Page 37 of To Quench Her Thirst

“Look,” she began. “I really think?—”

Smack!Quick as a striking snake, Ls Prissa’s hand flew out and struck her across the cheek.

“Oh!” Addie gasped, tears rising involuntarily to her eyes. She put her hand to her stinging face. “What wasthatfor?”

“That was for your disobedience and disrespect! Isaidshow us your teeth, girl!” Ls Prissa barked. “Do itnowor should I have one of the guards strike you next time? They have a much heavier hand than I do.”

Blinking back tears, Addie opened her mouth, knowing what they would see.

There was a collective sigh of satisfaction from the three older women.

“Ah—look at those fangs!” Ls Tissa exclaimed.

“I’ve never seen such a fine pair,” Ls Hissa remarked.

“She’s got The Thirst, all right,” Ls Prissa said, nodding in apparent satisfaction. “Now to get her some Quenching Candidates. She needs fresh blood it be an acceptable Queen of Night.”

Quenching Candidates?Addie thought longingly of the children’s book she’d been reading. Why had she put it down? If only she’d stayed in her seat and kept reading she might have a better idea of what was coming next.

“Guards, open the door—let in the Quenching Candidates,” Ls Prissa said sternly.

Then, to Addie’s horror, the door to the Feasting Hall was opened once more and a hoard of Vargan males poured in! They all crowded around the group of naked women, most of whom were clutching their dresses to their chests, just like Addie.

She could hear them murmuring to each other and feel their eyes crawling all over her—it was awful! She wished she could put her dress back on but that would mean pulling it up and over her head and baring her breasts and pussy—she didn’t want to do that.

“Now then, enough chatter,” Ls Prissa said, taking charge once more. “You all know why you’re here. This year’s Queen of Night has been chosen and some of you must be willing to Quench her Thirst. You know the risks—she may drain you dry in her lust for blood. But you also know the rewards—no man alive that’s been ridden by a Queen of Night will ever forget the pleasure. So who wants to step forward?”

“Who is it, then?” One of the men shouted. Addie’s hair had fallen back down to hide her back, so apparently it wasn’t immediately obvious she was “the Chosen One.”

"It's her—the off-worlder," Ls Prissa nodded at the guards and they dragged Addie up on the dais where the three throne chairs were located. "Well go on—show her off," she added to the guards. "Take that silly dress from her—let the candidates know what they're risking their lives for."

“Wait—please, no!” Addie cried as the black dress was ripped from her hands. She tried desperately to cover herself, but the guards wouldn’t allow it. They pulled her arms away from her body and held them out, putting her on display in a humiliating fashion.

Shame rushed through Addie and she hung her head, unable to meet the many eyes that were raking over her bare body. Oh God, it was like a bad dream! But she couldn’t wake up, no matter how hard she tried.

“Gods of creation, look at theklixa!”one of the watching men muttered. “She’s got red hair below as well!”

“Never seen a red bush—almost as tempting as Sheelash White,” another answered.

“Wonder how tight her cunny is?” a third speculated.

“Tight enough to make it worth the risk, I reckon!” the first man shot back, which prompted a burst of trollish laughter.

Addie wanted to weep. Where was Drago? How could he leave her at such a time? Was he dead somewhere? Had theVargans killed him? Why else would he abandon her like this? What was she going to do?

But then, at her lowest point, she heard a familiar voice echoing through the high, stone chamber.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing to my mate? Get your fucking filthy hands off her,now!”

Oh, thank goodness!Addie nearly melted with relief when she saw the big Drake Kindred shoving his way angrily through the crowd. As tall as he was, he was head and shoulders above the other males and she could see the red glare of Rage glowing in his eyes.

“Step back—she’smine!”he snarled at the guards who dropped Addie’s outstretched arms and backed hastily away.

“Oh, Drago!” Addie gasped as he put his arms around her and shielded her nakedness with his big body. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here!”

“Come on, baby,” he growled. “I’m taking you home.”

“You cannot do that, Kindred.” Ls Prissa’s voice rang above the murmurings of the assembled men and the other women from the Choosing Ceremony. “To take your lady now would be to profane our holiest ritual.”

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