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I drew further back from Seldarin, tucking my breasts back into my robe and using a hand to cover myself down below. This was what Mordren wanted, I realized—for me to kill the only males who were on my side. Once I started drinking, I probably wouldn’t be able to stop. And when I finished with Sel, I would start on Krynn. I would kill them both and then the Lord Regent would have me all to himself—to manipulate whichever way he chose.
“I don’t think so,” I heard myself say, though my voice came out strained and dry.
“What do you mean you don’t think so?” he demanded. “You must drink—you must quench your Thirst.”
“You little fool, Lord Mordren is right—you must drink!” Lady Elgiana said, coming to stand beside the Lord Regent. She had a sneer on her perfect face and her hands on her hips, tapping her long nails. “You have no choice—drink!” she exclaimed.
“No,” I said. I climbed off of Sel, who was still strapped to the Quenching chair. “No—not like this. Not with Krynn and Sel.”
“But, Princess—” Sel began.
“No, don’t say it—don’t ask me to bite you again.” I shook my head at him. “If I bite you, I’ll kill you. I won’t be able to stop. I can’t do that. I wont do that.”
“You have to drink!” Mordren insisted. He reached for me but I danced backwards, getting out of his reach just in time. Then I turned towards the doorway. The door to the Quenching Parlor was still open and no one was blocking my way.
Without knowing where I was going, I took off, the heavy satin robe flying out behind me, the tiny crystals clinking against each other as my bare feet slapped against the marble floor.
I ran from the death I felt in that room—and the knowledge that I was its agent. I ran from the fear of losing the two Fae who were beginning to mean so much to me. But most of all, I ran from the Thirst—as though it was a tangible thing I could get away from if only I ran fast enough.
“Catch her!” I heard Elgiana shout behind me.
“No, let her go.” That was Mordren. “Let her go—let her kill one of the Lesser Fae or even one of the Nobles. Let her make a big mess so we have an excuse to dethrone her!”
He said something else, but by that time I was far down the hallway and couldn’t hear him anymore. All I knew was that I had to get away so I didn’t kill the Fae I cared for.
I kept running.
29
Lily
My newly de-aged body could run a long way. I went flying down the marble corridors of the Palace and people gave me startled looks as I passed them. I ignored everyone and concentrated on just running.
Before I knew it, I had found my way back to the Cavern of Lolth where I was finally, blessedly alone.
The first thing I did was to grab the silver pitcher of water sitting on the small table. It still had beads of condensation on its sides and the water inside was blessedly cool and refreshing. I drained the entire thing before putting it back down.
There—that was better. The Thirst was still burning in me and my body still throbbed with sexual need, but at least now I could think clearly. What was I going to do?
I paced up and down the white and blue marble floor, considering my options. I could still hear Mordren saying that they should just let me go because then I would kill someone and drain them and he’d have a reason to dethrone me and get rid of me.
It was clear I couldn’t stay here in the Palace. Because sooner or later the Thirst was going to get the best of me. I didn’t think I could say no again—climbing off Seldarin without biting him and fucking him had taken a massive amount of willpower. I didn’t think I could summon that much resolve again—not with the need for blood burning inside me like a living flame.
But what could I do if I left and went back to the human world? Would the Thirst follow me? I was betting that it would. My body had been fundamentally changed by my stay in the Palace. The effects of the Fae food and the Nectar of Lolth weren’t going to fade even after I left the magic bubble surrounding this place.
“What am I going to do, then?” I muttered hoarsely to myself, pacing back and forth. If only there was some way to control the Thirst—or at least to keep it from controlling me. If only…
Suddenly I remembered something Sel and Krynn had told me earlier—back in the kitchens when the Head Chef had been afraid of me. They’d been talking about…
“The Jewel of Lolth!” I exclaimed out loud. Of course! Why hadn’t I thought of it earlier? Well, probably because I couldn’t think of anything earlier—I’d been too busy rubbing against Sel like a cat in heat and getting ready to drain him dry. But now that I had some distance between me and temptation, I could think.
Krynn had told me that the Jewel of Lolth—the beautiful silver necklace with the deep purple stone which had been found with me when I’d been abandoned as a newborn—could help me control the Thirst. So that was the key—I just needed to get it back from Christopher and I wouldn’t have to bite anyone!
Now that I knew what I had to do, I burst into action. I found my discarded jacket and sure enough, it still had the car keys in one pocket. I thought about changing into something more modest and less gaudy than the Quenching robe I was still wearing but decided there was no time. At any minute, the Thirst might make me crazy enough to attack someone—I couldn’t have that.
Filling the silver pitcher one more time from the cold tap of the tub, I took another deep drink and then put it down and pulled on my jacket. Stuffing my feet into the soft slippers I’d been wearing earlier that morning, I headed out of the Cavern and down one of the many long corridors which led to the rest of the Palace.
I had to get out of here and get back the Jewel of Lolth. Then I could worry about what to do next, but first and foremost I had to get the Thirst under control before I killed someone.
