A Taste for Blood (The Godhunter, Book 6) (37 page)

“
Okay,” I jumped up to get dressed.

“
Well maybe we could tarry here a little longer,” he grinned at me and nudged me back into bed.

Two hours later, I was flying over the Fire Kingdom on the back of a red dragon. Well technically I was straddling Arach's neck, holding tight to one of the horns that crested his head and flowed down his back. He was dry and his scales were glassy smooth, so I had to wrap my legs around his neck and hook my feet together to stay in place.

Below us was our kingdom and it was magnificent.

I don't know what I expected from the Fire Kingdom, maybe lakes of lava, but it wasn't this hazy, dreamy wonderland. It was lush, like tropical rainforest lush, with moss covered trees and wide-leafed plants dripping with moisture. Forests interspersed with lakes, verdant valleys, and rolling hills. There was the occasional crevice leading down to magma, but the flow was far below the surface and the crevices were ringed with plant life.

Among it all were homes. I hadn't expected that. Silly really, but I'd thought all of the fire fey lived in the castle. Well here was proof that they didn't and that the House of Fire was much larger than I'd originally thought. In fact, the kingdom itself was much larger than I 'd thought. I guess when Arach had told me about its borders, I'd envisioned it as being the size of a human city. In truth, it was more along the lines of a continent.

There must be thousands of fey living within the borders of Fire. This was why most of the fey never ventured out of their kingdoms, there really was no need to. The land was vast enough and diverse enough to provide sustenance in many forms. Some of the fey came out of their homes and waved up at us. I waved back, thoroughly enchanted.

“This is amazing,” I screamed over the wind, holding my arms out to the sides and having the strangest urge to shout that I was King of the world.

“
The Weeping Woods,” he nosed the direction of the largest rainforest. “The steam collects on the leaves and drips off them, making it look as if the trees are crying.”

“
They're beautiful,” the dark green treetops were shrouded in mist, the cries of birds and other animals echoing through it hollowly.

“
There are caves below, most filled with molten rock, which heat the entire kingdom,” he continued, blinking huge dragon eyes at me languidly. He barely had to beat his wings, just glided on the rising hot air. “You saw one of the flows when you met the Hidden Ones but there are also underground rivers that create steam when they collide with the magma. They flow continuously, in and then out of our kingdom. The main one comes in from the kingdom of water and flows directly beneath the castle to supply us with hot water.”

“
How perfect,” I laughed and leaned forward so my cheek rested along his neck.

“
They also fill the kingdom with mist,” he angled his head to the side. “There's one of the chasms that releases steam.”

I looked over and saw a crevice just like one I'd seen earlier, except this one was belching huge amounts of steam into the air. Just past it, there were large bodies of water, bubbling and steaming as well. They were surrounded by mossy banks and low hanging mist. Animals were drinking from a few of them, they raised their heads as we circled above and most took off running. A few stayed though, and I got to see my first sight of fire  animals.

There was a four-legged creature with black horns and a long, wide face, covered in pebbled gray skin. Behind his horns and flowing back over his shoulders, was a thick mane of dark gray fur. It disappeared into his back where the gray skin returned but around his hooves were tufts of the fur as well. Its long tail also had a tuft of fur at the end of it, which swished as it lifted its head and made a honking cry, before loping away.

The other animal that was brave enough to stay a bit longer, was winged. I couldn't really call it a bird, it was too muscular and scaly for that, but it did have a bright yellow beak and taloned feet, so maybe it was some type of avian. The wings that spread out behind it weren't feathered, they were more like Arach's wings, leathery. They were yellow like its beak and the rest of its body was a bright orange, bright like venomous snakes are. It cawed, the sound echoing a warning around us, and a red tongue shimmied out of its beak.

“Best to stay away from that one,” Arach said as he started to land.

“
Will do,” I watched as it took to the sky and flew in the direction of the mountains ringing us in.

“
Here now,” he rolled to the side so I could dismount easier, “be careful.”

“
I'm fine,” I jumped down and backed away so he could change back to his man form.

He changed in a shimmer very like a heat wave and extended his hand to me. I took it and he led me over to the closest pond. There was a rather stunted tree next to it but it had lovely, flowering vines hanging from its branches, out over the water. A sweet scent emanated from the purple blossoms, probably enhanced by the heat. I stripped and left my clothes on the bank, Arach was already nude, and we slid into the bubbling water together.

I sighed as the water rose over my skin, little bubbles hitting me like a massage. The bottom of the basin was smooth stone but there were several cracks leaking heated air. I ran my toes over them and laughed. It tickled a little. Arach arranged himself over the steep incline that led into the pond, everything but his shoulders and head, in the water. He leaned back, head pillowed on a bed of moss, and gave me his contented grin.

“
Come here,” his fingers beckoned beneath the surface.

I glided over and slid up his chest, coming to rest against him with my face an inch away from his. Our legs intertwined and my mouth found his. Hands and tongues and very sharp teeth. I groaned as he lowered those teeth to my shoulder and took a quick nibble. He looked up at me, a smear of blood on his lower lip.

“Sometimes I can't comprehend all of your emotions,” he whispered before he breathed fire over the bite.

“
Sometimes I don't want to understand yours,” I replied in a sober tone.

“
I know,” he glanced at the rolling surface of the water. “I think you will though. Faerie is changing you, I taste it in your blood, and someday our emotions will be a lot more similar.”

“
I don't think I want that,” I frowned.

