Read Forbidden Forest (The Legends of Regia) Online
Authors: Tenaya Jayne
Forbidden Forest (The Legends of Regia) (31 page)
“Nettie,” his voice sounded strained. “Nettie, wake up.”
The smell of blood woke her more efficiently than his shaking her. Philippe’s face was close to hers when she opened her eyes, his beard tickling her neck. He had come back. Either that or she was dreaming. He looked as though he had been in a fight. There was a cut on his forehead and scratches on his cheek.
“So,” she said weakly as he picked her up off the floor. “You didn’t forget me after all.”
“No, I was…” he looked at her sharply, his eyebrows drawn down as her hand gently cupped his cheek. His eyes searched her face for a moment before a small smile pulled into one side of his mouth.
“I have wondered,” he said before hoisting her up and crushing her mouth in a harsh kiss.
Netriet felt smothered under his ardor as he dumped her on the bed.
“Wait,” she said desperately as he pulled his cloak from his shoulders and dropped it to the floor.
“What?”
She held up her wrist. “Please take it off.”
He narrowed his eyes at her for a second then shrugged and went to get the key across the room. Her arm was freed and he again smothered her. She let her muscles go lax and she lay there like a corpse. He noticed soon enough.
“What’s wrong with you?” he demanded.
“I’m just so weak. I haven’t eaten in days and days. I’m sorry. I
really
want to participate.”
He smiled broadly and pulled his shirt over his head. His torso was covered in deep purple bruises.
“What happened to you?” she asked.
“Here,” he said offering her his forearm.
She sat up a little and sank her teeth deep into his flesh. This was the opportunity she had been waiting for. She pulled as hard as she could on his veins.
“My position was challenged,” he explained. “I had to fight two contenders. They’re both dead now. The army is marching to Kyhael. I will join them tomorrow, but I had to come back to tie up a few loose ends. I’ve got to get the…the…uh…”
It was starting to work. Netriet pulled harder and harder. She had never taken this much blood at one time from anyone. She looked up at his face. His eyes were getting glassy. She continued to drain him.
“Those idiots keep using the wrong words. I swear it didn’t take me half this time to become…become fluent in French. I don’t think they…um…understand why I made them…I mean…aren’t you done yet?”
He was on the brink. She felt flooded but with two more deep pulls, he would be right where she wanted him. He stroked the back of her head and then staggered to the side, pulling his arm from her mouth. She sat upright, her strength returned, but she felt nauseated. He looked at her confusedly, his eyes dilated.
“Come here. Lie down. You need to rest,” she said.
He obeyed her instantly. “Yes. I’m so tired.”
Philippe lay down next to her, all his carnal intentions had vanished, and he closed his eyes. She smiled to herself. He’d been so arrogant before that if she bit him, she’d have no persuasion over him. What a crock. She sat still for a moment. There were numbers of things she could do to kill him, but she wanted to make sure that when he was found, his death would be one of humiliating circumstances. A new werewolf leader would emerge but with Philippe dead, there would be discord. The new leader would need time to establish his authority and make changes to the whole community. The future of Regia lay in her hands, well, her hand.
She watched his chest rise and fall and considered the matter carefully. The vampires would write songs in her honor. Oh, that would just burn the queen’s ass. No one even knew she was still alive and she was about to hand her race the war.
Over the next hour, Netriet monitored Philippe’s vital signs. She continued to take blood from him to keep him right on that dangerous edge. Everything still seemed quiet and empty in the mountain, but she locked the heavy doors and slid a long sword through the handles just in case. She kept the set up simple. She unhooked the chain that had held her captive all this time from the wall and dragged it out onto the balcony. It would be an adequate trip line.
Netriet gazed into the night sky and out over the land. She could see Halussis like a speck in the distance.
Home
, she thought.
Goodbye
. Positioning herself at the very edge of the balcony, the wind and gravity attempted to pull her over the side. Netriet braced her arm on the railing. Her muscles shook with the strain every time the wind gusted. She began to whisper to him.
“Philippe,” her voice came drifting into his dreams. “Wake up, Philippe.”
He sat up and looked around for her in the darkness.
“Come to me, Philippe. Come…”
Philippe stood up, his body propelled haphazardly towards Netriet.
“Hurry!” she ordered.
Netriet braced herself as his bulk moved towards her. Would the chain hold? She held her breath. His foot caught the chain. He tripped, his arms flailing. He crashed into her, grabbing her, taking her with him over the edge. Philippe held her tightly against his chest as they fell to their deaths.
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