Page 113 of A Bond in Blood

His shadows coiled around my legs, traveling up my body until the tendrils gripped my chin.

“I wonder how much more comfortable it is when it’s removed.”

Heat grew between my legs and my hands gripped the seat. He grinned, leaning back in his chair while his shadows dropped their hold.

“Have you chosen your partner for the evening?” he asked.

“Your grace?”

Ulrich laughed, throwing his head back. “The Rite,Ursa. It requires each body present to have a partner.”

My blood went cold. “For what?”

“You should have asked that before,” Ulrich grinned. “You’ll have to find out for yourself.”

Olen appeared before us with two glasses of dark liquor. I pointed to him.

“I choose him.”

Olen laughed. “Too late. My partner picked me out the moment I stepped into this room.”

Fuck the Gods.

I turned slowly, meeting Ulrich’s inquiring eyes. He shook his head. “Not me. I have been claimed.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Olen taunted.

I stood, ripping the drink from Olen’s hand and threw it back. Choking from the burn, I glared at the king.

“What in the Gods does that mean?”

“Ulrich will be averybusy man tonight,” Olen replied.

My hands balled at my sides. “I don’t want his hands on me anyway.”

Ulrich leaned back in his throne, setting his feet on the seat I’d risen from. “You may regret that statement by the end of the night. You may be begging for my touch when you find yourself in the hands of someone who does not know how to make all of those delicious noises come from your lips.”

“I hate you,” I grumbled.

“I’m very aware,” Ulrich replied then clapped his hand, calling forth atrollwith a tray topped with a glass.

He picked it up, eyeing me over the rim before waving his hand. “Go, Brenna. You have an hour.”

My stomach dropped. “Until what?”

“Until someone willclaimyou.”

The sounds of the party drowned out with the pulse ringing in my ears while the words left Ulrich’s lips.

“Olen said you would never allow a man in your court to defile a woman.”

Ulrich stood from his throne. His cold wrapped around my body once more.

“The Rite is a different night. It is required by the Gods to give tribute with our bodies. Our blood.”

“You don’t believe in the Gods,” I protested.

Ulrich smiled at me. “I do one night a year, Brenna. When we fuck, bleed, and sacrifice to pay tribute.”

---