Page 114 of A Bond in Blood

His hands lightly brushed my shoulder as he passed me. “One hour,” he whispered.

He left me on the dais, practically naked and realizing I really was a potential feast for the starving monsters surrounding me.

I set my glass on the table. My fourth in just a short span of time. My head was hazy from the liquor while my stomach knotted with nerves.

My eyes went to Ulrich on the throne, finding his hands down the skirts of a topless, gray-skinned woman. He smiled at me while his hands moved faster under her skirts.

He was taunting me. Knowing I hadn’t done any work to determine thepartnerhe claimed I was required to find.

Gods, how I hated him.

Gaining a stupid confidence from the liquor, I stood, swaying on my feet.

The Unseelie surrounding me sneered with glee.

“Thewraithis unsteady,” one shrill voice laughed.

“Easier to hump,” a gravelly voice replied.

I snapped my attention to them, scowling.

“Do either of you havedeals?” I asked with a smile.

They both shrank back, hissing at me while they retreated.

Triumphant in my victory, I stumbled again. Right into the open arms of a man. My head moved upward, pausing when I found Bjorn grinning at me.

“My prize for the evening has found its way to me,” he chuckled.

I moved to rip away from him, but he held tighter. “Do not run, princess. I will not harm you.”

There was a hum in his words, a calming command that took root inside of my mind.

“I believe we find ourselves without a partner,” he whispered while his eyes went to my chest.

I was too intoxicated to cover myself. Instead, I nodded confidently.

“It appears so.”

Bjorn stepped back, holding out his arms as though he intended for me to admire him. So I did.

I stared at his dark skin and the dark hair atop his head. The tall, slender build of his body. Significantly different from Ulrich and Olen’s muscular frames.

Then there was the black mask covering half of his face, ending at the bridge of the left-side of his nose. Behind the mask two dark brown stared at me.

Gods, were they hungry.

My eyes went to Ulrich who was unmoving on his throne with the woman on his lap gone. His rage was palpable even across the room.

“Your king said I must find someone or else I’d be claimed,” I said to Bjorn, keeping my gaze on Ulrich.

Bjorn’s hand lifted mine, bringing it to his lips. “The Rite has its rules and customs, princess.”

I was disgusted by his touch, immediately wishing I could scrub my skin clean. I fluttered my eyelashes instead, allowing him to kiss up my arms.

“Explain the Rite to me. Please, sir.”

“My lord,” he whispered.

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