Freed (Vampire King Book 3) by Kenya Wright Page A

option,” Brie added. “One that may be harder to conceive, but
true.”
    “What’s
that?” I raised my eyebrows.
    “What
if she’s talking to him through their mind-to-mind connection? The one that he
surely would’ve created through the blood…?”
    “You’re
forgetting that she died.” I urged the horse to go faster. The distance between
the two mage and us quickly closed. We would be there in a minute. “When you
died, our bond severed. That is the same thing that would’ve happened to them.
If something is talking back to him then it’s—”
    “Evil.”
    “Yes.”
A throb emerged around my temple as a headache dawned. I’d already been
stressed about the upcoming fight with the Quiet King, dealing with the mages
to gain their support, and trying my best not to harm my queen. The one constant
normalcy was Ian. When I was in doubt about being a vampire king, I knew I
could seek his help. If it hadn’t been for Ian, Brie would’ve never entered
that wagon this morning and tamed me.
    Yet he has been acting out of
character. Ian’s hand between Brie’s legs played in
my head. A growl broke through my throat. I
don’t like that he took advantage of me when I was coming inside of her. I’ll
have to watch him.
    “What’s
wrong?” Brie lifted her head from my back.
    “I
didn’t like Ian’s hands between your thighs.”
    She
stiffened. “Let’s worry about all of the other hundred things that we need to
deal with and forget about that.”
    “Did
you feel disrespected?”
    An
exasperated breath escaped her lips. “No…I know I should have, but…no.”
    I
gripped the reins of my horse tighter. “Did you like his fingers there?”
    “This
is a dangerous conversation.”
    “Yes,
it is.”
    “Then
let’s stop talking about it.”
    We
approached the two mage. I stopped in front of them. Brie hopped off as if
trying to escape further conversation on that subject.
    You’re safe for now, but at dawn
we’ll discuss this more.
    Ian’s
human servant rode the wagon my way and then stopped it by my horse. The copper
door opened. Ian stepped out with a scowl on his face as he brushed his fingers
through his hair. I didn’t think he’d slept much during the day. Bags lounged
under his eyes. Red tinted the whites of his eyes.
    He
headed my way with a grumble ripping from his chest. “What are you looking at, Samuel?”
    “How’s
your queen?”
    “Chatty.”
He passed me and went to Brie as she shook the tall mage’s hands. I laughed,
jumped off the horse, and followed him. Ian twisted toward Tote and whispered
something in his ear. Tote’s face faltered for a second and then he nodded,
rushed to Ian’s wagon, climbed in, and came back out with a tiny wagon three
feet high with two wheels on the side.
    “What’s
in that little wagon?” I raised my eyebrows.
    “Just
focus on not pissing off the mages.” He left with Tote pushing the wagon behind
him.
    When
I approached Brie, she grabbed my hand and held it. “Samuel, this is Yen and Saykoy.
They said that they’ll be taking us into their territory."
    Saykoy
stepped in front of me. Her nostrils flared as she inhaled. “You smell lovely,
even though you’re a child of rape.”
    “Excuse
me?”
    “They
believe Ambi raped Ressi to make vampires.” Ian held out his hand to her and
they shook. “Just go with it, Samuel.”
    “Come
with me, kings.” Saykoy hooked her arms on each of ours, so that Ian was on her
right and I on her left. “Yen will guide your queen. Your servants and warriors
can follow, but make sure they remain several feet behind me.”
    “I’ve
already instructed our people to keep a distance of five feet from all the
tribal chiefs and to kneel when spoken to,” Ian said.
    Saykoy
paused, forcing us to cease walking with her. “You know our way?”
    “Yes.”
Ian nodded.
    “I
like you already.”
    Something
seeped inside my skin. It was hard like tiny little pebbles. I yanked my arm
away from her. “What was