Her Royal Blood

by Felicity Jordan

  “Understood. How long will it take to make the cure, once we have the afesu?”

  “Ordinarily, it takes a few days to brew, but I’m sure Gali would have started the moment we left the healing ward. She should have it ready for you once we get back, we’ll just have to add the final ingredient.”

  Refeu wished he’d paid more attention in his lessons about donors when he was younger. He remembered that there had been an entire module devoted to this exact complication, but with many more interesting things to think about at the time, he hadn’t learned it as he should have. It was such a rare condition that he’d thought the module would never be relevant.

  It was relevant now. He didn’t even want to think about how Rachel would feel if Tim died. She’d never forgive herself for bringing him into this life, even though it had been his choice.

  They spent the next few hours mostly in silence. Usually, Refeu found it easy to talk to Tim and Jexin, and they could spend hours chatting without realizing how fast the time was passing. Now, they were both too tense for much conversation. Refeu kept checking the rearview mirror, expecting to see pursuit. If Rachel stopped them before they reached the furthest point they could drive to, they had no chance of ever getting to the afesu.

  Tim seemed to be thinking along the same lines, because he glanced back often. “It’s a good thing Jexin stayed behind. Rachel knows me well enough to be able to tell by my face when I’m lying, but he might be able to get away with it.”

  “Even if he does, I don’t envy him. Jexin will do what he needs to, but he’ll hate himself for it. I would rather face the caves than have to lie to the woman I love.”

  “You and me both. I guess he does get the worst job. We’ll have to make it up to him if we get back. When we get back.”

  Refeu nodded his agreement, his eyes on the road. “Here.” He pulled off the road, where it ended. Before them was a desolate landscape with few growing things. There were many sharp rocks and deep gullies that made driving impossible. “This is as far as we can drive. We’ll have to walk from here. The mountains are a few hours away.”

  Tim wobbled slightly as he got out of the car. Refeu stood close, ready to catch him if he fell. He suspected he’d end up carrying Tim before they reached their destination, but he didn’t mind. Refeu respected his resolution not to let others risk their lives for him when he sat safely at home.

  The two of them started walking, but both glanced behind them often.

  “How far ahead to you think we have to be before we’re safe?” Tim was slightly out of breath, even though the ground they were walking over was level.

  “Safe from Rachel following us? We could be half a world away and we wouldn’t be safe from that. In terms of her catching us, I’d say that once we get to the mountains and inside the caves, we’re good. It’s easy to get lost in here; I doubt anyone will find us.”

  “Then if she does follow, we can only hope she goes back to the palace when she can’t find us, rather than keep searching. She’ll be too vulnerable to out here.”

  They had many real worries, but at least this was one fear Refeu could refute. “You don’t need to worry about that. No one would be insane enough to enter those caves just to attack Rachel, no matter how much they hate her bloodline.”

  “That doesn’t exactly make me feel better about our chances.”

  Refeu stopped Tim with a hand to his shoulder. “If it comes down to it, I will protect you. You are Rachel’s first mate. It is more important that you survive than that I do.”

  Tim looked troubled by this, but he didn’t argue. “Let’s just make sure we both survive.”

  Refeu just hoped that would be possible.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Rachel

  Something was off, but Rachel couldn’t figure out what. “Alright, but if it’s some bonding thing between my mates, why did you try to go off without telling me? And why are you now staying while Refeu and Tim leave without you?”

  Jexin winced, though her tone hadn’t been harsh. He drew her aside to a seldom-used corridor where they wouldn’t be overheard. She didn’t know what the secrecy was about, but Rachel went willingly.

  “Perhaps we should have told you, but it’s tradition for the mates to leave without their Assa or Essa knowing. It’s a bonding experience, working together to slip out unnoticed. Clearly, we didn’t do that correctly. As for why I’m staying behind now, I can see that you’re worried. I wouldn’t leave you alone to worry, tradition or not.”

  Too much of this still didn’t make sense to her. “But what did you expect when you planned to leave without a word? How would I not worry when I discovered you missing?”

