Lifting her skirt, she nearly ran to her father's carriage.
"Tell me, tell me, daughter, did you confirm it?" The old man, with his long beard streaked with brown and gray, looked at his daughter with piercing green eyes as she entered his resting quarters.
Laila closed the small door behind her and sat on the soft blanket, her face filled with excitement.
"Yes, yes, father! I confirmed it! She has a small red tattoo on her inner thigh, almost reaching her intimate areaa teardrop shape, or something like that," Laila recalled from when she examined Celine under the guise of tending to her wounds.
"T knew it! The Goddess is on our side.
Such good fortune," the old sorcerer patted his thigh in satisfaction while taking a drag from his pipe.
---- "T've prepared the spell.
You must make sure it enters her bodyyou can't fail!" "But father, are you sure it wont harm her? I feel a little bad about this...
she and her brother saved me back then," Laila frowned, doubt creeping back into her expression.
"Foolish girl," her father scolded, tapping her forehead.
"That woman appeared in my prophetic vision.
She will have a great influence among the vampires.
I even considered eliminating her when we first found her, but notheres a more ingenious way to use her.
That hybrid will help us infiltrate that cursed castle and seize control of the Realm." RK GABRIELLE "«He» has sealed the castle again," Brielle informed me, standing at my side.
---- I felt the warmth of the sun on my face and shoulders as I sat on the small terrace connected to my chambers.
"T should have known.
Before I left, I renewed the contract under that bastard Kaels name, and with his death, no Selenia claimed the throne.
The castle's owner has reactivated the curse," I sighed, analyzing all the challenges Valeria would have to overcome to seize control of the Realmit wouldn't be easy.
This land was home to ancient and powerful creatures, even older than I was, though they rarely meddled in mortal affairs.
Entering the castle wouldnt be easy now, especially without our full power restored.
"The sorcerers and vampires are fighting for control of the castle..." "Those fools dont realize they wont even set foot on that mountain unless the owner allows it," I mused, considering our options.
"Brielle, have you been teaching Vale to control her magic better?" "Yes, but she needs ancestral blood, and now with the pregnancy, the demand is even greater.
The pup also needs to be nourished, or she!] end up malnourished like Valeria." "Damn it, and here I am like this!" I slammed my fist against the chairs armrest in frustration.
"Even though I left my power guarding the prison, some of it still lingers.
I can extract small amounts and" "No, you wont," Quinns voice interrupted from behind me.
I tensed, hating that I no longer had the sharpness to sense someone approaching.
And even more, I hated that traitorous old witch for not warning me.
"I'm leaving, your tamer has arrived." "Damn you, Brielle!" I growled as I felt her presence fade away.
"Quinn, dont interfere with this.
I need to ---- strengthen Valerias power.
She must claim whats rightfully hers for the sake of her children," I replied, stiffening as his hands settled on my shoulders, massaging them gently.
"You think you're strong enough to be draining yourself like this? And no...
Ssshhh, no more arguments," he whispered, leaning in and placing a finger over my lips when I tried to speak again.
I felt his breath tickling my cheek, his presence towering over me, and that intoxicating scent of his bewitching my senses.
"T understand youre a mother above all else.
I want to help Valeria too, but you cant give without replenishing yourself.
Im not saying you cant offer her your blood, but theres one condition." "What...
condition?" I asked, an uneasy feeling creeping up my spine.
"You must let me feed you.
Take my blood, Gabrielle," his fingers gripped my chin, turning my face to his.
His warm breath brushed against my lips ---- we were too close.
"No," I said without hesitation.
Just the thought of sinking my fangs into that sweet apple-and-honey taste excited me, and my body reacted.
For vampires, the pleasure of blood was closely tied to sex, even more so when it was with one's mate.
It was like liquid ecstasy.
"Then I wont let you do it, and Valeria wont allow you to weaken yourself further." "Im a grown woman! I do what I want! Who do you think" I was silenced by a mouth that claimed mine, a tongue invading between my lips and a kiss that overwhelmed me with dominance and sweetness.
His hand on my chin controlled the intensity, making me submit to his assault in the most delicious way.
He always did thisI hated how he ---- manipulated me with his sexy savagery.
"You'll ask me for it yourselfto feed you my life force," he growled wolfishly against my lips.
I knew he was angry, but still, I challenged him.
"Keep dreaming.
I won't ask you for anything." "We'll see, babe.
When the time comes, maybe I wont want you sinking your fangs into me," he teased with a smirk.
I laughed sarcastically, mocking him, but I had no idea how much this bet was going to cost me.