Blood Oath (7 page)

She stepped into the chamber, finding it lit
with the soft glow of a lamp on the mahogany nightstand. The bed was larger
than any she had ever seen, and it was in a wooden frame with steps leading up
to it. A black comforter covered the bed, and matching curtains hung from the
posts of the bed frame. The rest of the furniture matched the
nightstand—mahogany, sturdy, and polished to a high sheen.

Demi walked to a pair of doors against the
far wall. He touched the nearest. “This is your dressing room.” He moved his
hand to the second. “The
en suite
bathroom. If you want to bathe, I’ll
return for you in one hour.”

She nodded, overwhelmed with nerves at the
thought of meeting her father. Would she hate him on sight? Would she revert to
the child who wanted to scream all the angry words she had saved up during a
lifetime of disappointments? Would she be able to forgive him?

Demi walked to the door, but he paused near
a cord hanging from the ceiling. It looked like braided gold. “Ring for Helena
if you need anything. Pull this once, and she’ll come.”

Anca nodded again. She watched as he stood
by the door for another few seconds, seeming intent on speaking. Finally, he
shook his head and left her without another word. He closed the door behind
him.

She sagged as soon as she was alone. She was
trembling, and focused on breathing deeply to calm herself. No matter how the
meeting with her father turned out, it couldn’t be as bad as she was imagining
it. It was better to get herself in hand so she was prepared to meet him.

She glanced down at her soiled outfit and
grimaced. It wouldn’t do to wear such an outfit for an audience with the king.
By the time Anca bathed, her cases would be in her room. A hot bath might be
just the thing to sooth her ragged nerves. Maybe several baths, as frazzled as
she was right then. It wouldn’t hurt if Demi joined her, to wash her back.

She swallowed down a moan as the erotic
thought translated to an even more erotic image in her mind. She couldn’t
recall ever having been drawn to someone so quickly in her life. Her two casual
affairs had been born more from a reaction to the peer pressure of her
girlfriends in college than any real interest on her part, and both had been
less than satisfying.

Adam, her first, had lasted all of two
weeks, and then he had gone onto a girl who was more enthusiastic. The
relationship had ended so quickly Anca hadn’t realized they never clicked on a
level beyond physical until she analyzed it years later, after Barry.

The sex had been nice with Barry,
boyfriend-number-two, but there had been a vital emotional connection missing.
She had never felt like she really knew him, and vice versa. They had both
tried hard to make it work, but at the nine-month mark, when he pressed for a deeper
commitment and gave her a ring, she had walked away.

So it was alarming to feel this physical and
emotional connection with Demi after such a short acquaintance. For the last
three years, she had believed she would never find anyone who suited her, so it
should be a relief to know she could connect with a man.

It would have been, if he didn’t live
halfway around the world. If only he had been a New Yorker, and they met on the
subway, she would be rejoicing. She probably would have taken him to her bed at
their first meeting under those circumstances.

Here in Corsova, it wasn’t safe to give into
her desires. If she fell in love with him, she would have a hell of a time
walking away. Without having to feel him out, Anca knew Demi would never leave
his country, and she wouldn’t be content to stay.

Another doomed relationship, she thought
with a sigh, as she walked into the bathroom. She must have the magical touch
where men were concerned.

As she took in the grandeur of the bathroom
half-heartedly, she tried telling herself she was worrying for nothing. She
knew he was attracted to her too, but that didn’t mean he was looking for a
commitment. He would probably run away if he knew how serious her thoughts
were. He might be involved with someone or married.

She remembered the feel of his mouth on
hers—in the dream and real life—and the way his heart raced when he held her
earlier. The earnestness in his vow to protect her came back to her, and Anca
knew he wanted her with equal fervor. Based on the other qualities he had
displayed, that ruled out the possibility he was already in a relationship,
meaning he was available.

Which was why she would have to keep her
distance, she decided. One of them would have to be sensible, and she didn’t
think Demi was sitting around agonizing about his growing attraction for her.
Being sensible fell to her. Too bad she wasn’t so good at being sensible in her
personal life.