  “Someone else would have informed you. After all, we were seen walking through the palace with packs for our trip. When you asked, many could have told you.”

  His words made sense, but Rachel didn’t like it. This wasn’t like Jexin, to go behind her back and do things without telling her. Besides, there was something about his manner that just didn’t sit right. He looked harried, as though under pressure from an interrogator who might torture him if he didn’t produce satisfactory answers.

  She couldn’t fathom what was wrong. There was something he was holding back or not being entirely truthful about, that much was obvious, but the question was, why?

  “You know you can tell me anything, Jexin. You don’t have to hide from me. I love you, and Tim and Refeu. We’re all on the same side here.”

  Did she imagine his grimace? It was gone so quickly that she wasn’t sure.

  “I know, Assa. We all love you too. Please, let Tim and Refeu do this? The three of us can go together at another time, but Tim really wants to go this time. I think it’ll be good for him.”

  Rachel pushed aside her misgivings. For all that she was technically the queen, she didn’t own Tim, Jexin or Refeu, even though they frequently acted as though she did. They were their own people and could make their own decisions.

  “Of course, it’s their choice. I just wish they had talked to me first.”

  “The next time, I will make sure we do. Now come, it is time for your lessons.”

  Jexin gave a small sigh of relief when she went with him without further comment. Rachel didn’t know what was going on, but she trusted her guys, and Jexin assured her they would be back in a few days.

  As much as she tried to put the strange encounter behind her, Jexin’s actions over the next day only served to make her worry more. For some reason, he seemed to be trying to keep her from being alone with anyone else from the palace.

  Rachel supposed that he could be worried she might get lonely without Tim and Refeu, but there was an edge of urgency to his movements that made her suspicious. Something was definitely going on, and if Jexin wasn’t going to tell her, she’d find out for herself.

  She managed to shake him off by asking to meet Dasek alone for some questions she had about the job of ruling that would soon fall to her. Jexin tried to accompany her, but when she ordered him to let her have some time alone with her uncle, he acceded to her wishes, as he always did.

  Dasek was sitting at his desk and smiled as she came in. “Rachel. How are you?”

  Rachel was agitated and in no shape to make small talk. “I’m good, thanks – Dasek, tell me about this camping trip mates go on to bond.”

  He frowned at her. “What?”

  “I caught Jexin, Refeu and Tim sneaking off to do it yesterday. Jexin has explained everything to me, but I get the feeling he’s not telling me everything.”

  Now, Dasek looked truly confused. “I don’t understand. Tell me what happened.”

  His frown became more pronounced as Rachel explained; by the time she was done, he seemed positively livid. Dasek strode to the door and flung it open. Unsurprisingly, Jexin was standing just outside.

  “In.” Dasek pointed and Jexin meekly followed, his shoulders slumped. Dasek didn’t even wait for him to sit before rounding on him. “Who the hell do you t
hink you are? Not only do you lie to your Assa, your mate, but you take advantage of her lack of knowledge of our society! I should have you flogged on the spot!”

  He looked so murderous that Rachel feared he might actually do it. She quickly stood, putting herself between Jexin and her irate uncle. “No one is getting flogged! Just tell me what’s going on.”

  “Yes, I’d like to know that for myself.” Dasek leaned around her to glower at Jexin, though he fortunately did no more than that.

  Jexin took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Assa. We were just trying to protect you. The bonding ritual between mates I told you about is made up. We only wanted you to be safe…”

  Rachel felt her jaw dropping as Jexin explained. She was angry, of course, but more than that, she felt betrayed. She’d trusted all three of them, and they had lied to her. That they’d done it to protect her was cold comfort.

  “Get out.”

  Jexin stared beseechingly at her, but Rachel couldn’t even look at him right now.

  “Get out and get the second in command of the palace guard in here.”

  She could see her words hurt him, but Jexin didn’t protest. Several minutes later, a vampire she knew by sight but not by name knocked on the door.

