, I present to you my mate, our queen, Her Majesty Shayla MacQuillan,” Kael said in a strained, proud voice.

All seven lowered to one knee in a coordinated movement, bowed their heads and declared in one voice, “Your Majesty, we are at your service, now and forever.”

Tears pricked Shayla’s eyes and words spilled from her lips before she’d thought what to say. “As I am at yours, and our king’s.”

Approving murmurs and nods moved through the men.

“Rise now, brothers, and be merry.”

The group surrounded them, clasped arms with Kael and offered him their wishes. To her, they bowed and complimented the match. A deep sense of family and community embraced Shayla, and she knew this was where she belonged.

But, just then, her interest didn’t lie in bonding with the warriors assembled around them, great as they seemed to be.

She wanted Kael.

The floor dropped away from her feet as he swept her into his arms. He winked and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

The men laughed and applauded.

“Well, my friends, if you’ll excuse me. I would like to have my mate to myself for a while.” A crooked grin brightened his face. “A long while.” He backed toward the door, still carrying her. “You see, I, too, plan to be in the service of the queen.”

Shayla gasped at his brazenness but couldn’t help her laughter, especially once the warriors started throwing catcalls at their retreating forms.

Good humor radiated from her lover, and his pleasure lit up her insides in return.

Kael paused outside a room she’d never entered. “Our private apartment,” he explained as he carried her over the threshold. He kicked the door closed behind them.

She could live on the adoration she saw in his eyes. “Mo chuisle mo chroí,” he murmured. You are the pulse of my heart, she heard in her mind.

“I love you, Kael.” She pressed a lingering kiss to his full lips.

“I love you, too,” he murmured around the edge of the kiss. “So much.”

She pulled away and rested her forehead on his, looked deep into his eyes. “I meant what I said in there, my love. I will always be in your service.”

“We are partners, now, Shayla. Equals. We will be in one another’s service, in all things.”

“I love the sound of that.”

“Mmm, so do I.” He turned on his heel and crossed the large living room. “And I suggest we begin right now.”

Shayla laughed as he picked up speed and pushed through a door into a large bedroom. In the center of the space sat a king-size poster bed with layers of gauzy, sheer panels hanging down from the four corners. That was all she had time to notice before Kael threw her onto the bed and sprawled on top of her.