Page 24 of Queen Takes Rook
The tree towered above us, taller than the heart tree she’d grown in her nest. There, she’d used her blood to grow a whole grove. Here, only one tree stood, powered by her blood and Itztli’s sacrifice.
I stared at the thumping heart. All of us did. I held my breath, waiting for it to cease beating. He had to die. He didn’t have a heart.
Yet his organ continued to beat steadily in her palm.
“Itztli,” she called in that deep goddess voice. “Come down from our tree and take what’s yours.”
I couldn’t see the other Blood any longer—the tree was too high. The trunk was big enough that it’d take two or three of us to reach completely around it. Wood creaked and cracked above us, as if a strong breeze moved swept through the branches. A dark hole opened in the trunk, groaning and complaining as it widened into a doorway.
Itztli stepped out of the trunk and dropped to his knees before our queen. Blood dripped from the open wound in his chest. Bone glistened in the moonlight, ribs cracked and pushed open. His eyes glittered like facets of obsidian.
“My queen.”
She leaned down and pressed her lips to his in a gentle kiss. Then she shoved her hand into his chest, giving him back his heart. He seized her arms and pulled her closer, clutching her as his body thrashed.
“There,” she whispered against his lips. “It’s done. Now take your reward, Itztli.”
She turned her head, offering him her throat. He lunged up and sank his fangs into the side of her neck. Leaning back on his heels, he drew her down on top of his thighs, locking her tightly to him.
Her hunger rose, drawing us all closer to her. Her blood burned. Her desire called us to her need. But one burned hotter than all of us.
Tlacel, the only Blood who’d never given our queen pleasure, or, at least, had never been in her bed. He waited, still on his knees, though his eyes blazed with joy that his brother still lived.
Shara looked at him over her shoulder. “Itztli would very much like to taste pleasure in my blood.”
The man moved closer and dropped to his knees behind her. He lifted his hands to touch her, but hesitated, his fingers trembling.
I wanted to make a snide comment, but the words wouldn’t come. I was fairly certain I’d probably trembled with wonder like that the first time she’d taken me.
He finally smoothed his palms down either side of her delicate spine and settled his hands on her hips. She arched back against him, encouraging him with the glide of her body. As he slid inside her, her breath caught on a moan that echoed deep in the pit of my stomach. My dick was hard enough to cut diamonds, and I’d wager all of us were on the verge of spilling, just from the glorious sound of welcome and hunger she made.
Even Rik. I glanced at our alpha, not surprised to see him the closest to her, his erection as painfully large and throbbing as mine. As all of ours.
Flames suddenly shot up into the night, making the Zaniyah clan gasp and mill around like anxious sheep. I’d noticed the large stack of wood for a bonfire earlier, but after the deluge, it shouldn’t have caught fire.
The silent Blood materialized between Guillaume and me, making even the knight jerk a hand toward his closest blade before realizing Xin wasn’t a threat. “I believe one of her gifts is fire.”
Daire nodded. “Yep, her first gift. She used it to burn up a master thrall when it was just me and Rik.”
The crowd’s mood shifted from fearful and grief-stricken to celebratory in moments. Drums started up and people danced around the large fire. Someone brought out vats of wine and tequila, and a cheer went up.
No, wait, that was just Tlacel, shouting out his release.Thenthe cheer went up.
The twins helped her stand, each holding on to her hand like she’d sprout wings and fly away if they didn’t keep a solid grip on her.
My eyes narrowed, my teeth bared.
The hell if they were going to control who she turned to, or when. I felt her need still burning, far from sated. She hadn’t even fed much yet, and after that demonstration, and the battle with Ra’s minions…
Oh, fuck. Of course.
She came closer to Xin, her eyes glittering like hard diamonds in the moonlight. “He’s still alive?”
“Yes, my queen.” Xin shrugged one shoulder. “Barely.”
She turned to Mayte. “I need a place that’s private enough for an interrogation.”
“Of course. You can use the room below the house, where you saw Xochitl the first time. Do you need me or my Blood to show you the way?”