  “Assa? I am Tirin, Jexin’s second in command. He said you wanted to see me?”

  “Yes. Two of my mates have gone on some mad suicidal mission. I want you to get as many of the guard together as you’ll need, and bring them back, by force if necessary. They’re looking for an herb, afesu. When you send them back here, leave some of your people to get it for them and bring it back as fast as they can.”

  Tirin paled, but he didn’t question. “Yes, Assa.”

  “One more thing. Jexin is to stay here. For now, you are in command of the guards. I will let you know when he is resuming his normal duties.”

  Tirin bowed low as he exited.

  “Rachel.” She turned to Dasek, who was staring worriedly at her. “Don’t be too hard on Jexin and the others. It’s natural for mates to want to protect their Assa.”

  “They lied to me.”

  “I know, and there is no excuse for that. Just remember that they love you, and that their actions were motivated by that love.”

  She nodded, but she still felt the burning hurt inside her chest. Jexin was sitting just outside the room, his back to the wall, looking utterly miserable.

  He leapt up when she came out. “Assa! Please, let me go with them? I know I’ve failed you. I can make up for it. I will bring Tim and Refeu back safely, I promise you.”

  Rachel didn’t feel up to talking to Jexin right now; if she did, she knew she’d snap and say something she’d regret later. He followed as she brushed past, quietly insisting. “Please, Assa. I have to go. They might need me. No one will fight harder to bring them home than I will.”

  “Fine, go, then!” Those three words were all she could manage, and even then, she had to bite her lip to hold back the tide of recriminations that was threatening to burst out of her. She reminded herself of what Dasek said, that however misguided, Jexin’s actions were motivated by love.

  “Thank you, Assa. I won’t disappoint you.”

  Jexin turned and ran off, no doubt to catch Tirin before he and the other guards left. Rachel strode to her chambers and slammed the door loudly behind her. She needed to cool her temper before she spoke to anyone, especially her mates. She worried about them in those caves, and when they returned, she didn’t want her first words to them to be shouted in anger.

  She ignored a knock on the door, but it came again, soft and insistent. “Who is it?”

  “It is Tirin, Assa. Jexin has come to me, saying you have given him permission to accompany us. What would you have me do?”

  She had to give it to him, he did as he was told, unlike Jexin. “He can go with you. Consider him in command of this mission,” she called through the closed door. Retreating footsteps told her that Tirin was leaving. Who knew what dangers they would face in the caves?

  Rachel kicked viciously at the wall, fighting the urge to scream.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Tim

  “Wait. Someone is coming.”

  Tim stopped, not bothering to try to hear whatever it was Refeu sensed. His hearing was no match for a vampire’s, but Refeu didn’t look worried, at least. A moment later, his face broke out into a smile.

  “Jexin! You made it after all. How did you convince Rachel to let you go?”

  Sure enough, a few moments later, Jexin appeared, stepping into the small cave the two of them were in, a cave they’d just finished searching unsuccessfully.

  He didn’t look nearly as happy as Refeu. “She knows. I tried to keep it from her, but… well, it’s a long story, but the long and the short of it is that it didn’t work out. We’ll all have a lot of apologizing to do when we get back. To Assa, and to Tirin. Assa sent him and some other guards with me, but I ordered them back. They know we have a better chance with just a small group, but I’m not sure Assa will be all that understanding when he turns up back at the palace without us.”

  “She’ll be happy enough when I come back cured.” Tim clapped Jexin on the back. “I’m glad you’re here. Refeu and I have searched dozens of caves so far, but this mountain seems to be made of nothing but caves. It’ll be good to have an extra pair of eyes.”

  “We don’t have much time.” Jexin shook his head regretfully. “Tirin started back to the palace when I left him. That was three days ago. When he returns, Assa will no doubt insist he come back. I wouldn’t be surprised if she comes herself this time, just to drag the three of us home. They’re probably close already. We’d better search fast, if we want to find the afesu.”

