“What are you thinking?” He sat on the chair in the corner.
“Well, their cold boxes. Refrigerators? They could keep the blood cold indefinitely. Could we keep other things that were perishable in them? Harvests would be amazing if we could have fruit and vegetables well into the early spring.”
“It sounds like an excellent idea,” Rilen said.
I frowned and turned back to the window.
He was behind me a moment later, wrapping his hands around my waist. “What bothers you about that?”
“It’s tainted by Savion.”
“Then let our scholars and scientists go at it and make it our own. We can’t get our hands on them right now anyway.”
I sighed and leaned against him. “I’m so glad to know that my father’s wife will continue his insanity in ruling over the vampires.”
A knock on the door startled me, but only because I’d been so on edge lately. Opening the door, one of the maids was standing there, holding out a piece of paper.
She looked a little frightened. “From the vampire.”
“Which one?” I snapped. “There are four of us.”
She pushed the sheet at me. “The Lord Aiko.”
I was about to grab it when Rilen reached around and took it out of her hand. “You have nothing to fear from the vampires.”
“Don’t we, though?” the maid whispered.
Rilen’s whole body stiffened behind me. “You’ve delivered the note. You’d best not show your face to me or Mistress Bre—Kimber again unless and until you are able to apologize for that remark.”
He slammed the door in her face.
“Rilen…”
“She was wrong.”
I put a hand on his arm. “I know she was. She knows she was. I appreciate that you’re trying to protect me, but I can handle it. It didn’t bother me that she was being childish. You must remember that most of S’Kir doesn’t remember the vampires were allies. Or at all. And right now, the only vampires we know as allies are Aiko and the king and queen—and they aren’t even from here.”
He took a deep breath and held out the note. “You’re right. I just get defensive around you. You’re such a good soul that I don’t want you corrupted.”
My lips quirked up in a smirk. “Corrupted, Rilen? I’m sleeping with three different men, sometimes at the same time. I’m plenty corrupt.”
As I flipped the note open, Rilen chuckled and walked around so he could read what Aiko had written.
My dearest Mistress Breaker,
It distresses me that I must ask again for your company, but it has become even more difficult to find someone willing to share their blood with me. I wish that it wasn’t so, but it is necessary. Your generosity has gone beyond the reasonable, and yet I find myself in need of you again.
At your convenience, as usual, my sweet Kimber.
And as always, I will understand your refusal.
A faithful servant,
Lord Knight Aiko
Rilen took the note and read it again to himself. “Until we fulfill this deal, we’re going to have to remind everyone—and I mean everyone—that they need to not call you Mistress Breaker.”
“It’s just a title of respect.”
“Then we’ll get them all to use Lady Stormbreaker. At least then, if someone calls you the Breaker, we can cover with that.” Rilen was quiet a moment. “I hate lying.”
“I do too,” I said. “But they’re such an unknown. We’re not really lying…we’re just not telling them the whole truth. If the king and queen are formidable fighters—and I’m not convinced the queen is—we’ll need their help with Niniane.”
“No, I understand. I understand deception, ilati.”
“I wish I didn’t.” I sighed, staring at the note.
“Do you hate doing this for him?” Rilen asked.
“No, I hate that he thinks I’m somehow put out by his request. It’s not that it’s really difficult. I just wish I could control the…” I blushed hard.
“Why?”
“Because I am in your bed. It’s bad enough there are three of you! I now come at his bite on my wrist.”
Rilen stared at the paper. “Does he always send notes like this?”
“Not always. Sometimes he’ll send a messenger with a flower. I’m curious about what he’ll do when we reach the city again. While we were there, he’d send me delicate chocolate and a fresh piece of vilaratu fruit. It was a delicacy in the Stronghold.”
“Have you ever said no?”
“Not no, really. I’ve had to delay a day, which was a risk. But it was after one of our skirmishes on the way to the Stronghold to rescue Dorian.”
“Are you going to delay now?”
I shook my head. “No. I’ll go to his room and be back in twenty minutes if you care to wait.”
He placed the paper down on the nightstand. “I’ll go with you.”
“Rilen—”
“No, I’ll go with you. There is no reason either of you has to feel like this is wrong. It is what it must be. You are half vampire, and no one can change that.”
Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “If you wish. But I will be back shortly.”
He held out his hand for me. His way of saying he wasn’t staying and that he didn’t disapprove of this.
I tapped on Aiko’s door, and a moment later, he swung the door open. “Mistress, I didn’t…” He stopped. “Oh. Master Rilen.”
“May we come in?” I asked.
He stepped out of the doorway. “Of course, your graces, please.”
Once we were inside, and Aiko had shut the door, the tension in the room rose to an uncomfortable level. I didn’t know why Rilen had come with me, and I didn’t like the way this room felt.
Aiko was standing and facing the door, and finally let out a breath, turning around. “Master Rilen, I would not ask your mistress for this favor if there were anyone else who would share their blood with me.”
“I know,” he said.
The silence was thick for another moment.
Aiko sighed and stepped to the side of the door. He pulled it open. “I understand. I will find another way.”
Rilen flicked his hand, and the door shut. “I am not here to deny you what you need. I am here to offer another avenue.”
I gasped and stepped away. “Rilen!”
He put a hand on my shoulder. “There are going to be times when you both will be too tired, too beaten to exchange blood. And if you’re hurt, you won’t have enough.”
“Rilen…”
“Master Rilen…”
He shook his head. “Aiko, you’ve been in battles before, and mistress—Lady Stormbreaker has limited experience. You know, from the last attack, this is not going to be an easy war. Our people are scared of the vampire now, and without them, without people who are willing to offer a vein even to our allies, this is going to be all uphill.” He looked between the two of us. “Lord Knight Aiko, I offer my vein. You may ask it of me when you have need.” He looked at me. “And the same of you, Kimber.”
Aiko walked deeper into the room. “Master Rilen, we have no way of knowing if mistress can survive on your blood.”