Taken by a Vampire (Vampire Queen) - By Joey W. Hill Page 0,213

layers of linens, and squeezed.

“The Council wants to ask Alanna some questions.” He directed the comment to Lord Brian, who stood back from the bed, allowing them access to her. “When will she be up to a visit from them?”

Horror flooded her. She shook her head, finding her hand fastened on Niall’s shirtfront. “No . . . Council doesn’t attend me . . . like this. I . . . get dressed. Properly. Proper audience. Go to them.”

“Muirnín, you’re weak as a newborn. Ye cannae even stand yet.”

Niall’s hand covered hers. That touch felt so good tears welled up in her eyes, despite the fact her mind was on the Council’s request. He patted them away with a handkerchief, telling her it was not the first time tears had spontaneously generated.

She looked toward Evan in mute appeal. The vampire studied her, then gave a slight nod. “Jacob, would they permit an audience with my serv—Alanna, at the midnight break? We can prepare and carry her there. She feels it isn’t befitting for the Council to come to the bedside of a servant.”

“The Council tends to make their own decisions about what befits them.” Jacob’s tone held a mild reproof, though he nodded in deference to Evan. “But I’ll advise my lady that she might be more coherent and prepared for their questions if she came to them in the appropriate setting. I’ll suggest tomorrow evening, the dinner hour, because they have plenty to keep them busy tonight.”

He gave Alanna a pointed look, then glanced at Evan once more. “If she can’t manage it then, Lady Lyssa has no problem coming to her. Don’t let her overdo.”

“We’ll make certain o’ it,” Niall said. “No matter whose the Council thinks she is.”

“Niall.” Evan shot him a warning glance.

“We’ll see you then.” Giving Alanna a warm nod, Jacob turned, putting a hand on Niall’s shoulder. No words were exchanged, but Alanna fathomed both compassion and warning in Jacob’s face. Niall’s jaw tightened, but he gave the other man a slight nod. With a cordial glance toward Brian and Evan, the queen’s servant left.

Evan shook his head, touched Alanna’s face. She leaned into it like the touch of sunlight, a trembling breath leaving her. More tears. It was ridiculous, but she couldn’t stop them. She hoped she had better control of far more embarrassing bodily functions. His gray eyes softened on her, and his voice was thicker than usual. “For as docile as you appear, you’re as stubborn as he is.”

Her attention went to the Scot, who was gazing at her with such steady intensity. Her hand was still latched in his shirtfront. When he touched her head, she made another soft sound, following his touch with shaking fingers to her scalp.

“The treatment to sever your marks was a poison,” Evan explained. “When your hair became so thin it was obvious you were going to lose all of it, I had them shave it off, so it would grow back more evenly when the time came.”

If it had come. She was realizing how close a thing it had all been. “Stephen . . .”

“He’s dead. May the devil enjoy him.” Niall bent, brushed his lips over her skull. The nerve endings were so sensitive, she shivered, particularly when his fingers trailed down the back, over the occipital bone. “You’re free of him.”

“But not of . . . you two?” She tried for a smile, and God in heaven, even the strain of that caused tears. But this time, it wasn’t a separate, merely physical reaction. Two sets of arms closed around her, the men shifting onto the bed to hold her as she cried. Her head ended up on Niall’s shoulder, her hand clutching Evan’s thigh, both men soothing her. It was nerves, and so many other things. As they rocked her between them, she noticed Niall gripping Evan’s biceps where their arms overlapped on her back.

The Council was in charge of her fate. Though she hoped with all her heart and soul they would let her stay with Niall and Evan, she was too politically aware to think that it was likely. Unless no one more highly ranked than Evan wanted her.

No matter how wrong it was, she hoped the entire vampire world shunned her.

“Dawn’s coming,” Niall mentioned after a weighted moment. “You need to go to ground. Debra will help me get her bathed and ready.”

Evan nodded. When he rose, she realized she’d never seen a vampire look exhausted, depleted, but he