Chapter 5

Nikia squirmed as the tongue in her pussy
probed deeper. She arched her hips, bringing her clit more fully against Sian’s
tongue. She dug her hands into her lover’s long hair, pushing her face deeper
into the crux of her legs. She groaned as Sian’s teeth raked across her swollen
clit.

She was so engrossed in what was happening
in her pussy that she didn’t hear the door opening. She didn’t open her brown
eyes until the door slammed shut. She grimaced when she saw the cowering
posture of the servant. As the silence lengthened, she propped herself on her
elbows. “Did you have some reason to disturb me without knocking, Helena?”

The girl nodded slowly.

“Well, spit it out,” she snapped.

Helena bobbed into a curtsey. “She’s here,
m’lady.”

With a snarl of rage, Nikia rolled out of
bed. She snatched her robe from where it lay over the footboard and thrust her
arms into it so violently the delicate silk shredded under the onslaught of her
fingernails. “That bastard.”

“Who, m’lady?” Helena’s dark eyes clearly
reflected her confusion.

“Nicodemus. How dare he bring her here?” Her
eyes narrowed. “Stupid bitch. She’ll be sorry she came.” She turned her head as
Sian moved from the bed. She lunged forward and buried her hands in the other
woman’s hair. Nikia dragged her from the bed, ignoring her cry of pain when her
knees hit the stone floor with a dull thud. “You aren’t finished,” she hissed.

As Sian knelt before her and returned her
mouth to her pussy, Nikia beckoned the young maid closer. She didn’t miss the
girl’s hesitation, and the fear only added to her ire. When Helena was close
enough, she slapped her. “Be quick when I summon you.”

Tears sparkled in her eyes, and she cupped
her cheek as she nodded.

“Have you seen her?”

“Yes, m’lady. Sian’s mother says she’s the
very image of Katrine.” She bowed her head. “I’ve been assigned to serve her.”
She cringed, bringing her arms up to shield her face, evidently expecting a
reprimand.

Instead, Nikia caressed her cheek, the same
one she had slapped. “Excellent. You’ll keep an eye on the bitch-princess for
me, until I can deal with her.”

“Yes, m’lady.” She sounded uncertain as she
lowered her arms.

Nikia tangled her hand in the girl’s tightly
bound hair, pulling her closer. When her lips were near Helena’s, she
whispered, “Serve the wench, but remember who your mistress is.”

Helena swallowed audibly. “O-of course,
m’lady.”

She stiffened as Sian’s tongue brought her
to orgasm. Nikia’s fingernails dug into the young girl’s flesh, and she smiled
when Helena winced. She bucked her hips against Sian’s face, and slowly the
pleasure faded.

She pulled Helena closer, pressing her mouth
to the soft, full lips of the young woman. Nikia ignored her resistance. She
kept the kiss light and soon lifted her head. Her eyes bored into Helena’s.
“You belong to me, don’t you, Helena?”

Tears splashed down her cheeks as she
nodded.

“Good girl.” She dropped her hand from
behind Helena’s head and brought her fingers to her mouth. She licked away all
traces of the blood she’d drawn. Then she looked down at Sian, who awaited
permission to leave her post. “You may rise. I suddenly have the urge to dine
with my dear father. Help me prepare.”

Sian got up from the floor and rushed into
the bathroom. The sound of running water soon reached the bedroom.

She turned toward the bathroom, but stopped
in mid-step. She turned her head to look at Helena. “Be sure your service
pleases me, girl.”

Helena nodded. “I live to serve you,
m’lady.” Her voice was shaky as she repeated the ancient phrase.

She licked her lips, eyeing the girl’s full
bosom. “Not yet, but soon.” She swept into the bathroom, leaving the girl behind
her. She could sense her fear and reluctance, and it aroused her again. No
conquest was so sweet as one who started out unwilling.

