Betraying Blood (Stand Alone Tales Book 5)

by Viola Grace

  They walked up to a polite distance, and the man in front bowed. It was the bow of an equal.

  “Gentlemen. Thank you for your visit. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” Being polite seemed the best way to go. They were larger and had less clothing than she had imagined.

  The man in front spoke, his voice like rough gravel. “I have come for my bride.”

  “Who would that be?”

  “Princess Elurra.” He smiled. “I believe she is expecting me.”

  “I am afraid that she is no longer with us.” Vietta inclined her head and touched her cheek to evoke mourning.

  “What?” His good nature dissolved with a snap. “When?”

  “Four days ago.”

  “Really? Well, in that case, you are in my seat.” He held out his hand, and one of his men handed him a scroll that obviously had the king’s seal. “This is a contract of marriage, and if Elurra is unable or unwilling to wed me, the kingdom is mine.”

  Her heart thudded in her ears. “What?”

  “This. Kingdom. Is. Mine. If Elurra were here, we would be co-rulers, but now, there is no reason for it.” He quirked a brow. “If you can show me a document from the previous king, or even your marriage scroll, I would be willing to negotiate a nice pension for you.”

  Vietta didn’t know what to do, didn’t know what to say. “May I have a few days to withdraw my servants and possessions?”

  “Of course. We will lodge in our ships.”

  “Ships?”

  “Oh, yes. Metguard is going to be the new home world for the sandmen and their armada. Ten ships are already on the ground.”

  “Ah. Of course. May I offer you dinner? The cook is preparing a meal.” Perhaps there was a chance to poison them.

  He looked at her and shook his head. “No, we will take nothing from your castle until it is my own. I will expect to see my princess’s grave tomorrow. Mourning begins now.”

  Vietta looked into his dark gold eyes, and she froze. The court wasn’t in mourning, it was in gay spring colours. Everything was bright and vivid. The courtiers were in scandalously cut garb, and nothing looked like they had just lost a member of the royal family.

  The sandmen nodded and left as silently as they had entered. She needed a damned royal body. Where was that little bitch?

  * * * *

  Elurra was with Dwell the next morning after breakfast. A drone had arrived, and it was full of Metguard vials. Dwell was willing to share. Teth was acting as referee.

  They sat and giggled like naughty kids. Dwell went first because it was her house and her shipment. Elurra took the next shot, and she paused, and then, her eyes went wide. She vomited. And then urged her friend, “Throw it up!”

  Dwell took in the urgency, but it was too late; her skin had already begun to turn black.

  Elurra yelled to Teth. “Get your fathers. As many as you can.”

  Elurra bit into Dwell’s neck and sucked with a specific rhythm, filtering the blood and taking in the poison. The cycle in Dwell’s body was slow because of the toxin. It was giving Elurra extra time.

  When she was pulling clean blood, Dwell was barely breathing.

  Nev was the first to arrive, and he said, “What does she need?”

  Elurra pulled away. “She needs a lot of blood quickly. The shipment is tainted.”

  Nev gathered Dwell into his arms, and she quickly bit down on his shoulder, tears streaming from her face.

  Elurra vomited up the black and contaminated toxin. It smouldered on the floor. She heaved it up again, and then, she sat back as Dwell was handed to her next husband and then the next.

  Elurra moved over and healed Nev and the others as Dwell finished returning to her normal pale health.

  Everyone was shocky, and Dwell looked at the guys. “You didn’t send any blood from Metguard, did you?”

  The speaker shook his head. “We didn’t have time to arrange it. Why?”

  Elurra whispered, “This is a poison from Queen Vietta. She dosed it, not knowing that I wouldn’t be the only vampire here. She knows I am alive, and she knows where I am. You are all in danger.”

  She swallowed and lifted her head. “You need to take me home.”

  The argument about it being suicide didn’t stop until after the blood was destroyed and the floor was clear.

  She destroyed quite a bit of Dwell’s snack packs to get her own strength back, but she didn’t feel right asking for any blood since it was her fault that Dwell was nearly killed.

  She paced back and forth, trying to figure out a way to do what she needed to do.

  “Is there a way to check if the sandmen are on Metguard?”

  Sho nodded. “They landed earlier today. Why?”

  Dwell looked rueful, but there wasn’t time to stand on the ceremony of one speaker.

  Elurra explained. “If she can ship poison here, you can ship me home. Do you have a stasis pod?”

  Sho nodded. “Of course. One on each shuttle.”

  “Can you put me into cold sleep and deliver me to the sandmen?” She smiled. “That way, no one will know if I am alive or dead until someone activates the unit.”

  The speaker nodded in understanding. “So, the queen is screwed either way.”

  “Yes. And thanks to you, even if they open it, I will be able to wake and defend myself. I don’t mind being cold, and I don’t mind being hot.”

  Dwell frowned. “Well, if you are going to go, you need a different dress. We both puked on that one.”

  Elurra laughed. “Thank you.”

  Dwell nodded to the other brides and then the Dhark. “Let’s get her dressed for her funeral!”

  It was a strange reason for a party, but they all chipped in.

