Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 67437 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67437 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 270(@250wpm)___ 225(@300wpm)
“Before we begin. . .” Seraphine’s voice came out shaky. “I. . .have a question.”
I turned to her.
Ask it.
“These three guards. Are they your sons?”
Probably.
She widened her eyes. “It doesn’t matter that I may be killing your sons?”
It does not.
I placed my hands in front of me.
Only children with my queens would ever matter.
“But, you have four or five queens at the castle that have given you tons and tons of children.”
Those are not real queens, Seraphine.
She leaned her head to the side. “Then what are they?”
It was just a title—a goal—created by my officials.
Seraphine frowned. “But why?”
They wanted to give the dominas something to attain to as they sat around the castle. These fake titles made it easier for the officials to keep the dominas obedient.
Seraphine looked at the three guards. “So you never considered those dominas your queens?”
Phinova and you are my only queens.
Fear radiated off Seraphine’s alluring frame.
I sensed her heart racing too.
The idea of her being my queen still scares her.
Seraphine’s reaction to my proclamation was expected, yet her fear of being my queen still pained me, stabbing at my heart.
Hmmm.
I would take her if necessary, but I yearned for her full acceptance and willing surrender.
I needed her light to balance my darkness.
I craved her purity to cleanse my soul.
Even more. . .could I bring her into my world, expose her to my darkness, without tainting her brightness?
Her light was what made me crazy and needy for her.
She turned to me and swallowed. “And you have children with Phinova?”
Not yet.
“Why not?”
She needs to be healed.
Confusion decorated her face. “All this time I was told by my friend that you lost the mystical bond with your first queen.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“She believed that you needed. . .a new blood queen to heal you.”
In some ways your friend was right, and in other ways this friend was wrong.
Seraphine put her gaze back on the book. “How was my friend wrong?”
I clearly needed a new blood queen to heal from, but I never lost the connection with my first one.
She stirred. “Tell me more about this grimoire.”
I took a careful step forward, closing some of the space between us.
As with most magical items, you must be careful with it.
“Why?”
The Crimson Codex of the Ebon Vein, while promising vast power, is a cursed artifact.
Her eyes widened in shock. “What does that mean?”
Those who dare to wield too much and get lost in those pages. . .they often meet gruesome ends.
I silently blurred right next to Seraphine and inhaled the intoxicating scent of her blood.
Soon, their ambition consumes them as they fall victim to the very power they sought to command.
She looked my way and blinked, probably just realizing I was so close. “Umm. . .did that happen to your queen Phinova?”
Sadness tugged at my heart.
No more talk of Phinova tonight.
Seraphine parted her lips. “O-okay.”
I reached out and traced the edge of her jawline with my finger.
Instead, let me show you how to wield the power of the Codex.
Seraphine’s breath hitched as I leaned in closer.
My lips brushed against her ear.
Her blood began to sing, rising high over the blindfolded orchestra’s notes. The tune—wild and passionate—rolled like the slow thunder of waves, clashing and swirling, cascading and spiraling.
Groaning, I moved away from her ear.
Her confused gaze met mine.
I could hear her heart loudly pounding in her chest and smell her arousal.
I swallowed down the urge to take her on the forest floor.
My captivating little blood mage.
While Seraphine’s mind had not yet accepted me as her king, her body had already made the decision.
Seraphine’s bottom lip quivered. “Back. . .to the Codex.”
Okay, my queen.
Smirking, I raised my hand and twirled my finger.
The Codex’s pages wildly flipped and then stopped on the page I wanted.
Seraphine directed her view to the page and gasped. “This spell. . .the drawings. . .it looks very powerful.”
An intense longing coursed through me, stoked by the closeness and her blood’s continued singing.
I whispered into her mind.
This spell is called Veinweaver.
She trembled next to me.
Do you see the three words that you must chant in your mind?
She swallowed. “Yes.”
Raise your hands.
She did as I said.
Pleasure washed through me. I was finding that I loved her submission.
Do you see the finger movements on the page?
“Yes.” She studied the picture. “Make two large circles with both of my index fingers at the same time, and then have the index fingers touch my thumbs and. . .twist my hand forward and then backward.”
Yes, little blood mage, but first practice the movement without saying the words.
“O-okay.”
I watched as she performed the finger movements flawlessly, her delicate fingers twisting and turning with a practiced ease.
Seraphine was a natural at this.
Good job, little mage. That was perfect.
Pride swelled within me.
Thank you, Ambi for sending her my way.
Probably still unsure of her talent, Seraphine tried the moves two more times. Each one was executed better than before.