She dropped the robe and stepped into the
bath. Bubbles frothed on the surface of the water and hid her breasts when she
leaned back in the spacious tub. Sian perched on the rim of the tub, holding a
natural sponge. She smiled at her, while imagining how sweet Helena’s pussy
would taste. Sian’s neediness was growing tiresome, and she was ready for a
change.

Once she did away with Valdemeer’s heir and
ridded herself of the old man, she would celebrate her ascension by
inaugurating the young woman as her new companion. If the girl resisted, so
much the better. She got wet just thinking about forcing Helena into
compliance.

As Sian stepped into the tub and knelt
between her legs, Nikia leaned back. The first touch of the sponge against her
inflamed pussy was rough, but it only enhanced her desire.

Sian’s fingers were gentle as they parted
her pussy lips. She swirled the sponge against her clit, and Nikia groaned. Her
nipples ached for attention, and she cupped her breasts with her own hands. She
traced her fingers across her areole, flicking her nipples gently.

Sian plunged her fingers deep inside Nikia’s
dripping pussy. As she did so, Nikia twisted her nipples almost viciously,
fantasizing they were her half-sister’s neck.

Chapter 6

Demi
bowed to Valdemeer, standing by the mini-bar, before taking a seat in the
wingchair across the desk. “Good evening, sire.”

Valdemeer poured him a glass of cognac
without asking. He put it on the edge of the desk before sitting in his chair
behind the desk. “She is here?”

He lifted the crystal glass to sip the
cognac before answering. “Yes, sire.”

“And your journey? Was it…uneventful?”

Demi hesitated over mentioning Anca’s
attempted escape. He sighed. “She grew frightened upon learning she is your
heir.”

Valdemeer’s gray brows formed a V. “She
didn’t know?”

“No, sire.”

He stroked his beard, looking thoughtful.
“What does she know of us, Nicodemus?”

“I don’t think she knows anything, sire.
Katrine told her you had died, and that she was a Ukrainian immigrant.”

The king swallowed heavily. “I see.” He
glanced down at the amber liquid in his glass, seeming to collect his thoughts.
“How is Katrine?”

He set down the glass. “She’s been ill.
She’s had heart surgery, and Anca said she’s fragile.”

He shook his head. “How can that be? She’s
so young.”

“I don’t think she lives by our ways any
longer, sire. She has become human.”

Valdemeer leaned back in his chair, looking
troubled. “Anca knows nothing of what we are? What she is?”

“I don’t think so.”

He stroked his graying beard again. “Damned
impossible position, eh, boy?”

Demi smiled at the unintentional use of the
endearment. “Yes, sire.”

“How should I tell her? Can she deal with it
all upfront?”

He hesitated, and then shrugged. “I don’t
know. She seems to be resilient, but it isn’t exactly the kind of thing you
blurt out over dinner, is it?”

“No, I suppose it isn’t.” Valdemeer shook
his head. “How would you handle it?”

“I really can’t say—“

“Nonsense, Nicodemus. You know more about
her than any of us, except maybe Ylenia. You have a stake in how this happens.
Tell me what I should do.”

“I think you should ease her into
acceptance. Don’t rush her. She’s already had several surprises in the past few
days.”

Valdemeer grimaced. “Difficult to do, with
time growing short. The blood-moon is only a few weeks away.”

Demi shrugged. “You asked my opinion, sire.”

His king nodded. “Yes, I did. I suppose
you’re right.” He leaned forward, slapping his hands together with a meaty
thud. “Tonight, I won’t mention it. I deserve a chance to get acquainted with
my daughter for the next few days, before we have to talk about her future.”

“Yes, sire.” He wondered if Anca would let
the discussion wait though. She was terrified of her father trying to keep her
in Corsova. Would that cause her to speak up, or would she be careful and
discreet?

Valdemeer nodded, and he seemed more
energized. “Go fetch her, dear boy. After waiting so long, I can’t wait another
moment to lay eyes on my daughter.”