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into
our bedchamber, na’lanna ? What if
they begin to lay in wait beneath the bed, or in a closet, or even the bath?”
    Dharman snapped his fingers, and two of
the lesser Blood immediately trotted about the room, searching every nook and
cranny.
    “Put one of them before you. Sal, I
think. You can use his hair as a blanket.” Rhaekhar allowed his voice to go
husky, his eyes molten gold but not with his anger this time. “Take Dharman
behind you to guard your back as Gregar did. With two wrapped around you, no
one will ever touch you with a blade. Will they, na’lanna ?”
    Clever bastard. She couldn’t help the
blush creeping down her neck, nor her quickened breathing, nor the unmistakable
curl of desire flaring in her abdomen. If she’d thought to persuade him with
desire, he’d done the same to her.
    Lady above, it had been so long since
Gregar’s death. Since she’d had two warriors holding her, front to back, bathed
in heat and muscle. The Shadowed Blood still came to her in dreams, but it
wasn’t the same as two living, breathing warriors in her bed.
    “Remember, however, that there shall be
no nagging until you return to the Plains and both young warriors challenge me.
If they can fight to my satisfaction—and I’m sure they will, if you are their
prize—then you can take them both to my blankets.”
    “It’s an honor to serve, Khul.” Dharman
didn’t argue, exactly, but his low voice was fierce with intent. “However, my
blood is hers. If she asks, then I shall give her whatever she desires.”
    Wide-eyed with alarm, she sucked in her
breath and looked from one warrior to the other. She knew warriors had killed
each other over less of a grievance, and one of his warriors—albeit a Blood—had
just refused Khul’s direct order. Varne made a choked noise of amusement or
disbelief, although by the perpetual frown on his face, she couldn’t tell.
    “Very well,” Rhaekhar finally said.
    She didn’t like the look in his eyes. It
made her heart hurt, and she didn’t know why. Choking on tears, she carefully
crawled out from between the sleeping twins and went to him, wrapping her arms
around his waist. “I won’t ask. I promise. I don’t even want them.”
    “Don’t lie to me, my heart.” He wasn’t
angry, but his bond ached, swamping her with sorrow, a moment of rage so fierce
she gasped out loud with pain, but worse was the following grim acceptance.
    “I’m not lying. I’ll never touch them if
it makes you feel like this.”
    “It’s not them.” He sighed and rubbed
his chin against the top of her head. His hand trembled in the small of her
back. “I don’t want to leave you. I have a very bad feeling about saying
goodbye.”
    As
though it may be forever.
    He didn’t say the last out loud, but she
felt that spurt of furious grief again.
    “Three days,” she whispered, clutching
him harder. “I’ll follow in three days.”
    He didn’t say anything, but he held her
closer, need rising in him to claim what was his, as if he needed to imprint
his will and body upon her one last time before it was too late.
    She rubbed her lips across his chest,
playfully nipping to lighten his mood. “Even I can stay out of trouble for
three days with nine Blood watching my every move.”
    “I suppose.” He laughed, then, but it
sounded forced and pained to her ears. “Lads, I charge you with keeping your
eyes on her at all times.”
    She couldn’t help the squeak that
escaped. She’d been using the garderobe to change her clothing each day. With
Khul leaving, she’d planned to ban the Blood from the bath too.
    “You are welcome to try, Khul’lanna.”
The flat tone of Dharman’s voice told her he could not be swayed. He turned to
Khul and pressed his fist to his heart, reaffirming his dedication and salving
her warrior’s pride for his earlier refusal. “Khul, every morsel that passes
her lips will first be tasted by me. Every step she takes will be shadowed by
nine warriors who