  He was right, Tim realized. Rachel wouldn’t take kindly to the three of them being in danger. The last thing he wanted was for her to be in the unstable caves. There had been no movement so far, but Refeu had told him that could change at any moment. “We’d better hurry, then. We should split up, search as far as we can, then meet up back here.”

  Refeu was already shaking his head. “No. We don’t split up. It’s too dangerous. If there’s a collapse, we may need each other to get out.”

  It was as though the cave wanted to prove him right. Tim didn’t hear anything at first, but Jexin and Refeu stiffened, staring around in the dark as though expecting something to pounce on them. Then Tim felt it. A slight tremor going through the ground at his feet. One look at Jexin and Refeu told him that it was what they all feared. There was a collapse coming.

  “Run!” Jexin grabbed Tim’s left arm, and Refeu grabbed his right. They dragged him along with them, his feet unable to keep pace with vampire speed. Around them, the cave and surrounding tunnels started shaking violently. Small rocks started to fall, one narrowly missing Tim’s head. They abruptly came upon a dead end. Jexin and Refeu turned, but they didn’t have time to run back down the tunnel and find another route.

  With a crash so loud that it hurt Tim’s ears, everything crashed down. He was vaguely aware of Jexin and Refeu throwing themselves over him before a wall of rubble came down on top of them.

  Tim must have blacked out, because he woke in complete darkness. There was dust everywhere, and he coughed violently. A weight was pressed down on his back, and Tim automatically tried to dislodge it.

  To his surprise, it moved easily. Refeu and Jexin both groaned as they rolled off him. It was pitch black, but Tim could feel something horribly hot and sticky coating his back.

  “Who’s hurt?” His voice was hoarse, and he swallowed before trying again. “Jexin? Refeu? Which one of you is hurt?”

  “I am.” They both spoke at the same time, and Tim’s heart sank.

  “Where?”

  “Rock shard through my stomach,” Jexin gritted out. Tim could clearly hear the pain in his voice.

  “Something slashed my neck, it’s bleeding like mad, but I’ve got a hand clamped onto it.” Refeu shifted slightly as he spoke. The efforts he and
Jexin had gone to in order to shield Tim had yielded them a small space in the rock, barely enough to lie down in, but at least they weren’t being crushed.

  Tim ached all over and he was sure he’d come out of this with a couple of sprains, but other than that, he was unhurt. Guilt bubbled up inside him. “You idiots, what were you thinking, jumping on top of me like that?”

  “Vampires are tougher than humans and donors,” Jexin said at once. “It was the right move. Refeu and I have a chance of surviving our wounds. You wouldn’t.”

  “A chance?” Tim tried his best to sound calm, but panic was leaking into his tone. “What do you mean, a chance?”

  He stared into the darkness, but he could see no sign of Jexin and Refeu, even though he felt them on either side of him. For a moment, neither answered.

  “What do you mean?” Tim insisted.

  Refeu shifted again, his voice low when he spoke. “We need to feed if we’re to heal from injuries this serious.”

  “Well what are you waiting for? I’m a donor and I’m right here! Go ahead.”

  “No.” Jexin’s voice was trembling, and Tim wished more than anything he could take the pain from him. “You’re weak as it is. You might survive one vampire feeding on you, but two? It would kill you.”

  The silence in the cave became deafening as the words sank in. Tim understood, now. If Jexin and Refeu both fed on him, he would die. If neither of them did, they’d both die. If one did, the other would die. No matter which way he looked at it, one of the three of them had to die.

  “No. I won’t accept that. We’re not there yet. Jexin, you said the others are coming. They’ll find us. How long can you and Refeu go before feeding?”

  “A couple of hours, maybe, but no more.” Refeu shifted his weight again, clearly uncomfortable.

  “Well, we’ll start with treating your injuries as best as we can.” Tim felt hopelessly out of his depth here. He knew only the basics of first aid, and that wouldn’t be nearly enough. He had to try, though. He was the only one of them who wasn’t injured; he would do what he could to help.