Page 40 of To Quench Her Thirst

“Drago, no!” she exclaimed. “What if they’re right? What if I go into some kind of…of killing rage or something?”

“Don’t fucking care what you go into, baby,” he murmured, stroking her hair with one big hand. “I’m going in there with you or you’renot going.”

“But—” Lx Sambla began again. However Ls Prissa silenced him with a wave of her hand.

“Enough—the decision is made. If the Kindred wishes to sacrifice himself, why should we stop him? We’ve already lost enough good men this year during The Milking.”

“Very well, Mother.” Lx Sambla looked disappointed, but took a step back. “It shall be as you say.”

“Very good.” Ls Prissa nodded regally. “Then let us continue with The Crowning of the Queen of Night before The Thirst overtakes her. Bring the crown and robes!”

This order seemed to be directed to the other two Aged Ones because Ls Tissa and Ls Hissa hurried forward. One of them was holding a silver and diamond tiara which she placed carefully onAddie’s head. The other had a long, black cape which she tied around her neck.

Addie breathed a small sigh of relief as the silky black fabric fell around her shoulders and enclosed her. At least now she wasn’t naked in front of everyone in the room! That had been sheer torture for her with her body image issues.

But her relief was short-lived. Because the moment she was dressed in the crown and cape, Ls Prissa called out,

“Behold the Queen of Night, chosen by Sheelash herself!”

The whole crowd erupted in cheers except for Sparki. When Addie caught the lady-in-waiting’s gaze, the other woman looked ashamed of herself and dropped her eyes. But everyone else in the room seemed extremely excited—even the men who had been offering to “sacrifice” themselves to Quench her Thirst.

Ls Prissa raised her hands again and the cheering cut off abruptly.

“Enough!” she shouted, even though everyone was now quiet. “To the Room of Sighs! Let The Quenching begin!”

21

DRAGO

Drago didn’t know what in the Seven Hells they were in for during “The Quenching,” but whatever it was, he blamed himself. Henevershould have taken so much time to master his Drake—which was upset now all over again.

Grimly, he held onto it. As big as the Feasting Hall was, it wasn’t big enough for a Drake the size of his. Even if there had been enough space for it, he couldn’t let it out—it might hurt or kill Addison in its rage and eagerness to protect her! If only it had a mind—if only he couldreasonwith it. But being a Primal Drake, it had nothing but base animal instincts. He couldn’t trust it not to hurt the woman they both loved.

We’ll just have to get through this somehow,he told himself as the guards surrounded them and marched them to the broad double doors that led to the Room of Sighs. Afterwards he would go to Commander Sylvan and admit his shortcomings and tell how he had failed to protect Addison. But for now, he had to do everything he could to help her through this strange experience.

He kept a protective arm around her, noting as he did that her small, curvy body felt hot—like she had some kind of fever. Was that the impending “Thirst” they’d all been talking about?Or was that just a load of bullshit, as the humans said, to scare her into going along with their bizarre ritual?

Drago didn’t know. He only knew they were in the middle of a shit-storm and it seemed that the only way out of it was through it.

Goddess, help us!he prayed, directing his thoughts to the Mother of All Life, whom all Kindred worshipped.Help me to protect Addison and get her safely home again!

He heard no answer to his prayer but his Drake calmed somewhat, allowing him to relax some of his iron control and pay more attention to what was going on around him instead of focusing on the inside.

Hewouldbring Addison home, alive and unharmed, he swore to himself. He didn’t care what he had to do to manage it—what price he would have to pay. He would gladly pay it.

He had no idea just how high the price was…but he was about to find out.

22

ADDIE

The minute they got into the Room of Shadows, Addie noticed some differences. For one thing, it was daylight now, so more of the vast, airplane hangar-sized room was visible. Dim light filtered down from a huge skylight in the ceiling far above them and there was an enormous, silk spider web at the far end of the room. However, it was currently empty, which she hoped was a good thing.

The round dais where the Ceremony of Choosing had been held was still there, in the center of the enormous room, but there was a new piece of furniture placed on it. It was a high-backed iron chair with thick leather straps dangling from its arms and legs. Clearly it was meant to restrain someone.

The sight turned Addie’s blood cold. Were they going to strap Drago into the chair and then set her loose on him? What if she lost control and killed him?

The idea would have been laughable just twenty-four hours ago. She was short and curvy and her Protector was a seven-foot-tall Kindred warrior with muscles that would make a Pro Wrestler jealous. But she could feel The Thirst tearing at her throat and her pussy was so swollen she was aching with need.What if she sucked and fucked the big Drake Kindred to death without meaning to?

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