Read Online Bloodline by Barbara Elsborg - Free Book Online

or did anything. If he could talk, he’d tell them about the Kewen and his suspicion that the king might be only half-faerie. The problem with the tattoo was enough evidence to convince them.
    But he couldn’t even make a squeak.
    He indicated he wanted to write and didn’t think they’d taken any notice until Ryn stopped and, after a quick glance around, produced paper and pen from thin air. Micah’s hand shook, but that wasn’t the reason he scribbled illegibly. He tried again and silently groaned in frustration. Whatever the spell was, it stopped all communication.
    “Nothing I can do,” Ryn whispered in his ear. He actually sounded sorry.
    “We’ll take him from here,” said a faerie guard, and Ryn stepped away.
    Micah was dragged into the dungeon and shoved in a cell with the vampire.
    “Here’s your dinner,” one the guards said and laughed.
    “I haven’t had breakfast yet,” the vampire shouted.
    Micah sprawled on the floor facing the bars. A jug of water and a plate of bread and cheese were pushed in next to him before the door closed. The faeries left.
    The vamp crouched at his side. “Shit. What has that wanker done to you? That was rhetorical, though you can’t answer anyway, can you?”
    Micah briefly attempted to resist when Inigo carefully scooped him into his arms.
    “It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.”
    The vamp laid him on the bed and brushed his hair from his eyes. As Micah looked at him, his lungs locked. Not the time, nor the place, nor the right species, but he felt the pull and knew Inigo felt it too. The vampire gently raised Micah’s head and tipped the jug so he could drink. He gulped at the water, most of which dribbled down his chest.
    “Want me to try and take the iron off?” Inigo asked.
    He nodded but doubted it could happen.
    The vamp looked as surprised as Micah felt when the bands broke. He tossed everything into another cell, sat at the end of the bed, and sprang up again.
    “Want something to eat?”
    The heaviness in his head was gone, but Micah still struggled to sit. The vamp shot to the plate, brought it back, and helped him move into a sitting position.
    “You ought to eat something if you can.”
    Micah picked up the cheese and chewed. He didn’t take his eyes off the vampire, who grew more and more agitated. He kept getting up, pacing, then sitting down again, and his mouth was pressed tightly shut. Micah was slow to get it. My blood. Fuck . He was covered with the stuff, more cuts and grazes than he could count, some of them still bleeding.
    “Were you born unable to speak?” Inigo asked as he dropped onto the bed.
    He shook his head.
    “The king took your voice?”
    He nodded.
    “Bastard. Something you did?”
    He shook his head.
    “Something you know?”
    Micah nodded.
    Inigo lurched to his feet again, went to stand as far away from Micah as he could, and then sprang back from the bars. Micah frowned as the vampire ran his hand down the metal and laughed.
    “They told me they were laced with silver, but if that were the case, I wouldn’t be able to touch them unless…” He yanked at the lock, but it didn’t break; then he turned to face Micah. “Oh hell, you’re tempting.” The vamp closed his eyes and faced the other way. “You smell so good. I didn’t think I was hungry, but now I’m starving. They’ve done this deliberately, haven’t they? Stuck us together.”
    He swiveled again, and his eyes were black. “If I could lick you, maybe that would be enough.” He gave a little grin. “The upside is that my saliva might heal you. Not that I’ve ever licked a whole faerie before, but it could work. You want to get out of here, right? We could work together.”
    Micah put the cheese down. He wasn’t sure how much help a vampire could be in Faerieland, but Inigo had a kind, if currently anxious face. Not all vamps were shits. Just some of them. He held out his arm, wiped his finger along a bloody cut, and held it out.

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