“
I know that too,” he said regretfully, “and that's part of what I don't understand. Why do you wish to be crippled by these softer feelings?”

“
Crippled?”

“
It's difficult to rule,” he sighed. “It's even more difficult if you can't look at things critically. I understand your need for kindness and I agree that I was too harsh before. I needed to care more for our people but too much compassion can cloud your judgment. It's a weakness, leaving you open to manipulation.”

“
Compassion doesn't have to be blind,” I tilted my head. “Kindness doesn't have to be weak. If you temper them with wisdom and prudence, you won't be taken advantage of.”

“
That's your humanity talking,” he had an indulgent look on his face, an improvement from what would have been there a couple of weeks ago, “fey are more practical.”

“
Ah,” I smiled and rubbed my body against his. I was rewarded with a groan. “You forget that I have a taste for blood as well. I know you're different too. Faerie may be changing me but I am changing you. Your cold, calculating heart is learning the benefits of tenderness I think.”

“
I have no problem with tenderness,” he growled and pulled me closer, “or your taste for blood. In fact, I think you may find there are numerous tender spots on my body that could satisfy both of our tastes.”

“
You are so naughty,” I laughed, “and so very cunning. Trying to wiggle your way, literally,” I placed my hands on his shifting hips, “out of talking about your feelings. How very male of you.”

“
And very fey,” he agreed. “I admit you've changed me. I even admit that my happiness is due in most part to those changes. My base emotions though, the way I think and view the world, are still untouched. I am a Faerie King and I must rule with a fey heart. If not, our kingdom will suffer.”

“
I think you may be overreacting just a tad,” I grimaced.

“
You think my heart and mind are strange,” he said seriously, “and that's okay, I understand it, but what you're failing to see is that here, in Faerie, your human way of thinking and feeling are just as strange to us, and it is you who are alone in this. Our people cannot be ruled with human thoughts and a human heart. You must change or you must remain a silent Queen. I am sorry but it's the truth.”

“
I don't want to change,” I whispered.

“
I know,” he kissed me gently, “and frankly, I don't want you to change either. I appreciate our differences now, that's one of the ways you've altered me, and I think I'm overly attached to the way you love me.” He paused to give me a deeper kiss and I placed my palm against his chest to feel his heartbeat quicken. “Stay as you are forever,” he whispered, “and I will be a happy sidhe, but I can't let you interfere with the way I rule our people. Please understand.”

“
I do,” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “I see your point, I can't govern fey when I don't understand the basic way they think or the reasons why they do things. I'll let you decide what's best but,” I tapped his nose, “I still want to be made aware of all your decisions so I can at least try to learn why you think like you do, even if I don't.”

“
Fair enough,” he smiled, “my Queen.”

“
Time for another ruling, King of Fire,” I laughed throatily. “I have this terrible ache, low in my body. What's there to be done for it?”

Chapter Fifty-Five

I wasn't really paying attention while I was walking through the corridor. Just kind of letting my thoughts drift, attempting to remember something more from my past, something human. I nearly tripped over them, I probably would have if they hadn't been moaning so loud.

“
Oh, Isleen,” I stopped at the last second and the leanan-sidhe looked up from her meal, er, date? “Sorry to interrupt. Carry on.”

“
Queen Vervain,” the woman gracefully extended a hand to stop me. “We're finished here, I think I'll walk with you.”

“
Oh, okay,” I shrugged. “I'm just heading to the library.”

“
Reading some fairy tales?” She barely spared a glance for the sidhe she'd been feeding on but he stared after her with open longing. “For research?”

“
Not at all,” I looked back and forth between her and her meal before continuing on. “Why read about it when I have the real thing?”

“
Yes,” she brushed back her thick black hair. “The real thing is always best.”

“
May I ask you something kind of personal?” I stopped walking and turned to look at her.

“
Of course,” she tilted her head at me. “Ask whatever you wish.”

“
Do any of them mean anything to you?” I waved back the way we had come.

“
The men?” Her brows rose. “They mean life.”

“
I mean beyond a food supply.”

“
Are you asking if I love any of them?” Her lips turned up in a slightly mocking smile.

“
I know,” I sighed, “how human of me, right?”

“
No,” her expression sobered. “What's human is your idea of love. Now to answer your question, yes, I love them all. I love them for the moments they'e in my arms. I love them completely and faithfully, and if they are available the next time I need blood, I will love them again. If they're not,” she shrugged delicately, “I will love another just as completely.”

“
But that's not love,” I frowned. “Look, I'm not criticizing what you do. I was just curious because of something the King said to me.”

“
Who are you to tell me what I feel?” She said it without any heat, just a question. “You asked me if I love them and I told you I do. You have no rule over my heart. You can't tell me what I feel is not love.”

“
To me, love is caring about someone, about their health, needs, and wants. To think about them when they aren't with you and wish they were. To trust them with your heart and body. To feel sad because they're sad and to want to make them happy. Things like that,” There was a fluttering in my belly, a certainty that what I said was true. I knew about Love.

“
And to me,” Isleen smiled patiently, “love is about filling the ache. Love is the burning rush of need that calls for completeness. It's wild, a heartbeat in my throat, a tremor on my lips. Love is focus and fascination. It's taking a moment and sharing it with another in a way that reveals who you both truly are. There is trust in that and courage in the ability to accept that it might be misplaced. Above all, it does not have restrictions. The greatest love stories are not always novels, sometimes they're  merely poems.”