Three days later Carlos strolled in triumphantly carrying a dress bag over his arm, greeting her with a broad smile "Get dressed my love, we have important business to attend to".

"You found the blood well then I take it?" She smiled. He nodded and pulled out a flask presenting it to her with a dramatic flourish, his eyes to the ground "Yes, we have my Queen and I brought you the very first taste as I promised". She rolled her eyes at the grand gesture and eyed the flask carefully before taking it and opening it. She had to take a drink, Carlos would accept no less, and yet she felt like she was pulling her hand through quicksand to bring the flask to her lips as he watched her intently. The aroma wafted up her nose and the smell was that of peaches and cream, it seemed odd that to her that of all things it smelled of a childhood favourite. She tilted the flash towards her lips. Her eyes widened as the drops hit her tongue, somehow fruity and spicy all at once and completely delicious as it slipped across her tongue and slid all too easily down her throat. She felt its potent effects hit her instantly as it heated her through and it somehow dulled and sharpened her senses all once, it was like the world around her faded as her senses grew within the bubble that surrounded her as she licked the last drop of crimson off her lips. She hadn't taken much, much less than a full mouthful but she could already tell she would have to be careful of it colouring her decision making over the next few hours. She handed the bottle back to Carlos, as the buzz she was feeling grew and he bowed and took a drink before casting the the bottle aside and stalked towards her. Her back hit the bed and they fucked for what felt like hours high and free on the potent blood. She was grateful in someways that it had given her time to clear it effects from her body and the sex was good, the sex with Carlos had always been good. Their sex life had never been part of the reservations she still held about the charismatic manipulative man.

Afterwards, she slipped carefully into the beautiful ornate dress Carlo's had brought with him and noted the complete lack of underwear that went with it. She rolled her eyes at that, knowing full well that Carlos had more celebrations in mind for them both before dawn. She smiled and took his outstretched hand as he led her to the waiting car and they sped off towards Jed's as the rest of Carlo's people including her brother waited for them at the blood well.

This day had been planned for so long by so many and now it was here. Carlos had walked her through every variation of this night over and over again until she knew them all by rote but nothing could have prepared her for being in Malvado's presence. The arrogance and self-assurance that surrounded him paling against the clear power that oozed from him. This man was too sure of his power and why wouldnt he be, it was good to be King was it not. Carlo's and Kate bowed cordially to Malvado once in his presence and exchanging their brief but submissive greetings before Carlo's got straight to business.

"Hand over the key. It's the only way I release those souls. A thousand souls. Now, that's the only way that you get into El Rey. You want to leave this realm for good and someone has to take over the empire. The gods won't let you leave the table without someone at the head. You need a leader" said Carlos his own arrogance and greed beginning to seep through his carefully constructed veneer. This too was calculated of course as Malvado would expect nothing less than arrogance and greed from a man such as Carlos.

"Maybe" Malvado smiled condescendingly, before his eyes leisurely caressed over Kate "and who is this?".

"I'm Kate, Lord Malvado" she answered innocently but self possessed, traits that Malvado loved in a woman, well traits he loved tainting and breaking that is. Malvado stood and walked a circle around her before stopping inches from her face and stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. Kates stomach rolled in disgust but her mask never fell.

"What is your answer Lord Malvado?" asked Carlos, his impatience creeping in. Impatience Kate was almost certain was actually real this time.

"You get the blood and I will give you the seat, but leave her here" said Malvado and Kate didn't flinch she already knew that Malvado was likely to want her. It had been part of several of their plan variations.

Carlos sighed and bit out "Fine, make it official now, when I come back here, I don't want to have a fight on my hands". Malvado nodded, waving him off before signalling to a member of staff who ran off to get it formalized and once it was signed and it was official, Malvado turned back to his first prize of the night as he saw it. Kate's eyes slid to Carlos who nodded to her.

Kate leaned forward "I am honored" she said and pressed a kiss to Malvado's cheek as his hands came to rest on her waist. She pulled back the barest amount before her hand plunged straight through his broad torso and pulled out his now dying snake and she enjoyed the fading look of shock on his face as he disintegrated before her. Kate turned to Carlos who pulled her into a searing kiss "You are no mere queen my love but you are a goddess". She smiled over at him and he took her hand and they walked out together their first triumph of the night.

From there Carlos drove them both to the blood well for the final arrangements to where Scott and the other's were waiting. She went to open the door and he reached across her and pulled her hand back "No my love, you must stay here, you must look perfect for when we make our grand entrance, before you lead us all to supremacy my Goddess". Kate smiled warmly back at him and nodded and waited until he walked away before rolling her eyes, fuck he was so grandiose sometimes.

From her meagre vantage point she watched them closely, before spying Richard on the hill waiting to make his move and take control no doubt. It was unexpected and clever, but who knew if it would work in his favour or not. Carlos was a worthy opponent, so she sat back and waited to see his move. She cringed as he jumped the gun by mere moments, which was completely unlike all that she knew of him, which granted had been an intense twelve hours in his presence and Seth's stories. She sighed as he was quickly neutralized but seemed undeterred which was commendable but he was one culebra in a field of culebra's most older than himself. So much for the Gecko variable she thought.

As the well finished draining, she watched Carlos hand Scott the keys to the truck. She smiled when she saw Richard take the distraction as an out and escaped. He might cause trouble for them yet, one could only hope. Carlos didn't even bother have his people give chase, he just rolled his eyes and made his way back to the car and sat in.

"You had company I see?" she asked.

"Nothing we couldn't handle my love" he replied.

"He escaped" she replied carefully keeping the satisfaction from her face.

"That matters little now, we have already won" He smiled over victoriously and drove off.