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“Come, my Everblood bride…” Neo places a hand along my back, his shades forming a path for us to walk upon between the crowds that maintain a safe distance. “Let me lead you to the quarantined zone.”
Chapter21
“Can a Dragon be tamed?” I wonder…
When we reach the quarantined warehouse-like building, we linger outside for a moment, listening to Quillion and Idrys arguing over the state of the people.
Why on earth did you reinstate him?I ask Neo through our bond, thankful that our drawbridges have practically shattered, allowing us to cross each other’s network of Halo dust and shades and flames.
Laws of the land, Elysia. If anyone survives my destruction by a million cuts, they are granted automatic reinstatement.
But you promoted him to a Tenth Court Rook position, not his original Court O’ Nines title, I point out.
Neo’s shades whisper-creep along my legging-clad legs up to my sex.Forgive me, my bride. It was an error in judgment and a response from that giant ego you’ve referenced. I should not have subjected you to such a grievous insult. But rest assured, I will keep a tight leash on him. Unless, of course, you’d prefer to do so.
Tempting, but I’d rather Halo-tie you to the bed tonight.I snicker as my gold currents ripple into his tunic and frolic with my love bites on his skin.
Duly noted. Tit for tat?Those shades prod into my sex, combining with his flames to rouse my fire blossom.
I inhale wind through my teeth and rein in my gasp with my hand on his chest.Only if you invoke the Right of Substitution, Neo.When he cocks his head to the side, confused, I navigate my Halo ripples down, down, down, slipping past his pelvis, turning him rigid and rigorous.Your tongue instead of your shades.
Anything else, my lady?
Oh, Saints!
I bite back a whimper. “I suppose I’ll have to find out tonight,” I murmur against his mouth, allowing my Halo ripples to retreat, gesturing to the warehouse. “But this is not the time or the place, Neo.”
“Quite right, my angel. But perhaps I’ll take you somewhere else tonight. Somewhere lovely, dark, and deep,” he hints like seductive velvet in my ear, and I almost ignite at the thought, at the memory of the grotto.
Oh, Saints! If he offers me a soul, if I urge him to restore even one of the countless bodies in the Bridal Canyon, perhaps that would be enough to grant him a new heart and renew our bond. My body hums at the thought, heart catapulting into my throat.
For now, I follow my husband into the quarantined zone for another kind of healing because my Halo is restless. The hairs on the nape of my neck prickle. Together, we enter, and I smile at Quillion, who’s sorting through blood configurations on his digital interface, barely acknowledging a perturbed Idrys standing opposite of him. Idrys bows his head to the Prince.
“What do you think, my love?” Neo dismisses Idrys and guides me a few steps.
I smile because the people are no longer on floor cots. Warmth blossoms in my chest, preparing to branch outward. They’ve been given hospital beds, warm blankets, clean hospital gowns, fresh water, food, and even silver-blood tech supplies along with the administering of Quillion’s treatment. Dozens of born vampire staff, lower Court servants have been dispatched beyond the Walls for potentially the first time.
“How are the staff protected?” is my first question. Judging by the Prince’s warm smile as he tucks a few of my curls behind my ear, it seems to meet with his approval.
However, Quillion responds while Neo settles a hand upon my back, shades creeping up and down my spine like…like that one night in the Chasm. I swallow and force myself to listen to the bishop. “I developed a synthetic immunization patch that works as a barrier for the infection. The people you rescued yesterday provided an excellent source through their blood samples.”
“Are they all here?” I wonder to Quillion, motioning to the myriad of beds.
Quillion nods while examining several DNA helixes that twirl a whirlwind of cell matter above his arm. “Yes, they’ve been asking for you.”
“Best not keep them waiting,” Neo muses and bids his blood bishop to lead the way.
Couldn’t you destroy the Scourge infection, Neo?I beseech him as we follow Quillion.
Not on a mass scale, I’m afraid.
Have you tried one?
Neo sighs and rubs his eyes next to me.No, Elysia.
But—
I tried the same day we set up the zone,Neo informs me, fingers straying to my cheeks, his eyes darkening, silver mist fading, lost in the memory.I only succeeded in aiding the infected mother to her death. I was so enraged by my failure that I abandoned the zone and left Idrys to it all. A wrong decision, of course. But you deserve to know. You and Lux are the only ones in the entire world who have been able to survive my destruction. And Nita.
