Page 113 (1/2)

Kingsley sat up and turned around He looked down at Søren still lying on the floor

"That’s the oath to the British sley said

"I’m American," Søren said "I can make it to whos of old were always anointed by the high priest"

Søren sat up and took the corkscrew off the side table Without flinching or blinking he pressed the end of it into his pal a cork He let a few drops of blood fall into his glass Kingsley held out his hand, palht, aren’t you?" Søren asked

"Felicia doesn’t do blood-play I sley said

Søren’s eyes flashed at hisley by the wrist, thrust his palm up and pushed the sharp tip of the corkscrew into his skin As drunk as he was, Kingsley hardly felt a thing But Søren clearly felt so quickened But he sat the corkscrew aside, flipped Kingsley’s hand over and let a few drops of blood lass Søren then dipped his two fingers into the blood and wine With tet red fingertips, he anointed Kingsley’s forehead with the wine, then touched his lips and the center of each pale as Søren touched hiertips Even drunk, wasted even, he felt power Power and the weight of responsibility

"I still don’t have a kingdom"

"You will," Søren said "Sosley looked at his hands, the red stains in the center of his palsley’s face in his hands and touched his lips to his forehead It wasn’t a kiss soTo be kissed by Søren was to be blessed Søren rose up on steady feet

"Where are you going?" Kingsley asked

"To bed"

"Can I come with you?"

"Yes"

"Will it be like old times?"

"Yes"

It was indeed like old tisley to take the floor But better one night on Søren’s floor than a thousand nights elsewhere

"Can I at least have a--"

A pillow landed on Kingsley’s face

"Merci," Kingsley said frosley said "Not unless you tell me what you said"

"I said ‘you’re welcoetting more drunk and not less What car?"

"The Rolls Royce we took to see your sister that day back at school Do you remember?"