Blood Oath (23 page)

He
approached her, pulling her from the bed and into his arms for a quick, hard
kiss. “I’ve missed you.”

She
bit back a giggle. “You saw me this morning, before you left my chambers.”

He
grinned down at her, but the edges of his mouth trembled almost imperceptibly.
He seemed nervous. “That’s too long.”

Anca
didn’t mention her own case of nerves as Helena approached with two pewter
goblets of the potion Ylenia sent with her. She took one and gave the girl an
encouraging smile. She thought about reassuring her again that Nikia wouldn’t
hurt her anymore, but she didn’t think Helena would want Demi to know. She
would tell him, but not when the girl was in hearing distance.

Demi
eyed the potion with a frown. “What’s this?”

Helena’s
eyes remained downcast. “I know not, m’lord. Ylenia told me to have you both
drink a cup.”

He
sniffed it, grimacing slightly. With a jovial smile, he clinked his goblet
against Anca’s. “Cheers.”

“Bottoms
up,” she said with an equally fake smile and brought the cup to her lips. It
smelled foul, but tasted faintly like apricots and honey. “Not bad.” She
finished the rest of it in one long drink, as Demi did the same.

He
returned the cups to Helena and held out his hand.

Anca
folded hers in his and took a step to join him by his side. The room started
spinning, and bile rushed up the back of her throat. Her stomach heaved, and
her eyes seemed weighted. She opened her mouth to alert Demi that something was
wrong.

He
interrupted her by uttering a single word. “Poison.” He fell heavily on the
stone floor.

Anca
reached for him, but her arm felt disconnected from her body. The room whirled
faster, but her eyes managed to settle briefly on the serving girl.

Tears
swam in Helena’s widened eyes. Her fingers were in her mouth, and she appeared
to be biting down hard to keep from crying out. She pulled them away and shook
her head. “It’s not poison, m’lady. Only a sleeping dram.”

“Why?”
she managed to ask, as she fell beside Demi.

Helena
knelt beside her, smoothing the hair off her brow. “I’m sorry, m’lady. I had no
choice. I’m afraid of her.”

“It’s
okay,” she whispered, knowing her half-sister was behind this. Nikia’s name
echoed through Anca’s mind as she passed out.

* * * * *

She
awoke lying on the bed. Anca struggled to move and found her arms bound to the
bedposts. A pressure on her chest made her lift her head and look down. She
frowned at the contraption. She could feel it clamped around her waist, and she
was lying on it. It seemed to serve no purpose except to hold the wickedly
sharp stake aimed inches from her heart.

She
opened her mouth to scream for help and realized she was gagged. She heard
movement beside her and turned her head to see Demi bound with his arms at his
sides, clamped in by a device identical to hers, with the spike resting against
his heart. She made a quizzical sound, and he turned his head.

His
eyes reflected his fear, and he said something, but the gag muffled his words
beyond comprehension. He closed his eyes.
Nikia’s treachery.

Yes.
What do we do?

We
have to escape.
He grunted.

How?

They
froze as a cold laugh sounded from the right, out of their range of sight.
Nikia stepped into view, leaning over Anca. “You can’t, sister. You’re tied
securely, and if you had plans of transforming,” she caressed the spike near
Anca’s heart, “think again. Silver poisons werewolves, and you have enough of
their characteristics to get deathly ill from it—assuming you survived the
spike penetrating your heart.”

Why?
Anca cried out, using her full mental powers in case Nikia had a block in
place again.

“Because
I’m taking the Blood Oath. It’s my right, not yours.” Anger sparkled in Nikia’s
eyes. “You can’t usurp me of my rightful place.”

You’ll
die—

“Lies!”
Nikia waved her hand. “Ylenia wants to keep me from my heritage, that’s all.
I’m not good enough for them because of who my mother was.” She leaned closer,
until her face was inches from Anca’s. “She wasn’t saintly like the bitch who
produced you, so they want to eradicate her bloodline, but I won’t let them.”

Anca
searched for a way to reason with Nikia, but soon realized there wasn’t any
reasoning with the mad. The gleam of insanity shone in her eyes. They couldn’t
stop her with mere words.