  Saying her goodbyes was strange, but kissing Teth on the cheek felt right. “Goodbye, Teth. You were a good instructor, and I can now throw a punch without breaking my thumb.”

  He smiled and ducked his head. “You look very pretty, and I have enjoyed our time together, princess.”

  The speaker lifted her up and put her in the stasis pod. She was wearing jewels and gems donated by the Dhark and a gown donated by Dwell. She looked royal, and she knew it.

  She had said her goodbyes to the rest of them, so she arranged her skirt, lay back, and nodded to Sho. He activated the stasis unit, and she went cold.

  * * * *

  Twelve hours later, the Dhark escorted the stasis unit to the flagship of the sandmen fleet.

  Alric was going through the files, searching for any hint of where Elurra had gone.

  “Commander Kharmin, there are seven Dhark here to see you. They are carrying a large piece of equipment. It scans clear, but they say they will only show you.”

  He was on his feet and headed to the access ramp in a heartbeat. There was no way that this couldn’t be about Elurra. His fiery snowflake.

  Seven cloaked members of the Dhark were silently waiting for him, not that anyone would expect anything less. Their speaker nodded. “Commander Kharmin?”

  “I am.”

  “We believe you are looking for this.”

  He reached out and slid the cover off the large, oblong object next to him.

  Alric felt like he had been punched in the gut. Elurra. She was lying motionless, dressed like the princess she was. “Is she...”

  The speaker chuckled. “She is yours, and she is a handful. Alive or dead, you will have to open the chamber to find out.”

  The Dhark turned and left him with the body of the woman that he had been fantasizing about for years.

  Alric moved his hand along the controls, and the unit hummed to life and began to warm. When it had warmed, he opened the lid, expecting Elurra to open her eyes. She remained still and cold.

  He touched her cheek, her arm, and cupped her neck, willing her to wake up.

  He leaned over and kissed her, trying anything to stop the thudding of despair welling up.
>
  He felt the slightest nip on his lip, and she parted her own with a soft sigh. He teased his way into her mouth with his tongue. The kiss was slow, and her lips got warmer as he continued to acquaint himself with her.

  When he lifted his head, her brilliant blue eyes opened and widened as she stared at him.

  “Fuck, you are huge.”

  He laughed and gathered her in his arms. “That’s what they all say.”

  Chapter Eight

  He carried her to his quarters, and he had never been so nervous in his life. He had fought entire provinces on his own with less tension than he felt now. She was here. She was real. She was his.

  She was leaning against him, and she chuckled. “So, I guess you shrank yourself for the dreamscape.”

  “I didn’t want to frighten you.”

  “Oh, yes. I can see that.” The bare skin of his chest was warm under her cheek and against her shoulder. “Where are we going?”

  “My quarters. I have a med kit there, and we will check and see what effects the stasis left behind.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I wasn’t actually in stasis. We just had to lower my temperature to the point that the incoming scanners wouldn’t recognize me.”

  He paused. “So, you weren’t asleep when I opened the pod?”

  She shrugged against him. “Maybe I was, maybe I wasn’t. It is a bit hazy.”

  He carried her past members of his crew, who stopped and stared. Elurra looked up at him innocently. “What are they looking at?”

  He sighed. “I am thinking that they did not believe you were real.”

  He brought her back to his quarters and closed the door, setting her on the edge of the bed before getting his med kit. She remained still as he ran the scanner over her. He paused. “Why are you wearing data crystals in your jewelry?”

  She leaned up on her elbows and reached into the center of the bejeweled breastplate. She plucked out a crystal and handed it to him. “The Dhark said to give you this. You are to watch it when you are alone.”

  He smiled and put the med kit back. “Well, for one of your kind, you are perfectly healthy.”

  He looked at her and caressed her cheek, it was cool and silky, the softest thing he had ever felt, except...

  * * * *

  Elurra watched his expression change. He went from softly caring to intent. She could either be swept away or make another choice. She rolled up into a kneeling position and yanked him down to her. “Okay. That didn’t work.”

  She was hanging around his neck, and he was looking down at her.

  “What were you trying to do, Elurra?”

  “Get you horizontal so that I can kiss you.”

  Alric chuckled. “Perhaps we can compromise.”

  He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her onto his lap. She sighed and squirmed around until she was straddling him. She sighed happily and kissed him slowly and then with more intensity as she went.

  He let her maul him for two minutes, and then, his hands started to move, and he used his tongue to tease her.

  She shivered as his hands roamed over her back, nearly covering the entire span. He touched the clasp of the collar at the back of her neck, and the heavy weight slid down her chest to pool between them.

  She lowered her hand from his neck and dropped the collar on the floor, followed by the headpiece. Her hair tumbled down her back, and he turned his hands to slide his fingers through it.

  She broke the kiss and pressed her forehead to his, breathing heavily. “So, what have you been doing for the last decade?”

  He chuckled and twisted so that she was now under him. “I have been following my career path. You?”

  She shrugged. “This and that. Hooray for survival.”

  He frowned, but she pulled him down to her. “Just move if I try to bite you.”

