Page 83 of Crimson Born

“My daughter. I missed you. Did you have a nice outing?” she asked in feigned ignorance.

“You already know where I was, so there’s no point in pretending. I appreciate you saving my life that night, Imogen, but I can’t stay here anymore. I’m leaving. And I’m taking Reece with me. And before you try to deceive us into believing otherwise, Sadie already told me that even as your children, we still have free will.”

Her laughter filled the hall and echoed off its stone walls.

“Oh darling... I guess you don’t realize it since you ‘missed’ the ceremony tonight, but when the Bloodbound take their vows, they’re actuallybound... bymyblood.”

At my blank look of shock, she continued. “That’s right. Each new drone takes a sip of his queen’s blood.Myblood. From that point on, my will becomes their will. Yoursweetheartcouldn’t disobey me even if he wanted to.”

Now she turned to Reece and purred against his ear. “But you don’t want to, do you darling? You’ll never leave me, will you?”

“No, my queen,” he said almost robotically.

“Good boy,” she said. And then shelickedhis cheek.

I nearly retched, but Reece showed no signs of disgust or even disapproval. His eyes were a deep void.

Fighting to speak through tears, I said, “How could you do this to him?”

“Do what?” she asked in an innocent tone. “Elevate him to a position of honor and privilege? Give him a purpose and a family? Give him something to focus on other than the fact thatyouleft him behind?”

I let out a gasp. “You did this because I left?”

“No, my dear. I did it so that you’dstay. Now that your precious Reece is one of my Bloodbound, he’s mine to control. Mine to promote, to employ as a weapon... to take as a lover if I choose to. Mine tokillif I see fit.”

Her menacing words took all the blustery fight out of me. We were on her turf. Shedidhave all the power here—over life and death.

Over Reece’s life and death.

She had won, and she knew it.

35

Impossible Choice

“Please don’t kill him,” I pleaded for the second time in our lives. “You’ve made your point.”

Imogen’s lips pursed in an expression of mock-sympathy. “So sweet. The two of youalmostmake me long for my newly-turned days when I was still capable of feeling ‘love.’”

Her tone turned disconcertingly bright. “I’ll make you a deal.”

“A deal?” A chill chased down my spine.

“Yes. If you agree to the test... to turn a human and become a true daughter of the Crimson Court, then I will release your paramour from the vows of the Bloodbound and give him to you—as a graduation gift.”

She continued to pet him as she spoke. “I won’t claim my rights with him as I do the other drones. No one will ever have him but you, and someday when my reign ends and you sit on this throne, he will be your captain of the guard. Or your lover. Or both—whatever you prefer.”

It was an impossible choice—one would cost me my heart, the other, my soul.

I looked at Reece, so docile under her unwanted touch, and remembered the happy, charming boy I’d met the night of the blood moon. The guy who’d spoken of wanting greatness. Of destiny.

Icouldn’tlet this be his.

“Okay,” I agreed. “I’ll do it.”

“No.”

The quiet voice made both Imogen and me jerk our heads in Reece’s direction.

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