Page 15 of Lifeblood

Mordred drew his fingers away from my now slowing pulse. “I’d rather have your willing company than forced compliance out of fear.”

“You do,” I said, then I quickly added, “have my willing company, that is. I mean, I genuinely don’t have a choice but to go with you. But… I want to.”

“Good,” Mordred said softly. “Good little lifeblood. Rest tonight. We will leave in the morning for the Demon Courts. You’ll be escorted by us and given quarters at the main palace. We’ll discuss more of our situation then.” He turned and took a few steps toward the door.

I nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”

At this, he paused and looked over his shoulder, his dark eyes creased at the edges with emotion or thought. “No, thankyou.”

The weight of his gratitude struck me hard and deep—with confusion and a sense of misplacement. But I nodded again and then he was gone, and I was left alone with too many conflicting emotions.

There was more to this. Five mates. One bond. All between demon kings and the last divine child in this entire world. Obviously something more was happening here.

But in these moments here, in the darkness splitting with neon lights, with this demonic predator literally at my throat, all I could do—all Iwantedto do—was stay here. With him.

I was done running. I no longer felt a need to. And I wasterrifiedat the thought of what that meant.

But also… excited.

CHAPTER5

Sleep didn’t come easy. In fact, I wasn’t sure I had slept at all. The moment I’d stepped in for Maria played repeatedly in my mind. It had been the right decision, but doing so had sent me careening down a course I wasn’t sure I could handle.

And maybe that discomfort was a good thing. Maybe change was, too. I’d already been surprised by the civility the demon kings had shown.

If there was some greater purpose to all of this—and they certainly seemed to believe there was—then maybe I should trust that. Especially if that greater purpose happened to be divine.

I watched the London skyline through the window of my room. No demonic guards had come in after Mordred had left, although I had no doubt they were just outside the door. Watching and waiting for me to try to run.

I wouldn’t be running. Not anymore. But neither would I be sleeping, it seemed.

I couldn’t see the stars from here. Between the other buildings and the bright lights, the light pollution kept the twinkling signs of divinity at bay. But I knew they were there, so I sent wishes out to them. For peace. And sleep.

And a sign that maybe this fate wasn’t such a bad one. That therewasa purpose to this madness of having four mates.

That maybe the only thing to be upset about was having run for so long, I’d lost out on time with them and whatever purpose was coming.

At least one of those wishes was granted as my eyes shut and sleep took me at last.

* * *

I wokein the same position I’d fallen asleep in. Which was to say, I’d woken sitting sideways against the glass window overlooking London. My neck ached even before I turned away from the glass. It was only then I saw that I wasn’t alone in the room.

“Sorry, our lifeblood,” Lance said sheepishly from the doorway. He wore a casual set of trousers and a button-down shirt and was carrying a tray of assorted breakfast items and a pitcher of water. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“I don’t know that you did.” My mouth was dry, my eyes bleary. I’d fallen asleep, but not for long, I thought. “What time is it?”

As my brain began to fully wake, the weight of his raw, demonic power settled in around me like a weighted blanket. Then came the full force of our mate bond—not as hollow as it had been with Gareth, and yet still feeling like it was missing pieces with the other demon kings not around. It was still powerful enough to hitch my breath. The intensity and suddenness of it had me fisting the sheets next to my legs.

“It’s about eight in the morning,” Lance supplied. “They’re aiming to have us on the road soon, and when no one had mentioned seeing you awake, I figured I’d come get this show going.”

I pulled myself away from the window. I was still wearing the silver gown, having apparently got too lost in thoughts about fates and stars to bother looking for a change of clothes.

“Good call.” My neck tweaked again and I hissed.

Lance walked forward a few steps. “Are you okay?”

I gestured to the window. “Just slept wrong. I’ll be fine.”

---