Free Love Like Blood: (Royal Blood #5) by Amity Cross

“Don’t let their hierarchy bullshit get to you, Mercy. This is their test of loyalty. Six weeks ago, we were the bad guys in their eyes. The line might be blurred, but we’re still on the wrong side of it. We have to earn our place.”
    I didn’t like that he was right, but I had no other choice than to just go with it. I’d proven myself in training, but I’d yet to show them what I could do out in the field. All Section Seven had to go on were stories and hearsay. Now they needed rock solid proof.
    “Right,” I murmured as I felt X hardening up for round two of our fuckfest. “Let’s show these fuckers what we can do.”

Chapter 11

Vaughn
    T hat first day , I drove Lorelei around the outskirts of London and through the countryside to Dover.
    The world had lived on, and people went about their business, oblivious to the things that happened right on their doorsteps. The life we led flowed parallel to theirs, never touching, never intertwining. Our existence was secret to all those bar our enemies.
    We left Luton unnoticed and disappeared into the fog, a lonely stolen car on a lonely motorway, while dawn’s light fought for survival against the thick cloud cover.
    The road took us past the coast, and Lorelei stared out at the ocean silently. I couldn’t see her expression, and I wondered at her words the night before. Take me to the edge . I didn’t know what they meant or if they were just meaningless words she’d spoken to mirror mine, but they had chilled me to the bone.
    Did I have to break her completely before she would be well again? I didn’t want to contemplate going to a place she might never come back from.
    She never tore her gaze from the water as we traveled. The hills in this part of Kent were mostly made of chalk, and as a result, the cliffs along the coast were white as far as the eye could see. They dropped at a sheer angle down to the shingle beach, and then to the English Channel beyond.
    On a crystal clear day, if you peered hard enough at the horizon, you could see the coast of France, but all that was out there today was gray, choppy water and mist that clung to the surface like a veil.
    Turning inland, I took us down the tiny road that would lead us to the cottage I’d intended to be our refuge. The building was hidden by the elements as we approached, so it wasn’t until I stopped the car right out the front that Lorelei was afforded a glimpse at the home I’d wanted with her.
    Without a word, she climbed out of the car and stood by the bonnet, gazing up at the stone facade.
    Unclipping my seatbelt, I slid out and went to stand beside her, the only sound over the wind was the click click click of the engine as it began to cool in the frosty air. Fog clung to the fields around the little stone building that I’d had restored almost eight years ago. Two stories with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open fireplace that would thaw even the coldest of winters.
    Sighing, I watched my breath plume out in front of me. Considering the things that had happened to us, I’d almost forgotten what day it was. Christmas.
    Our world didn’t stop to acknowledge holidays. Death and power were the same, no matter the time of year. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had decorations or a proper family get-together. The last notion was laughable since I was dead to them. Five years ago, I had the help put up sparkly baubles and a tree for pretenses, but I hadn’t really cared. I didn’t need to be thankful for anything back then. I’d selfishly thought my position was my right .
    “It’s Christmas Day,” I said as we stood and stared at the little house.
    Lorelei didn’t move, her gaze still fixed in front of her. “Oh.”
    “I was going to bring you here before,” I said, my voice sounding close in the thick air. “This place was for you.”
    No, I never had anything to be thankful for, not until this very moment. Right now, I was thankful for the chance at rekindling what