Settling down at Jaia's side, she inched closer but her attempt to get close made him stiffen and she moved away again, hurt by the rejection.
"Did you know about the war preparations?" she asked Kai, moving further away from Jaia under the guise of picking up one of the books until a good foot separated them and she hugged the book to her chest, not even reading the title.
"War?" Kai asked, looking up.
Versalis had watched her retreat, a small crease between his brows at the sight of her slumped shoulders.
"Epharis has all these maps and war plans. They are gearing up against Weorene."
The three man looked at her, startled.
"Already?" Jaia asked and she shrugged.
"We've been gone some time," she replied and began to explain the plans Epharis had told her, after a while she had gotten up to get a drink of water and Versalis made room for her beside him and she sat down at his side, his arm going around her protectively.
Jaia had already gotten lost in the strategic side of it, Kai was frowning in thought and she finally fell silent, resting her head on Versalis's shoulder, his hand gripped tightly in both of hers.
She didn't know why Jaia had suddenly rejected her, but it hurt
"How long?" Jaia demanded, turning to see her with Versalis and flinching slightly.
"Weorene is already preparing, perhaps a month or two at most. Alaric wants me on the front line and you two in the backs with Epharis. I assume you will be with Alaric and I on the front, Versalis," she looked to the vampire and he nodded his agreement.
"Why you on the front lines?" Jaia demanded, suddenly angry. Pushing himself up from the seat, he began to pace.
"I'm immortal and a skilled killer," she said, not understanding his anger.
"So he's sending you out to be his personal killing machine while we sit back and watch?"
"He needs the brains to be behind the scenes," she said finally.
"You're more intelligent than I am," Jaia said, frowning at her.
"You're a master at strategy, Kai is a genius. I can kill things. It make sense."
He stalked forward, angry that she was agreeing with the plan to put her in the line of fire.
"Jaia, I'm immortal," she said and he threw up his arms, stalking away again.
Looking to Versalis, she shook her head at her confusion.
"Alaric has it right, she would be best on the front lines, trying to get through to King Varsas."
She blinked and then realised that yes, Varsas would be there and she was likely going to be able to get to him. Jaia had frozen too, frowning at Versalis and then at her.
"She's a trained assassin, if anyone is going to get to that man, it's her," Versalis said
"Aelen could," she said, taken aback by the ferocity of Jaia's stare.
"Aelen is mortal and an elf. You are immortal and a Fae. You're going to be the one to get to that king and put a stop to the war."
She didn't bother fighting, instead letting them fall into discussions about war.
Finally she stood and Versalis looked up, standing suddenly and following her to the door and out onto the stairs to the rest of the castle.
"Versalis what happened?" she pleaded but he shook his head.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, it's not my place," he said gently and smiled, brushing her cheek. "You look tired."
"I am tired," she breathed, allowing him to pull her into his lap once he had sat down on the stairs.
She leant into his chest and buried her face in his neck, his arms painfully tight around her but it felt amazing to be held so close.
She traced a gentle kiss against his throat and he gave a low growl, tilting his head in invitation.
She bit down hard, her hand sliding up to curl around the back of his neck as she clutched him to her. Her tongue traced over the bite to taste his blood and he shuddered, his fingers digging into her back as she fed.
It was rare that she would feed from him, his blood potent and leaving her tingling, but it also caused a reaction between them that was hard to describe to themselves.
It triggered a primal need in them, a desperation that neither of them were willing to give into and so they courted with disaster, never intending to, but always ending at the very brink of destruction.
His breathing was heavy as she drew on him, her tongue teasing as she traced the four cuts in his skin.
He shuddered and shifted her so she straddled him, his hands finding the small of her back and pressing her down on him.
She rocked teasingly, feeling his arousal under her and she bit him again, adding four new holes.
With movement like lightning, he had her up against the wall of the stairwell, her arms and legs around him as he pressed into her, desperately wanting her and yet both knowing it couldn't happen.
His fingers were hot as they slid up the back of her vest, dragging his nails down her back to leave deep gouges in her skin and she arched her back, the move having her grinding against his erection.
At the opportunity, the pain having her releasing the bite, his lips came down hard on hers and his tongue explored her mouth, tasting her and his blood on her lips before his fingers found her hair and yanked, exposing her throat.
He bit down with intentional force, causing her to groan aloud in pain. The sound electrified him and he pressed against her, rolling his hips against her to make her moan quietly.
She traced her nails down under the back of his shirt, the lethality of those steely nails enough to arouse him to a whole new height, a threat of danger.
She ached for him, her entire body screaming for him to take her there violently against the wall and his responded in kind.
A noise above them had them both freezing in place, panting hard and clutched so closely together they could be one being.
