Coldbloods (Hotbloods #2)

Again, Navan shook his head. “I don’t think her weak metabolism could take such rich flavor, Your Highness.”

I struggled not to turn to him to ask if it was okay to try. On a planet like Vysanthe, where everyone drank blood, I was going to have to eat at some point. My stomach was already rumbling, the sight of the blue fruit making my mouth water. Back at the Asterope, we still had the sachets of astronaut food, provided the guards hadn’t removed it, but I had no idea how far the Asterope was from here.

“She looks eager, does she not?” Queen Gianne remarked, coming up to me, offering the blue fruit. “Go on, have a taste.”

I didn’t feel as though I could say no. Navan might get away with refusing an offer from the queen, but an underling like me certainly couldn’t. I took the fruit from her, eyeing it closely. It looked like a small apple, though the skin was dappled with light and dark blue.

“Bite it,” Queen Gianne said.

For a moment, I felt like Snow White holding the poison apple in her hands. I could feel the burning glare of Navan beside me, but I didn’t dare look at him. Keeping my gaze low, I bit into the fruit, feeling the juice run down my chin. Flavor burst into my mouth, awakening every sense like a firecracker going off in my head. It was the most delicious thing I had ever tasted, half sweet, half sour, the flavor vaguely similar to cream soda.

I went to take another bite, but the queen knocked it out of my hand. The barely eaten fruit rolled away across the polished flagstones, leaving a trail of blue juice on the ground.

“Enough now,” she purred. “A taste is enough, for the likes of you.”

“You are too kind, Your Highness,” I whispered, though my insides were twisted with anger and embarrassment.

She sneered. “You boys love your meek little creatures, don’t you? A pathetic specimen that won’t fight back. Shame you miss out on the fire of a real, strong female,” she mused, turning her gaze back to Navan. “And how are we this morning, Navan? I trust you slept well? It must feel good to be back on home turf again?”

“Oh, it’s always good to be home,” Navan lied. “And the room you provided was more than generous, Your Highness. I must thank you for your excellent hospitality.”

“Glad to hear it—it’s a pleasure to have my finest subjects back in the fold,” she said, turning back to the ambrosia tree. “Oh, and you’ll be pleased to know that your comrades have proven themselves to be honest, worthy citizens…” She flashed Navan a look over her shoulder. “I have released them.”

When the queen turned her back again, I looked at Navan, and together, we breathed a sigh of relief. Our team was safe, free to meet up with us in Vysanthe, so we could get this mission over and done with. The pod with my blood in it was perpetually making its way toward Vysanthe—a ticking time bomb looming above us. If we were quick, there was still more than enough time to intercept it.

“Your benevolence knows no bounds, Your Highness,” Navan said.

“I am always willing to forgive, when the mood takes me,” Queen Gianne remarked. “Your friends were fortunate that I was feeling generous. I think, perhaps, the sight of the fabled Navan Idrax had something to do with it.” She winked, turning my stomach.

Navan smiled tightly. “You are too kind, Your Highness.”

“Nonsense! Your father has been my most trusted advisor for as long as I can remember, and that deserves a slice of magnanimity,” she replied, flicking her wrist. “The wanderer has returned. Your father is very pleased to have you back—I think he has grand ideas in store for you, Navan.” She chuckled, flashing him a knowing look that only served to confuse the hell out of me. Did she know something I didn’t?

Navan sighed. “You are all too kind, Your Highness,” he repeated, somewhat emptily.

“Indeed! So kind that I am throwing a great celebration in your honor tomorrow,” she stated, and Navan’s face fell. “It shall be a celebration of lost souls returning to the light. A salutation to my position as queen, and how I shall be the one to bring salvation to the rebels, returning them to my queendom.”

Navan grimaced, though he was careful not to let Queen Gianne see. “I look forward to it, Your Highness. Might I be permitted to bring my slave along with me?” he asked, not looking at me.

A sour look crossed the queen’s face. “If you must, though she won’t sit at the table with the rest of us. She can stand and beg for scraps, like the bottom-feeder she is.”

I wanted to smack the self-righteous look off Queen Gianne’s face, but I held myself together, keeping my chin to my chest, my cheeks flushing red with fury. I would not rise to her taunts. Not here, not with so much at stake.

Navan nodded. “Of course, Your Highness.”

“In the meantime, I’m sure you’re itching to get back to your family in Plentha,” Queen Gianne said. “I’ve had a Snapper brought around to the front of the gardens, so you may travel across Vysanthe at your leisure, reminding yourself of its beauty. Though, I should warn you not to stray too far. It should be waiting in the courtyard as you exit.”

Returning to her task of picking the blue ambrosia fruit, she made it clear the conversation was over. Navan and I turned away from her and walked out of the strange cathedral-like garden, through the marble cloisters, and back into the stark courtyard.

There, sitting on the flagstones, was a small silver ship. It looked compact, big enough to fit two comfortably, with metal panels that curved over the front and a beacon flashing at the top, just over the windscreen. It reminded me of a deep-sea lantern-fish, the panels sharpening to points across the front screen and resembling biting jaws.

“This is a ‘Snapper’?” I asked Navan, who seemed calmer now that we were away from the queen.

He nodded. “See those teeth? They give it the nickname,” he explained. “They serve a purpose, though. Air flows up through the curved teeth, creating a barrier that keeps the rain off the windscreen. We get a lot of rain here; you’ll probably see for yourself, soon enough.”

Taking my hand in his, he led me to the back door of the Snapper and pulled a lever that opened a narrow door. As I stepped inside, I saw that the vessel was just one slightly oval pod, with two seats at the front, next to the command module.

Sitting down in the one that didn’t have a load of buttons and levers in front of it, I let Navan take the pilot’s seat. With the flick of a switch, he brought the Snapper to life, the engine thrumming softly. A look of excitement flickered across his face—an expression I hadn’t expected to see.

With a grin, he turned to me. “Allow me to show you the sights, m’lady.”





Chapter Twenty