Page 18 of Royal Bite
She sighed.
What she wouldn’t give for a life-altering orgasm with any of her lovers. Not that she didn’t enjoy any climax she could reach, it just wasn’t one that she would write home about.
Hegna didn’t want to argue with her mother. Hegna may be two hundred and thirty-five years old, a hardened warrior, and a warden of her own territory, but she respected her mother and would take the tongue-lashing she knew would come. There were some things her mother and her would never see eye to eye on, and visiting a place like Madam Rice’s was one of them. According to her mother, a future queen shouldn’t be seen in establishments like that.
“Hello to you, too, Mother. I needed to feed,” she replied calmly. She brushed her dark locks to detangle them. She sensed her mother’s presence near her. She kept her gaze forward, not wanting to meet her mother’s gaze. Her brush snagged on a few tangles. She paused and carefully worked the knot, before continuing on. “And it’s not a brothel. It’s a clean facility for pleasure feeding—”
“A brothel,” her mother snapped. She leaned back on the counter and stared at Hegna until she could no longer avoid meeting her gaze. A deep scowl was embedded in her refined features. “Was sex involved?”
“Yes.”
“Did you pay for the services of said club?”
“Yes.” Hegna’s teeth ground together. She knew where her mother was going with this line of questioning.
“Then it’s a brothel. A whorehouse.” Mira threw up her hands, clearly exasperated with Hegna. “I don’t know why you constantly want to frequent a place like that. If you needed to feed, your sister has plenty of human donors waiting.”
“Mother. I’m not a child. A royal going to Madam Rice’s facility helps improve the economy. Others will frequent the club that is safe for humans. They are paid well, they are taken care of and under the watchful of talented physicians. Vampires feel safe going there and can feed without looking over their shoulders. Everyone gets what they want. Not everyone has a line of human donors waiting to be called.”
Hegna slammed her brush down on the counter. She rested her hands on the marble and stared into the sink. She had never raised her voice to her mother before and immediately regretted it.
“And so what if sex is involved. Everyone is there of their own free will. Would you want to take something away from the community that is one thing that brings vampires and humans together? Is that what you would have me do? Shut down the madam? That, I promise you, will not look well for the royal family.”
They were in a stare-off. Hegna had heard stories that she was just as stubborn as her mother. The queen was a fierce vampire who always put the good of vampires before herself.
“I see there is nothing I can do at the moment to change your mind.” The queen sighed. She rested her hand on Hegna’s.
Hegna, no matter how mad she was at her for entering her into the draft, couldn’t stay mad at her when she was in her presence. She covered her mother’s hand with hers and met her glance. “No, you won’t.”
“As a mother and queen, one thing I have learned is to carefully choose my battles. If you think that establishments like the madam’s helps vampires, then I will leave that to you as long as it is spun in a positive light.”
“I will. I must speak with Velika about patrols in that area. I was alerted that lycans had been spotted there. We need to ensure that human and vampires alike will remain safe when enjoying each other’s company.” Hegna straightened to her full height, towering over her mother.
“Speaking of lycans, we are meeting tonight to discuss these wretched animals.” Mira walked by Hegna’s side as they left the bathroom and headed into the attached bedroom.
A servant was in the room laying out clothes for Hegna across the bed. She turned and gave a deep bow to Hegna and Mira.
“Will you be needing assistance getting dressed, Your Grace?” the servant girl asked.
“I’ll be fine dressing myself,” Hegna grumbled.
The girl gave a nod and scurried from the room. Hegna took a seat on the edge of the bed.
“You should be kinder, dear,” Mira said. She went over to the window.
Dusk had finally settled. The window coverings must have lifted when Hegna was in the shower. She threw on her clothes in a rush. She wouldn’t have time for anything else.
“I was kind. Making her stay to help me get dressed would have been torture for her.” Hegna smirked. Her mother was probably hanging around to ensure she didn’t disappear again. She slid on her fighting leathers. There was no telling what would be needed from her. She was under the same roof as her two sisters. Maybe they could go lycan hunting together. It had been a while since the three Riskel siblings had fought side by side.
“Have you heard anything regarding the draft?” Mira asked.
Hegna froze in place. Her breath caught in her throat. She slid her tunic down over her head and glared at her. Was that the true nature of demanding her presence back at Velika’s castle?
“No. Have you?” Hegna didn’t want to even think of that wretched draft. Mated life may be suitable for her sisters, but it wasn’t for her. She continued getting dressed while eyeing her mother wearily.
“Of course not. If I had, I would have been retrieving you from that brothel—club—myself.” The queen sniffed.
Hegna paused and stared at her. The woman was honorable and wouldn’t lie about such a thing.
