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Igrith whimpered as if she suffered the same affliction. Her chest heaved, her soft breasts brushing the backs of my hands.

Somewhere in my desire-addled mind, a voice of reason urged me to stop. If I drank too much, I could easily tip from feeding to bloodlust. Vampires who succumbed to that frenzy usually killed their prey.

But she tasted so good—and the desire squirming through me refused to be quieted. My breasts felt hot and swollen. More heat built between my legs. Moisture trickled from my sex, teasing my oversensitive flesh and making me whimper and roll my hips.

Igrith tipped her head back and cried out.

Had she…come? The thought was a bolt of clarity that finally pierced the lust clouding my mind.

With supreme effort, I pulled my fangs from her wrist and sealed the wound with clumsy, blood-drunk movements. I thrust her arm from me like it was on fire. Then I turned and stumbled away.

She caught my elbow and forced me back around. “You stopped,” she said, panting like she couldn’t catch her breath.

“I’m sorry.” I tugged from her grip. The haze of lust lifted, and embarrassment rushed in, leaving me shaky and flushed. “I can’t help it.”

Her chest rose and fell. “I don’t want you to,” she said fiercely. Then she grabbed my face in both hands and kissed me.

For a moment, I was too shocked to move. I stood rooted to the floor, my mouth opening on a stunned gasp.

She pressed her advantage, stroking her tongue boldly along mine. Like her body, her lips were soft. So much smaller than Laurent’s or Varick’s. While I was absorbing this, she ran her hand down my waist to my ass.

I let out a surprised squeak and pulled my head back. “Igrith—”

“Hush,” she said, her mouth on mine before I could speak again. She kissed me as she slid her other hand down to my waist. She kept going, palming my ass with both hands and yanking my hips into hers. My desire hadn’t ebbed completely, and the contact nudged the apex of her thighs against my own. Heat flared, pulling a moan from deep in my throat. I was drenched between my legs. High on her succulent, powerful blood.

And this could not happen.

I broke off the kiss. “Igrith, please.”

She tangled her hand in my hair and pulled my head back. My vision filled with narrowed hazel eyes and a pert nose dusted with freckles. Her free hand brushed my breast, making shivers course over my skin.

“Do you like that?” she murmured, finding my nipple. She plucked at the taut peak through my gown.

“I can’t,” I moaned. I couldn’t give in to this.

“Why not?” She tugged harder on my hair, forcing my head back. She leaned in and brushed her lips over the hollow of my throat.

“I—” My breath hitched at her touch. “I’m wed,” I said hoarsely, my eyes threatening to slide shut. Vaguely, I knew I should stop this. Push her away and run from the stable. But I couldn’t muster the resolve. Not with her wild, magic-laced blood in my veins. Not with the way she was touching me. She kneaded my breast, making me whimper and bite my lip. Her taste lingered on my tongue. Her touch was lighter than Laurent’s. Certainly lighter than Varick’s. But she knew what she was doing. It was like she could read my mind as she cupped my breast, her thumb unerringly finding my nipple.

“You’re wed to a man who shares a bed with another man,” she said in her husky voice. “All of Ter Isir knows it.” She flicked my nipple, dragging another breathy moan from me. “Rumors have flown from Nor Doru. People whisper that the priest-king beds his general and his wife at the same time. If that’s not wrong, why should this be?”

I shuddered. “It’s different.”

“How?” She released her grip on my hair and took my face in her hands. “I want you,” she breathed. “And I know you want me. I’ll make you feel better than they ever did.”

My body trembled. Her power filled me, and I almost expected to see light under my skin as I gripped her arms. But all I saw were my ordinary hands, my fingers so taut my knuckles turned white. I was only half-vampire, but I was far stronger than Igrith. I drew on that strength and shoved her away, sending her stumbling into a stack of hay bales.

I put on a burst of speed, flitting out of her reach. But I kept her in sight as I shook out my skirts. I was hot and uncomfortable between my legs, my body aching with unfulfilled desire. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t have shoved you that hard.”

She leaned against the hay bales, her chest still heaving. Slowly, the flush in her cheeks faded, and she rubbed a hand over her face. “‘Tis I who should apologize.” She avoided my gaze as she shook her head. “We’re not supposed to—” She pressed her lips together. For a moment, it seemed she wouldn’t speak again. But then she lifted her head. “How is it different? You sharing a bed with two men who love each other?”

I hid a wince. She probably didn’t realize she’d hit a nerve. As Varick had unkindly pointed out when he and I argued atop the Serenity Tower, he’d known Varick since before I was born. I harbored no illusions that either man loved me, but part of me had thought it might come with time. But the prophecy had come between us.

“You don’t have to answer,” Igrith said. “It’s none of my business.”

I squared my shoulders. “I took vows when I wed Laurent. I knew Varick was part of the promises I made before the gods.” I didn’t add that I wasn’t at all certain Laurent had taken his vows seriously. I wasn’t even certain I knew my husband. Or Varick, for that matter. Both men were enigmas I might never unravel. But as long as I was Laurent’s wife, I wouldn’t betray him—or Varick. No matter how good it might feel in the moment.

Igrith pushed away from the bales. I held my breath as she came to me, but she stopped a safe distance away. For the first time since I’d met her, she seemed unsure of herself. “I mean it when I say I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I should have asked if you like…”