Page 93 of Ruthless Royals

My hands trembled as I climbed the marble steps and paused before the magnificent thrones, where my mom and dad once sat. My gaze swept across the room of vampires, and the people of Sanmorte stood together in long red robes.

The court bowed, and a hush fell over the room as Azia’s wise eyes met mine. He smiled, holding a velvet cushion with a crown. Brilliant rays of light reflected off each precious stone, and he placed it on my head. The crown was an unfamiliar weight, heavy yet manageable as I let is sit, realizing it had been worn by my grandfather, father, and Salenia.

The ancient words of power echoed through the chamber, crowning me queen, anointed by the gods.

I watched as Azia placed a second crown on Sebastian’s head, and we both stood. Everyone in the room bowed, and the power of the throne surged through me. By the door, I imagined my mom and dad watching me, both finally at peace, pride in their features. Draven too. While they weren’t with me anymore, I could still feel them.

***

The sun set over the mountains, and I pressed my fingers against the cold glass, looking out at the breathtaking landscape. Tomorrow, I would sign a new law, banning mortal trafficking. It was about time, and while there wasn’t much we could do to repay the families of those who’d been killed here, it was a start.

Many of the nobles disagreed with the law, but they didn’t push us, not with the threat of war against us if things didn’t change here. The treaties would keep us safe, and we still had volunteers, those who wanted to come and give their blood. “We’ll have to create new roles,” I said quickly, a thousand thoughts tumbling through my mind as I thought about the politics of everything we were trying to change. “People who can monitor the blood dens, and I want them redecorated.”

Sebastian came up behind me, wrapping his hands around my waist. “We will, my love, but we must have patience. We can’t change everything in a day.”

“I know.” I swallowed thickly, my heart racing as I stared out into the darkness. “I’m going to send a letter to the boy's family, the one I…”

“That wasn’t your fault,” he reiterated. “I suggest you mark him down as killed by the aniccipere.”

I nodded slowly. If anyone thought I had killed a mortal, the royal families in the other kingdoms would not trust me as much. We’d formed a register of the dead, finding the names of who we could from the Blood Knight’s records. Still, so many were missing.

“At least they’ll know he’s dead.” I pressed my lips tightly, then closed my eyes. It wasn’t enough, but now they could be certain of the boy's fate and hold some kind of funeral, even if it was without a body.

“You have to forgive yourself.”

“I can’t,” I whispered. “I know I didn’t have a choice, but his blood is still on my hands. I use all of those feelings I have to keep me going, so I can create as much good out of all of this as I can.”

“I know.” He whispered a breath against my ear. “Can we stop with the politics now? Just for the rest of the night. I’ve missed you.”

I smirked as Sebastian lowered me onto the bed. “We have a lot of work to do,” I pointed out, but didn’t fight him. “Plus, Anna has made blood soup, something like that. She’ll be expecting us.”

He chuckled, and I smiled, seeing the ease on his features. “We’ll have the weird soup later, but first,” he said, his fingers untying the corset of my dress, then pulled it off. “I’m hungry for something else.”

His lips grazed my collarbone as he moved them lower. “We really should go,” I teased, but gripped his shoulders anyway, surrendering to his touches. With all the pressure, one of my only respites was our quiet moments together.

He seemed to savor every lick, torturing my nipples with his tongue, then grazing his fangas against the hardened peak.

“My beautiful queen,” he whispered against my skin, sending shivers rippling through me.

“My king,” I said, licking my lips, and he let out a moan of approval.

He explored my body with his fingers, featherlight touches caressing my curves. He brushed his hand over my panties, my back arching as he grazed my inner thigh.

His hot tongue flicked a nipple, jolting my hips upward, his fingers sliding under my panties.

“I want to taste you,” he growled against my skin, then dragged his mouth from my breasts to the apex of my stomach, leaving a trail of goosebumps. He ripped my panties down with his teeth, before nestling himself between my legs. I moaned as his hot breath hit my folds.

He pressed his lips against my clit, carefully sucking and flicking his tongue. I grasped the sheets tighter with each swirl before he pushed his tongue inside me and tickled the edges of my walls.

My entire body jolted as a wave of pleasure rippled through me and down my legs, into my toes. I opened my eyes, thrusting myself harder against him. I threw back my head and let out a loud moan as my orgasm sent shock waves through me. He dragged his tongue up to my clit, ebbing out the last surges of pleasure, then pulled back, panting.

“Lift your ass,” he said breathlessly, then flipped me onto my front. My fangs elongated as he looked at me, the sharp edges grazing my bottom lip. His fingers traced the curves of my buttocks, his other hand threading through my hair.

His erection pressed against my ass, and he let out of a groan if approval.

My hips arched towards him, a silent plea for more. He angled my body, then slid his length between my legs, teasing me with the tip. I gasped as his hands clamped my sides, and he pushed himself deeper and deeper into me. Each thrust of his body pushed me deeper into the sheets, as I grasped them between my fingers, his hands squeezing my hips. Guttural groans escaped his lips as each pulse sent me higher, heat emanating from him.

“Fuck Olivia!” He yelled as a world-shattering climax reached through our bond, tipping me into my own. Pillows tumbling from the bed onto the floor, the headboard pounding the wall. An abrupt rush of cum spilled inside of me, as his groin quaked against my ass, pulling me tightly against him. His fingers dug into my skin as quick grunts left his mouth, sweat beading off my body.

I turned onto my back, gazing up, panting. “Now there are so few threats, how will we get anything done?” I teased, exhaustion sweeping over me.

He laid next to me, his arms pulling me against him. “I have no idea,” he replied, a seriousness in his tone.

The silence in the room matched the peace in my mind as I closed my eyes, knowing I’d apologize to Anna for missing out on dinner, as well as Erianna, Zach, Azia, Adrian, Niall, and Elizabeth. Our group had grown a lot in the past month.

A satisfied smile curved my lips and nestled into Sebastian, finally feeling a genuine sense of belonging.

The End