  He grinned, but her kiss was savage, and she knew that her teeth were priming. Something about him made her mouth water. Well, she was wet elsewhere, but that would be dealt with if he could find a way to fit inside her.

  He seemed surprised by her offensive, but he adapted by deepening the kiss and sliding a hand down her hip. He slowly gathered the fabric up, and his fingers caressed the inside of her thighs. He paused and hissed. “How can you be this fucking wet from a kiss?”

  She smiled and nuzzled his neck, the urge to bite unbelievably strong. “Because it’s you.”

  He groaned and sat back, unclasping her belt and pulling her dress off. She smiled. “You had better strip as well because when I say I want you inside me, I am not going to be in the mood to wait.”

  She had no idea where the bravado was coming from. Still, the lust-filled gaze that accompanied his rapid disrobing was gratifying. His erection made her glance down at her forearm for comparison. The difference wasn’t large enough to ease her mind.

  He returned to the bed, and he murmured, “We can turn the light off if you prefer.”

  She smiled and ran her hand through his close-cropped hair. “Light is the least of my problems. Frankly, I would rather you could see where you were going with that thing.”

  He paused and fell to his side, laughing.

  She rolled to face him and smiled. “You have a nice laugh.”

  He rested a hand on her hip. “Thank you. You have a wicked sense of humour.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Thank you.”

  He pulled her close. “You don’t mind the light?”

  She shook her head. “I have been dealing with the dark for a very long time.”

  He kissed her again, and she leaned toward him, her breasts touching his chest. He slid his hand between her thighs and inserted one finger into her. She shivered and closed her eyes, focusing on the new sensation as he began to draw it slowly out of her and slide it back. His tongue took on the same rhythm.

  She shivered and bent her knee, sliding it up and over his thigh, opening her to his touch. He groaned and slipped a second finger into her, moving it just as slowly. Elurra gasped and pulled away from his kiss, hiding her head against his neck. She was panting, and the fire inside her was building. He bent his head and took a nipple between his teeth, flicking it with his tongue before sucking hard.

  She moaned and clutched at his head; he moved between her left and right breast until her body was twisting, and she nearly dislodged his hand. Her breath came faster until she arched against him, and a low, soft cry tore through the air.

  He waited until she had calmed and stopped clenching on his fingers before he rolled to his back and pulled her astride him. “Put me inside you.”

  “I will try, but you might want to lend a hand.” Sweat coated her. She wrapped her fingers around his cock and pressed it to the heart of her sex. He helped her keep it steady as she eased onto it, whimpering and twisting, rising and falling until she could take most of him inside.

  He was tense, and sweat was dripping down his temples. “Fuck, you are tight.”

  She braced her hands on his rigid abdomen, and she slowly lifted off him before sliding back around him in a rush. This time, he was all the way in.

  Veins stood out on his neck and arms, she leaned forward to lick one of his nipples, and he grunted, gripping her hips.

  He slowly lifted and lowered her until she was moaning with every move. He gripped her hips to hold her and rolled with her until he was covering her, and she was being rocked with every thrust. He looked down at her, supported on his elbows. “Bite me.”

  She didn’t hesitate. She lunged upward on an inward push, and she sank her teeth into his chest. He yelled and shoved into her as his cock twitched and jerked within her. She had her mouth full, or she would have joined him as blood coursed into her, and she now understood what he tasted like. Mine.

  When she had healed him, Alric rolled them back so that she was on top of him. “I want to stay inside you.”

  She smiled and listened to his heart, pounding under her ear. “I thi
nk I like that idea.”

  He flipped the sheet over them and wrapped his arms around her. “You are finally here.”

  She smiled and dozed off. She had had a rough day, after all.

  She stood in the middle of a meadow filled with flowers touched by moonlight. She looked around and found Alric without much trouble. “Seriously?”

  He laughed. “This is our life now. Every night, every time you sleep, I will be in your dreams.”

  She walked up to him and put her hands on her hips. “Was that in the fine print?”

  His stellar hand touched her cheek. “Your father knew. He didn’t want you left alone after he was gone.”

  “How did he know?”

  He sighed. “Your mother’s people were pushing for a strengthening of the alliance. He knew what your stepmother was and what she had done to your mother.”

  “Well, that does sound like him. He always was one step ahead, but when he lost my mother, I think something in him broke. He was an excellent father, but part of him was empty.”

  He wrapped his arms around her. “He sent letter after letter to me, outlining what was to happen. When he died, I understood what he was saying. I wish I had understood sooner.”

  She shrugged and buried her face against his chest. “He wouldn’t have accepted help. He considered her his mistake. He let her live after what she did to my mother. She begged him to forgive Vietta, but she had no idea what that woman was capable of.”

  He sighed. “Mistakes of the past leave long marks on the future. What do you want to do with her?”

  She looked up at him and smiled sweetly. “Kill her then forget her. But first, we have to get an invitation to lunch.”

  He gently pinched her chin. “You are bloodthirsty.”

  She smiled. “It comes with the fangs.”

  He chuckled and leaned in to kiss her. “This is much more fun when I can see all of you.”