11
We lay there together, silent. Time passed. Her unreal servants brought in a tray of food. I, however, needed other nourishment.
I sat up, covering myself again, looking down at her welted n***d skin. “Are you all right?”
She looked up and gave me a nervous smile. “Are you?”
“I am.”
She tucked her head back down, bringing one hand to her chin. From her position on the bed, she could see the desk and candle. “It worked, didn’t it.”
“It did.”
“What now? Or dare I ask?”
“More lessons – later.” I moved to stand beside the bed. “I need to go back out to check on the councilman’s plans – and I need your blood.”
Ilylle nodded, without raising her head. Instead she offered me a hand.
I took it like I was pulling her to dance, then swung it wide. Hands and wrists were no good if one wa
