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“We’ll discuss this after she’s gone.”
Camille never sat back down.
Several feet stood between us.
What did I do? Did I really. . .take her blood?
I stayed in my spot due to anguish and regret and was sure she stayed in her area because of fear.
Ian interrupted my thoughts. “And are you planning to fight my brother?”
“There’s no other choice. He’ll go after Camille and if he can’t find her, then he’ll grab her daughters.”
Camille glanced at me with sad eyes. How I wished to know what she was thinking, but I didn’t try to break her mental walls.
Instead, I put focus on Ian. “What are your thoughts on my battling the Quiet King?”
“You and I in our battle forms may be able to take on my brother.” Ian combed his fingers through the dead woman’s red hair. “But who will hold back his army while we’re fighting him?”
I considered the few royal guards that had followed me from the castle. I counted barely ten and who knew if they would remain loyal to me once the king returned.
“You need an army.” Ian spread out his hands. “You’ll need one twice the size of my brother’s army to even increase the odds against us.”
“What do you want me to do?” I went to the bed and sat down. “The king makes sure to keep all strong vampire men in his army. The only people left in the vampire cities are weak men, scrawny aristocrats, and the old. Where will I get an army?”
“The same place we will take Camille.” Ian shifted his lips into a huge smile. “Mages can be your army.”
“What?”
“They have no problem killing vampires, and I’m sure they’ll be happy to dethrone the Quiet King.”
“Mages.” I laughed. “Why would they follow me into battle?”
“They won’t follow you. A vampire, king or not, cannot rule mages, but they will race into battle with you as your equal. If you ask and say please.”
My voice laced with skepticism. “That’s it?”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll make promises of land, money, and whatever mages want these days. You’ll say you’ll give it to them if you’re king.”
I directed my attention to Camille as she sat down on the bed. Space still flowed between us, but her scent rushed to my nose and calmed me enough. “Camille?”
She looked at me.
“What do you think?”
“I think that Ian is correct. We should get the mages to be your army.”
“If you agree, then I will do it.”
Her bottom lip quivered. “I do.”
“I know you hate me right now.” I gritted my teeth and forced myself to look into those hurt eyes. “Sorry won’t be enough for what I did. But. . .I promise to get you to safety. And. . .I’ll break the bond between us.”
She whispered, “Okay.”
“I just ask that. . .while you’re near me. . .you’ll let me drink from you.”
She returned to fingering her dagger. “If you drink, it will be from a place on my body of my choosing.”
I bobbed my head.
In other words, there will be no sex. I’ll be lucky to drink from her wrists.
“You force yourself on me again and I’ll stab you in the heart.” She didn’t blink or avert her eyes. Again, adrenaline surged inside of me. Her determination and confidence turned me on. My cock clenched.
Calm down. We won’t be touching her tonight. . .
Ian cleared his throat. “And the mage army? What do you think? My thoughts are that we barely have two to three days before Nai begins searching for you. As I ran here, whispers swirled the city about the Horned King who conquered the kingdom.”
I blinked. “Who is the Horned King?”
Ian pointed to me.
I groaned in annoyance.
“Nai will hear of it by next dusk or the dusk after that. When he does, murder will swim in his head and he won’t calm down until your heart is beating in his hands.”
“We can’t let that happen.” Camille’s fingers shook in her lap. “We must protect Xander.”
Even though I hurt her, she still worries for me.
Nervous, I stared at her. “Camille, do you really think it’s a good idea to recruit mages for my cause?”
“Don’t ask her.” Ian shook his head. “Look within yourself for the answer.”
“Says the vampire snuggling a dead body.” I turned back to Camille. “What do you think?”
Ian snarled.
“Ambi believes that we must all unite against the Quiet King.” She set the dagger on the bed. “He’s blessed you in this war.”
“What do you mean Ambi believes?” Ian studied her as if for the first time. His gaze traveled down her body. The glowing marks on her arms glimmered in the light.
“Hold on. Your skin.” His hand went to his mouth. “You died and returned?”
We put our attention on Ian.
My nerves flared. “What did you say?”
“Or are my new eyes playing tricks on me like my mind tonight?”
