Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 99529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
No. Please, Ambi. Help me stop this.
My daughters had to be blood mages too.
Xander continued to watch me.
The Quiet King will be dead before your daughters are of age.
Confidence glazed over his eyes and mixed with rage.
Trust me, Camille.
I trust you.
Xander turned back to Queen Regina. “There’s something I don’t understand.”
“Yes, son?”
“The other dominas that you sent to me did not have red hair.”
“Nonetheless, your father labeled them the same as Camille.” The queen shrugged. “Personally, I think she may be the strongest of them all. Maybe the others had a diluted blood type whereas Camille’s is strong.”
“What do you think my father’s plan for Camille was?”
The queen laughed. “I believe he didn’t know himself. He took vials of her blood weekly and he lay in her bed, never touching her.”
I tensed at the knowledge of how much she had monitored me.
“My spies reported nothing else. Stupidly, he didn’t guard her enough and let her leave the gates, which was all I needed for Octavia to whisper thoughts in her ear of escape.”
I gritted my teeth.
“And then you sent Camille to me, hoping that I would fall in love with her?” Xander sneered.
“Actually, no. I hadn’t planned on that. I figured she would fall for you and freely give you her blood. I just needed your ripening triggered.” She chuckled. “But you seem pretty taken with her. Is that true?”
“Yes.” Xander formed his lips into a straight line. “For once you’ve impacted my life in a rewarding way.”
“I’ve sent you so many dominas. And all my spies say is that you just use their bodies and drink their blood.”
I blinked.
“You have spies with me?” Xander growled.
“Of course, my newly ripening king.” The queen raised her eyebrows. “Do you think it is a coincidence that my own maid and personal guard raised you?”
What?
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Ty avert his eyes to the ground.
Leeta backed up farther into the shadows.
Victoria held a sad expression, but she didn’t appear shocked.
Of course Victoria must’ve known Ty spied for the queen. She probably helped at one time or another.
Claws ripped from Xander’s fingertips. He looked around at our surrounding friends. “So none of you actually cared for me all of these years?”
Ty and Leeta began to protest, but Xander snarled so loud it rocked the queen’s walls and silenced them.
Her two guards from outside ran into her quarters, wielding sharp wooden swords.
“Queen Regina, is everything okay?” The biggest guard stomped her way. “We heard a threatening noise.”
I hoped the guards wouldn’t spot Xander’s claws.
“This is all part of the performance.” Queen Regina clapped at us. “I’m having an amazing time. Please leave.”
Reluctantly, the guards backed out and departed.
I squeezed Xander’s hand and edged closer to him so that our hips touched.
I actually care for you. That’s all that matters.
I thought and prayed with all my heart that he could hear my thoughts.
Your queen is here and I’ll always be with you.
Xander’s claws retracted.
“Understand, son. They love you, but they are still expected to report to me.” The queen gave us a warm smile. “Ty and Leeta have tried for many years to escape their service to me, but I would not allow it. They never liked the spying. But, you are destined to be king, and I would not allow it.”
I spotted Xander rolling his eyes from my peripheral vision.
“I sent Camille to you so that you would drink her blood. I hoped that maybe this Phinova type would be stronger than all the rest.” She turned to me. “I truly didn’t think you would take his heart. I’m as mystified as the both of you must be. I expected a different fate.”
“And what was that?” I asked.
“Well, like all the other dominas Xander has helped escape, they have all eventually been caught and thrown into the castle’s dungeons.” She glanced at her nails as if the silver polish were more important to her than these dominas’ lives.
“What?” Xander stepped forward. “The dominas I saved were caught later?”
His mother nodded.
Dear, Ambi.
Meanwhile, she planned to let me wind back up at the castle eventually, but in even worse conditions.
Xander sneered. “How many of these dominas are in the dungeon?”
“Hmmm...perhaps twenty or so are trapped in the dungeon,” the Queen replied.
I turned to Xander.
We can’t let these women sit there.
He looked at me and then his voice slipped in my head as he smiled.
Are you trying to take my place as the best pathfinder in Capitol City?
I’m serious.
A wicked smirk spread across the queen’s face. “I could draw you a map to free the dominas.”
“And why would you help us?” Xander faced her. “Is there a reason why you’re so willing to help me release so many?”
“It’s time to begin the steps to become a king.” Queen Regina held out her hands. “Currently, a hundred guards seek your queen. There are dominas in a dungeon just waiting for you to breed with them.”