“You
can’t stop me at all,” Nikia hissed. “I’ll soon have everything I need.” She
beckoned to Sian, who approached carrying the golden chalice and a sharp
dagger. “I need your blood and the pendant.” Her eyes turned to Demi. “His
blood too, and our dear father’s, and I’ll be the rightful ruler.”

Anca
tried to steel herself for the prick of the dagger when Nikia pushed back the
voluminous sleeve of her white robe and pressed the tip against the bend of her
elbow. She cried out when it slid through her flesh, but the cloth in her mouth
muffled the volume.

Nikia’s
eyes never strayed from the sight of Anca’s blood flowing into the goblet. It
was only when the wound stopped flowing that she handed the dagger and goblet
to Sian. “Get his.” She directed a scorching look in Demi’s direction. “I have
no wish to touch
him
.”

As
Sian moved around the bed to collect Demi’s blood, Nikia’s fingers moved to the
laces at Anca’s robe. “Now for the pendant, dear sister.”

Anca
tried to twist away, but she couldn’t evade Nikia. Within seconds, her breasts
were exposed, and Nikia had unfastened the pendant. She couldn’t hold back a
mournful moan when Nikia removed the pendant.

Her
moan turned to a cry of shock when Nikia tweaked her nipple. She shook her head
and redoubled her efforts to move away, but was securely restrained. The gag
muffled her scream of outrage when Nikia bent her head and licked her breast.
Don’t
touch me!

“Tasty,”
Nikia said before her fangs sank into the soft flesh of Anca’s breast. She
suckled for a couple of seconds before lifting her head. “If I had more time,
dear sister…” She sighed. “Perhaps I’ll keep you around as my plaything for a
while, until I tire of you.” She cupped Anca’s other breast as she knelt and
licked her cheek. “I’ll teach you how to use your tongue.” Her voice lowered to
a sensual whisper. “I’ll teach you to submit.”

She
stood up and glared at Demi. “I’m afraid I have no use for your lover though.
When I’ve completed the ritual, he’ll be the first to die.” She waved her hand
at Sian, and they hurried across the room. Nikia didn’t pause to look back as
she swept through the door, slamming it behind her.

Anca
turned her head so she could see Demi.
We have to get out of here and stop
her. She’ll die if she takes the Blood Oath.

Who
cares? I’m more worried about missing the moon phase. If you don’t take the
Oath now, there won’t be another chance. I’m sure she’s already gone after your
father.
As he spoke, Demi twisted against the silver restraint, hissing
when the spike raked his skin.

How
do we get out of these?

There’s
only one way I can think of.
His gaze locked with hers.
I love you,
Anca. All that matters is for you to stop Nikia and complete the ceremony.

She
guessed what he planned to do even as he did it. She cried out in protest as he
transformed into wolf-form.

Demi
spat out the gag as he howled with agony. The spike had penetrated his chest,
and it seemed to take all his strength to pull away from it. His breath came in
shallow pants as he turned back to his human form. “Ah, it hurts,
dragostia
.”
His forced smile seemed weak as he lurched across the bed and untied her restraints
with shaking hands. He opened the restraint with a click

As
soon as she was free, Anca sat up and rolled toward him, touching his pale
face. “Are you dying?”

“Don’t
know,” he said amid pants.

She
hugged him against her. “Tell me what to do to save you.”

“Blood.
Need blood.”

She
didn’t hesitate to push open the unlaced bodice of her robe and offer her neck.
She groaned with pain as Demi’s fangs sank through her skin. He didn’t have the
same finesse as last time, and she wasn’t aroused, so it hurt enough to bring
tears to her eyes. She endured stoically as he drank for several minutes.

She
became light-headed and started to pull away just as he broke contact. Some
color had reappeared in his cheeks, but he still looked terrible. “Will you
live?”

He
nodded. “It’s going to take a long time to heal though. I won’t be much use to
you tonight.”

She
rolled out of bed, helping him. Anca tried to brace him against her, but he
pulled away and stood tall. “Now what?”

“We
have to find Valdemeer. She needs his blood to complete the ceremony. If she
hasn’t gotten to him yet, it isn’t too late to stop her.”

Demi
surprised her by matching her frantic pace—though not without difficulty—as
they rushed to Valdemeer’s chambers. He walked with an unsteady gait and swayed
from time to time, but he didn’t falter. He seemed to be running solely on
adrenaline or determination, but there was no time to allow him to rest.

