Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Good thing I have giants and vampires on my side. Around here, can’t get any safer than that.”
Mato leaves for real this time, and I whoosh out a breath. “God, I need a drink.”
Bard’s healing magic is wearing off fast. I’m going to have to find him and get another “treatment” so I can start working on my speech to the monster masses. The question is, what do they expect me to say? Everyone is making a big deal of it, which leads me to believe the address is more than they’re letting on. But if I start asking questions about the appropriate message, I’ll be seen as weak. Also, everyone around me has an agenda. No one to trust.
I hang my head and sigh. Maybe it’s time to visit the Scholar People. I’ve never met them, but I’m told they keep all the historical records. They can tell me what the prior rulers have said in this address.
CHAPTER FOUR
“You can’t just walk in there, Lake,” says Gabrio, sitting on the edge of my bed. “The Scholar People are very private.”
“But weren’t they the ones who educated you?”
“Yes, I spent ten years with them as a young man, as did my brothers.”
“Then they can’t be all that private.” I start pacing back and forth across my room. My stomach rolls with sharp hunger pangs. “Where’s Bard? I either need him, or I need to eat.”
Gabrio offers a suggestive look—green puppy-dog eyes and one corner of his lips hinting at a smile.
“I already said I won’t do that to you,” I object, “and you shouldn’t ask.”
He laughs. “You think I’m afraid of a little vampire bite?”
“No. That’s what worries me.”
“Truth is,” he stands and steps closer, “I have always wondered what it feels like.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Being an addict feels like shit.
“I hear it’s better than sex, which, considering how good my cock felt while sheathed inside your—”
“Don’t go there.” And he knows I didn’t enjoy it. Yes, he’s a beautiful man. A perfect specimen of masculinity, like his brothers, with hard bulging muscles in all the right places. He’s smart and compassionate, too, though he tries to hide it. “I’m not biting you. But hey, there are hundreds of hungry vampires in the palace, so feel free to ask one of them.”
“Perhaps I will.”
I swear the man has a death wish. “So where do I find these Scholar People?”
“It’s a few hours’ journey by foot or a few minutes’ flying if you wish to gain control of the Fliers and ride one.”
I’m not getting anywhere near those things. They bite, and it does not feel good. “I’ll pass on the crispy dragons.” For all I know, getting control involves something incredibly gruesome. I mean, how the hell is there such a steady supply of Flier “nectar” in these lands? Someone’s doing the dirty work.
“It’s fairly easy, you know. They are all addicted to the bite of a vampire. Their queen especially. Benicio used to personally take care of her.”
“What a relief. I assumed some poor slave spends his days jerking off dragons.” That’s where the nectar comes from. So sick.
“They do, but what does that have to do with controlling them?”
“Ew. Never mind.” This conversation is too gross for words. “I’m not putting my mouth, hands, or any other body part on those things.”
“If you do not control them, someone else will.”
Great. One more group of monsters to make happy. “I’ll have to deal with that when I get back. Right now, my priority is the address.” And finding Bard. “How do I call the No One king?”
“You don’t.”
I groan with frustration. “Then call me a War man and tell my husband I’m going on a walk to see the Scholar People.”
“I’m not your servant, Lake,” Gabrio says.
“Then get out of my bedroom.”
“I’m here to protect you.”
“I don’t need—fuck, forget it. You stay here. I can’t deal with this right now.” I step out into the torchlit hallway and find a Blood woman passing by. She’s carrying several pitchers of, yep, you guessed it, blood. I can tell from the sour smell it’s Skin blood. Skins are shifters that take the hide of their last meal and masquerade as that creature to lure in larger prey. I’m told vampires enjoy eating Skins because of their rich diet.
“You!” I say to the Blood woman. “Have someone go to the War People’s camp and bring me a male, a strong one. And send word to my husband that I’m leaving the palace.”
“Do you want me to tell the general? He will not want you going out alone, my queen.”
The War People and Blood People are sworn enemies. I can’t imagine it’s a good idea to have them both venture out with me. One will have to stay. “Never mind, I’ll go to the camp and talk to Alwar.”