He let her slide to the ground, licking away the last traces of blood and smiled sheepishly, knowing they both needed to be more careful. Their becoming sexually involved was not what that world needed, not what would lead to its survival.
Their ever coming together would lead to the end of that world and they both knew it. His lust triggered her need for blood and that would lead to thousands dying. Her lust triggered his bloodlust and more would die, hundreds of thousands would be killed within a matter of months, all because they had given in to their need.
She gripped his hair and forced him to her, kissing him hard and passionately before finally drawing away and heading upstairs, leaving him panting and erect, his burning eyes lingering on her as she fled.
***
She hadn't intended for things to turn out that way, but she had given in to her desire for blood and affection and had stepped too close to the edge with the vampire king.
Running her fingers through her hair, she flushed as men turned to look at her, their sensing her carnal needs drawing far too much attention to her.
She found herself heading back in the direction of her rooms near Alaric's and she tilted her head at the open door, stepping inside to find Drizdan and Izziah standing there, arguing.
"What are you doing in my room?" she demanded, both men looking at her and then breathing in sharply.
Narrowing her eyes at them, Izziah seemed to flush while Drizdan's focused sharpened on her and he smiled. It wasn't a nice smile, but rather one having terrible thoughts.
"I've come to collect my wife," Drizdan said, approaching her.
"I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but…" she lifted her hand and his eyes focused on the shadow marking around her left hand.
His cheeks flushed with anger.
"What does that mean?" he snarled and she turned away from his anger, crossing the room to collect her belongings.
"I'm only married to you in Winter. I'm not in Winter right now, I am married to Epharis here," she sounded angry about both of them. "Isn't magic fun?"
He gripped her bag and threw it, slamming her back against the wall with his teeth bared.
"I went through a lot to get my hands on you… I am not giving you back to the lich," his face was inches from hers, his fingers leaving bruises on her arms.
"Then you should have made a better deal with Tatialia. If you can't handle the Fae, get out of Faerie," she snapped, pushing him off her.
He slapped her and her cheek burned, blood pouring at the cut his metal glove left on her cheek.
"Drizdan!" Izziah said, outraged at his brother's actions.
"Get out," Drizdan said to his brother. "If you don't want to see how I handle my wife, you should leave now."
Izziah watched as he gripped her hair and drove his fist into her stomach, doubling her over before he fled, closing the door behind him.
"I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation," he said as he began dragging her in the direction of the bedroom. She gritted her teeth and dug in her heels, refusing to let him touch her.
"You belong to me," he snarled, hitting her a third time and forcing her through the door. She could feel her hair tearing, parting from her scalp but still she resisted.
Growling, she shifted her feet and drove her fist up into his kidney.
He let go of her immediately and she darted back. He looked absolutely livid.
"Get on the bed or I will make you," he said slowly but she shook her head, her posture defensive.
She didn't expect him to draw a sword, the sight of it making her pause and then prepare herself for pain.
He came at her, scoring on her upper arm while she scored a hard kick to his ribcage and sending him flying. Turning for the door, she gripped the handle and then yelped, looking down to see that the handle had dark grey metal on it.
Looking down at the ground, she saw the drips and realised it was a very new addition, leaving her unable to open the door easily. He had trapped her in there.
She turned as he got up, burning with anger and he grinned.
"You smell good Etani. Been getting frisky with the vampire?" he was leering, but she knew he was furious at the mere thought of her either getting worked up over a vampire, or that a vampire would dare touch her.
"Jealous I'm not getting worked up over you?" she taunted, knowing better but she hated him and it made her feel better.
He glared at her and she knew that if he got his hands on her, she was going to suffer dearly for her smart mouth.
He came at her and they broke apart quickly, a deep cut in her stomach and she thought she might have broken one of his ribs. His sword had greater range, but if he wasn't careful she could get a hit in on him.
"Last chance, bitch," he snarled. She shook her head and he came for her again. He didn't try and cut her, didn't try and slash at her. Instead the back of his hand struck her cheek and then his sword drove straight through her middle.
She cried out, his grin a feral mask of triumph as she dropped to her knees and he slid the sword free of her.
"Exactly where you belong," he said, looking down at her.
Wrapping one arm around her, he pulled her to the bed and threw her onto it, her fingers going to the wound to try and stem the bleeding but he knocked her hands away and used the cut in her vest to rip it open, leaving her exposed.
She didn't care about his greedy stare down on her chest, she was too busy pressing against the wound to try and stem the bleeding.
"If you try and struggle I will stab you again," he warned, motioning to the sword at her side as he straightened and untied her pants, roughly pulling them down along with her undergarments.
Leaning down, he kissed her inner thigh before biting her painfully, blood welling and he lapped at it before he started up her body, leaving his mark on her flesh for Epharis.