to win. The stab wound the Paladin inflicted was still unhealed internally even though the skin had knitted together superficially.
“Yes, Alend asked me to stay behind for a bit more…private discussion.”
Uh oh. Not so smart, after all. Pity her mischievousness outweighed her sense of self-preservation.
“Private, you say?”
Jade had met a few sorceresses in her time. Witches, if one wanted to use a more pedantic term. They were quite powerful in their own right, but their Gift was never predictable. For that reason, and many others, they were dangerous and not to be underestimated. Spells and curses could last forever.
If the raised hairs on Jade’s nape was any indication, Eveline possessed the Gift. Trust Ramses to walk on the wild side. It took iron-clad balls to consort with witches, never mind Mate one.
“Not to worry, Pure One,” Jade stopped teasing to placate in a serious, no-nonsense tone, “we merely chatted in his throne room where anyone could see.”
“A lot goes on in his throne room,” the Seer said cryptically, her eyes glinting rather frighteningly, not at all appeased by this information.
Jade realized that she’d miscalculated; she should never have embarked on this little game. Now she set about putting the irascible Seer at ease in earnest.
“Eveline,” Jade spoke her name firmly, trying to shake the green-eyed monster loose of her.
“Nothing happened. We debated possible scenarios if our forces were to forge a formal alliance. Boring vampire politics, that was all. We didn’t even touch hands. Everything was tucked away and buttoned up. The male is indisputably yours, you know. You should never doubt him.”
Eveline blinked again. The red haze of violence seemed to clear from her eyes.
“I don’t doubt him,” she said readily. “It’s all the other people I have to watch out for. They all want a piece of him.”
“I don’t,” Jade assured her. “I have all the man I need.”
Eveline sighed, finally calm again.
“I know. I see it whenever you and Seth are together. I know. It’s not every day the most powerful vampire queen in the world gives up her throne to be with the male she loves. Do you ever regret it?”
Jade could see the real question in the other woman’s eyes. She wondered whether Ramses would ever regret Mating her. Whether being with a Pure One would make his life so much more difficult, put him in more dangerous and precarious situations.
“I don’t,” Jade answered with absolute conviction. “It might surprise you to know this, but I never wanted to be queen. I simply wanted to be independently powerful, to not have to rely on any man.”
“But you rely on Seth, don’t you?”
“Yes. But it is by my own choice. We take care of each other. We are strong for each other. It is an equal partnership. And I am beyond happy to be his.”
Eveline nodded, the air finally clearing between them.
“Me too. I feel the same way about Ramses. His love brings out my best self. I feel…I don’t know…I feel so much more centered, so much more powerful when I’m with him. There’s an energy between us that’s—”
“Addictive.”
“Undeniable.”
“All-encompassing.”
“Crazy intense.”
The two women shared equally satisfied, beatific grins.
After a few beats of comfortable silence, Eveline said, “So you discussed politics. Did Ramses come to a decision?”
Jade gave a hesitant nod.
“On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“That I take the position of Viceroy at his side.”
Eveline’s eyebrows elevated.
“Well, not precisely at his side. More metaphorically. He wants me to take possession of one of the vampire hives that he recently folded under his wing, so to speak. Apparently, after a failed Challenge for the throne, civil unrest ensued. The queen is dead, and so is her second. Ramses wants me to rule again. This time, over one of the hives in his alliance.”
Eveline blinked that wide-eyed, baby-bird blink, mulling over this information.
“I think that’s a great idea,” she finally said. “What do you think? Have you told Seth yet?”
Jade shook her head.
“Not yet. I am biding my time. The last time I ruled a hive, he hadn’t been…my equal. I hurt him gravely with my selfishness.”
“But not this time,” Eveline stately confidently, not asking a question.
“No, not this time. I would rule with him by my side. As my Blooded Mate. It won’t be easy by any stretch of the imagination. I would need to establish authority quickly and comprehensively. There will likely be bloodshed, the overt sort of violence and the subversive kind. I will need to consult with both Ramses and Sophia to borrow, perhaps for an extended