AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He stops shy of the large wooden door. “I would not advise doing that. You leave yourself open to a coup if you do not have an established quorum.”
He’s the second person to say that. This time, though, I don’t go into the part about having the No One army at my side. Mato is probably my best bet for my real plan. He needs to trust me, and I won’t get that from him with threats.
“I actually agree. I just wanted to hear what you’d say. I will be traveling to each kingdom after giving my inaugural address.”
“Be careful, Lake. This world holds many dangerous, hungry creatures, and not all of them fear an army.”
I’ve traveled through the lands twice now. I still have nightmares. The Devil People, with their hungry howling and deep red skin, or the masterbeasts—rapist man on the bottom, wolf on the top. The stuff of horror films.
“Good thing I have giants and vampires on my side. Around here, can’t get any safer than that.”
Mato leaves for real this time, and I whoosh out a breath. “God, I need a drink.”
Bard’s healing magic is wearing off fast. I’m going to have to find him and get another “treatment” so I can start working on my speech to the monster masses. The question is, what do they expect me to say? Everyone is making a big deal of it, which leads me to believe the address is more than they’re letting on. But if I start asking questions about the appropriate message, I’ll be seen as weak. Also, everyone around me has an agenda. No one to trust.
I hang my head and sigh. Maybe it’s time to visit the Scholar People. I’ve never met them, but I’m told they keep all the historical records. They can tell me what the prior rulers have said in this address.
CHAPTER FOUR
“You can’t just walk in there, Lake,” says Gabrio, sitting on the edge of my bed. “The Scholar People are very private.”
“But weren’t they the ones who educated you?”
“Yes, I spent ten years with them as a young man, as did my brothers.”
“Then they can’t be all that private.” I start pacing back and forth across my room. My stomach rolls with sharp hunger pangs. “Where’s Bard? I either need him, or I need to eat.”
Gabrio offers a suggestive look—green puppy-dog eyes and one corner of his lips hinting at a smile.
“I already said I won’t do that to you,” I object, “and you shouldn’t ask.”
He laughs. “You think I’m afraid of a little vampire bite?”
“No. That’s what worries me.”
“Truth is,” he stands and steps closer, “I have always wondered what it feels like.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Being an addict feels like shit.
“I hear it’s better than sex, which, considering how good my cock felt while sheathed inside your—”
“Don’t go there.” And he knows I didn’t enjoy it. Yes, he’s a beautiful man. A perfect specimen of masculinity, like his brothers, with hard bulging muscles in all the right places. He’s smart and compassionate, too, though he tries to hide it. “I’m not biting you. But hey, there are hundreds of hungry vampires in the palace, so feel free to ask one of them.”
“Perhaps I will.”
I swear the man has a death wish. “So where do I find these Scholar People?”
“It’s a few hours’ journey by foot or a few minutes’ flying if you wish to gain control of the Fliers and ride one.”
I’m not getting anywhere near those things. They bite, and it doesnotfeel good. “I’ll pass on the crispy dragons.” For all I know, getting control involves something incredibly gruesome. I mean, how the hell is there such a steady supply of Flier “nectar” in these lands? Someone’s doing the dirty work.
“It’s fairly easy, you know. They are all addicted to the bite of a vampire. Their queen especially. Benicio used to personally take care of her.”
“What a relief. I assumed some poor slave spends his days jerking off dragons.” That’s where the nectar comes from. So sick.
“They do, but what does that have to do with controlling them?”
“Ew. Never mind.” This conversation is too gross for words. “I’m not putting my mouth, hands, or any other body part on those things.”
