Page 5 of Blood from the Marrow (Lilith’s Legacy #2)

Their room was more lavish than any hotel suite Zuri had ever seen, and Elena stayed at places so ridiculous they came with butlers.

The luxury of the high ceilings with intricate plasterwork was as impressive as the pale blue wallpaper and heavy emperor yellow curtains covering all the visible windows.

Two seating areas, a massive fireplace, access to the veranda, and a powder room were nothing compared to the main bedroom on the other side of the suite from a smaller bedroom.

At the center of the primary bedroom, an enormous four-poster bed was dressed in gorgeous silk sheets. It was like gold had been poured over the bed, so smooth and elegant. Next to her, Marisol whispered the same wow echoing in Zuri’s mind.

Sayah continued into the bedroom, pointing out the bathroom before muttering something about uselessness and walking into the closet. “Well, they listened to one thing,” she said when she returned to the bedroom. “I took the liberty of having your things unpacked.”

“All of it?” Zuri’s question was more an expression of disbelief. They hadn’t been downstairs all that long. How had a team descended on the room and all their shit so fast?

“My apologies that there was no time to steam your garments,” Sayah said in what Zuri was sure was sarcasm. “Just pick up the phone in the living room and any pieces requiring attention will be collected.”

And then she floated out of the room without another word. Fucking vampires.

Opening an ornate bedside table the size of a treasure chest, Elena laughed.

“Jesus. What?” Zuri rested a hand against one poster at the foot of the bed.

Elena’s caramel eyes were luminous and dancing with trouble. “They really did unpack everything.”

Even before Bambi trotted over to see what was in the huge drawer, before she flushed so hard that her freckles disappeared, Zuri guessed what Elena had brought.

“Did they see that?” If Marisol’s pretty eyes widened any further, they’d tumble right out of her skull.

Zuri couldn’t resist yanking back the duvet and slipping onto the soft, cool sheets.

Lying on her side with her head propped up on her hand, she was so tired from the tension in her body and the mattress was fit for a queen.

“Babe, trust me. Her staff has seen more scandalous shit than a strap. She probably drained entire villages.”

“How can you say that?” Elena furrowed her brow. “That hasn’t been en vogue for centuries. Sayah will be offended at the suggestion that she was out of touch,” she added with a chuckle.

“Well, let’s put a pin in that because I have questions,” Marisol said with something of a smile at the morbid imagery. “Um, what are those?”

Zuri’s attention shot to Elena. “What’s what?”

Having the audacity to look sheepish, Elena bit her bottom lip. “Well, since we’re in vampire territory, I thought it might be a good idea to celebrate some of my people’s customs—”

“Don’t pull that shit,” Zuri snapped before crawling across the bed to look in the drawer.

“Observing three of the most sacrosanct nights in our traditions is worthy of making a bit of a splash, don’t you think? It’s like when you made me wear a sundress to that garden—”

“Are those fucking collars and chains, Elena?” Zuri couldn’t stop staring at the thin, gold circles that could’ve been two delicate bracelets if it weren’t for their size. Next to them sat equally dainty gold chains that might be mistaken for very long, fine necklaces.

“Well, no. Not really. It’s more a symbol of our commitment to each other—”

“Where the fuck is yours, then?” Zuri raised both brows and tried to diagnose exactly what brain damage Elena had suffered when she devised this plan.

“The symbolism is more—”

“The submission, you mean.” Zuri moved around to sit on the edge of the bed next to where Elena and Marisol stood.

“So you want us to wear this?” Marisol’s expression was unreadable, but the fact that Zuri wasn’t reading absolutely-fucking-not in her energy made her cross her arms over her chest. “Like out to the party?”

“As if I’d wear it in here, either,” Zuri groused.

Elena reached for one huge bangle. “It’s not all that different from when chokers were in style.”

Bambi’s cheeks turned even redder when she held the gold piece in her hands. “How do you put it on?”

Elena’s eyes were fireworks igniting the sky.

She looked at Marisol like she’d just fallen in love right then.

Signaling for her to turn around, Elena waited as Marisol picked up her blonde hair then she put the damn thing on her.

From the way it fit snugly around her neck, it was obvious the thing had been made to measure.

Zuri didn’t want to know how the hell Elena knew her damn neck size.

When Marisol turned around, Zuri’s body temperature spiked against her will. For fuck’s sake. With her big hazel eyes and her bright pink cheeks and her hair falling in soft waves at her shoulders… The gold band tight around Bambi’s neck ignited every Princess Leia fantasy Zuri had suppressed.

Without a word, Elena hooked the thin chain to the band that looked too tight to allow Marisol to swallow and pulled her in with the lightest tug. The tiny display of power and Bambi’s reaction to it shouldn’t have set Zuri on fire. It shouldn’t have sent an ache rushing between her thighs.

And then Elena went in for the kill. Wrapping the thin chain around her knuckles twice, she held it tight in her fist. Bambi’s eyes slipped closed and her lips parted, and Zuri pressed her legs together to suffocate her desire. Fuck.

“Are you mine?” Elena whispered against Marisol’s waiting mouth.

Zuri felt the heat of her breath like her lips were the ones about to be kissed. Felt the pressure around her throat. The anticipation in her own clenched muscles.

“Yes,” Marisol breathed, a universe of want packed into the glorified sigh. A want that slithered into the waistband of Zuri’s pants, forced her to confront the slick heat that was only growing.

Elena held Marisol there, chain so tight around her fist that her tanned skin went white. Held her so long that Marisol looked like she might beg for a taste of Elena’s lips. Pulse racing, Zuri needed their kiss just as desperately. Wanted it enough to put aside her pride.

“Tell me,” Elena demanded, a surge of liquid heat coursing through Zuri’s body.

“I’m yours,” Marisol answered with a gasp, like she was already close to the edge without being touched.

And then Elena bit her own bottom lip, fangs on display when she teased Marisol with her proximity. While Zuri watched, she mercifully closed the gap and kissed her.

The way Marisol submitted was more exhilarating than Elena’s control. Zuri’s fingers itched to reach out and touch her. To take the chain from Elena’s grasp and feel it digging into her own palm.

When she released Marisol from her kiss, Elena dropped to her knees at Zuri’s parted thighs.

Without a word, she held out the second gold ring.

It didn’t look so much like a collar anymore.

Was it so different from a tight necklace?

She’d worn a black velvet choker during her unfortunate grunge phase.

Making a fist in Elena’s hair, Zuri pulled her head back hard and forced her eyes to hers. “Do you have any idea what this is going to cost you?”

Elena strained against her hold as if to show her how much more she could take.

Eyes pitch black and fangs on profane display, she offered a smirk dripping with sin.

“When will you accept that there’s nothing you want that I won’t give?

” She slid her hands up Zuri’s thighs and gripped her hips hard before jerking her closer.

“And you’re mine whether or not you wear the symbol on your neck.

I’m already on your skin. In your body.”

“You’re a fucking barbarian,” she said, knowing Elena knew how turned on she was. That she’d already agreed. “Kiss me—” Elena’s lips were on hers before she could finish asking. “Don’t make me regret this,” she warned before biting down on Elena’s bottom lip and pulling it hard.