“Water works best, but you use what you have.”
He gathered me to his chest, and I didn’t hesitate when he offered his neck. Hot, glorious blood filled my mouth, and I nearly moaned as the aches and pain from the ritual melted away. I heard him groan in answer, and then he had us turned around, my back hard against the stone wall as he grinded into my pelvis. He made quick work of my human clothes, discarding them to the ground as he took me quickly and mercilessly.
My claws dug into his shoulders as my back slammed against the wall, repeatedly. His fangs fought against mine as our mouths became a battleground, swallowing the sounds that would have otherwise rattled the cavern and traveled to the camp. Benedict paused, his tongue trailing lazily down my neck, tracing the blazing sigil that shimmered gold against my skin. It hummed in recognition against him, and I felt an answering awareness surge through my body.
We both cried out in release, and it was over quickly. I wasn’t sure if my peak came from Benedict or the seductive power that thrummed against my skin, but I didn’t care. We slumped down together, collasping. He held me gently, and I licked the wounds on his neck.
I stood, power thrumming through my body as the new blood sigils glowed gold on my skin. My eyes sharpened, and suddenly I could see through the darkness of the tunnel. I blinked, and the sigils vanished back into my skin.
“There are a few more stages to that ritual. By the end, you will see as well in the dark as you can in the day.”
He held out a hand for my knife, making small knicks on his own body. His skin glowed, all his blood sigils lighting up at once. It was impossible to pick any specific ones out; his entire body appeared to be made from flowing, gold lines. He drew a small line over his nose and down to his chest, and the markings went dark. I touched a hand to his chest, trying to remember where the lines were.
“We need to get back.”
And just that quickly, the spell was broken.
Sixteen
We arrived back at the camp, Kieran deep in discussions with the other leaders. I didn’t like the look Davos shot at me, but I was distracted by Thad. His gaze was on my bare midriff and shoulders, and I realized I’d forgotten to put my tunic back on. The men’s eyes lingered on me as I stood in nothing but my breeches and the band around my breasts, and Benedict huffed in annoyance.
“Change, then.”
An order, more than a request, and one I was happy to oblige. With relief I shifted into my draken form, and Kieran along with me. Benedict strode to the center, sitting down and forcing their attention to him.
“What have you decided?”
Zara waved her hands.
“No, we’re not going to just run past this. How many drakens are alive?”
“More importantly, how many will fight?” Thad added, his eyes glued to me. Benedict rolled his eyes.
“Enough to make a difference, though they will not be involved with this assault unless the Overlord pulls his forces from the island.”
“Not as extinct as we all thought, then.”
“Clearly,” Benedict drawled.
Finally breaking his gaze from me, Thad drew everyone’s attention back to the city map, pointing to a large structure in the middle. Kieran’s eyebrows rose.
“Attacking Severn’s place? That seems risky.”
Spike spit into a small chalice.
“You said you wanted something big.
The large palace was built of stone and had layers of walls surrounding it. It had been five hundred years since the royal family of Cantrada had lived there, chased out and then assassinated by the hordes. I even knew that much.
“It’s likely to be completely destroyed if there is a full out assault,” Benedict noted, his eyebrows raised slightly.
“Burn it to the ground for all care,” Thad responded, his voice tinged with disgust. “I’ll rally the ones here able to fight, just tell me when.” He stomped away, leaving us to the final details
“We don’t know if they’ll rally to Thad. He was raised in Aldur, and—” Zara cut off her protests to Spike, realizing Benedict, Kieran and I were listening intently
“That is…is it true you have magicks?”
I nodded, and the conversation delved into further talks of weapons, strategy, and guard rotations. Kieran bent low, whispering into my ear.
“Thad is rumored to be a descendant of the Cantradian royal family.”
I turned, and he smirked.
“While you and Benedict snuck away, I was busy.”
Kieran gestured to Spike.
“He is from Aldur—a wealthy merchant who has sunk all of his money into the rebels. He has further ties and resources south.” Kieran’s eyes flicked to Davos, who was scowling over the large map as the others gesticulated wildly.
“No one is entirely sure where Davos came from, though he claims to have been a slave to Severn when he was younger. He knows the palace intimately and has many contacts who still work there.”
As if he felt our eyes, Davos turned from the map, and bowed his head. I turned away.
“I’ll bet he does.
We spent the next day planning and planning some more. I wasn’t particularly needed for any of it, though Kieran had mentioned working on my voice magicks and possibly doing another blood ritual. I wandered throughout the refugee camp, my draken form on full display. It was easy to see how our presence lifted their spirits.
Benedict and Kieran were entrenched in conversation with Spike, mumbling over charts and other things that apparently didn’t concern me. I wandered off, unbeknownst to either of them. I passed a few families, waving to the children