Valdemeer’s
partially opened door and the lack of a guard in the hallway caused Anca’s
stomach to clench with fear. She pushed open the oak door and rushed into his
room. She cried out when she saw him sprawled on the stone floor. A large
puddle of blood surrounded him.

“Papa,”
she cried as she ran to him. She was marginally aware of Demi catching up with
her and crouching beside her as she knelt to check on Valdemeer. She felt his
ravaged throat and cried out at the thread of a pulse she found. She cried out
again as his eyes snapped open, and he gripped her wrist with surprising
strength. “You’re alive.”

“Dying,”
he said in a slow whisper. “Take my blood.”

She
shook her head. “You’ll die if we take more.”

His
eyes moved to Demi, and he nodded.

Anca
looked up in time to see Demi nod and stand up. When he made his way to the
mini-bar to get a glass, she shook her head, mouthing the word, “No.” She
looked down at her father. “We can’t do this. I don’t want you to die.”

His
mouth was slack, and his eyes had started to glaze. He seemed to find thinking
easier than speaking.
Always meant to die, Anca…part of the ritual.

She
shook her head, not understanding—or refusing to believe.

Yes,
he insisted.
The way of things. Passing of old to new…my power to you. Can’t
change it.

She
glared at him. “You should have told me. I wouldn’t have agreed to do it if
you’d told me.”

I
know. Couldn’t tell you…made Demi swear not to.
He found the strength to
squeeze her hand gently.
This is our way.

Demi
returned to them, holding the snifter. “I have a container, m’lord.”

“Do
it,” he said shakily.

Anca
couldn’t watch as Demi pressed on the wound at her father’s neck to cause more
blood to flow. She pressed her hands over her eyes and began to sob.

Love
you, copia de meu inimiä. Take care of Demi, and guard our ways.

“It’s
not fair,” she whispered. Anca grasped his hand between hers as tears flowed
down her cheeks. “I love you, Papa. I don’t want to lose you now.”

Hurry,
copia. You must stop her. Don’t want Nikia to die, and you…take Oath before
moon moves…alignment.
With a feeble reciprocal squeeze, Valdemeer’s eyes
closed. His grip became slack, and his last breath passed his lips.

Anca
couldn’t seem to pry loose her hold as Demi urged her up. She wanted to stay
beside her father and mourn his passing, but there was no time. “Goodbye,
Papa,” she said softly as she got to her feet.

Demi
set a brisk pace, moving with more grace than he had exhibited earlier.

Anca
swiped her cheeks. “Are you stronger?”

He
nodded. “I’m still weak though.” He grasped the railing of the stairway leading
to the tower, leaning heavily against the wall. He handed her the glass of her
father’s blood. “Take this. I might drop it.”

She
held it reluctantly, refusing to look down at the last precious drops wrung
from Valdemeer. She bit back another sob, knowing she had to control her
emotions. If she broke down now, she wouldn’t be in any shape to confront
Nikia, and too much rested on stopping her half-sister’s scheme.

They
made poor time, hampered by Demi’s inability to climb without dragging himself
up each step by use of the banister. Halfway up, he waved her on ahead of him.
“Go, Anca. I’ll catch up, but you have to stop her.” He pointed to the window
at the top of the tower, craning his neck. “The moon will pass out of alignment
soon.”

With
an uncertain glance at the snifter of blood in her hand, she said, “What about…?”

“I’ll
be there in time.” He took the blood from her. “I won’t drop it. I swear.”

She
nodded, seeing by the intensity in his eyes he would protect it at all costs.
“I love you.” Anca broke into a run, taking the stairs two at a time as they
curved around the tower. When she reached the landing, there was only one door,
and she plunged through it without thought.

She
skidded to a halt, shocked by what she saw. A blood-red orb reflected the
moonlight onto a dais where the chalice sat. Her pendant fitted in the slot at
the base of the goblet, and it glowed as intensely as the orb aligned with the
moonbeam as it absorbed the reflected light. Nikia’s hand grasped the goblet,
and she uttered something in Corsovan.

Anca’s
eyes moved to where Starr stood, holding an old parchment in bound hands. The
young woman shook with fear, and her voice was unsteady. She also spoke
Corsovan, but the words got lost amid the sobs issuing from her.