Page 8 of The Queen

My breath caught as my eyes snagged on a desolate cityscape far toward the horizon. The destruction was clear from this vantage, but the warm, cream-colored stone rubble brought to mind castle walls and parapets. It reminded me of my childhood home.

“I think I know that place.”

“I thought you might. That’s the old capital. Shortly after the raid, when you were taken, my father started construction on the new city under the mountain. With the increase in raids, the outlying hamlets and villages were abandoned or destroyed, and the people scattered or came to the compound for shelter,” Lex explained as he wrapped his arms around me.

I leaned my back against his chest and watched clouds drift across the sky like fluffy sheep in a field of blue. Darker clouds trailed sheets of rain behind them, but the sky was clearing and the suns were bathing the land in a warm glow.

“Do you think it’ll ever recover? Do you think it’ll ever be safe again?” I asked him.

His arms tightened around me and his lips brushed the crown of my head before he said, “That’s my plan. Bringing you home was just the beginning.”

We stood quietly for a moment, looking out over my ravaged kingdom. There was a deep sadness here, but there was hope, too.

Lex turned me in his embrace to press a kiss to my lips, and I melted. He kissed me like he owned me, and I loved it. When the warmth of another hard body moved in behind me, and the smokey scent of campfires curled around me, I knew Shadow had joined us. His fingers dug into my hips as his teeth found the curve of my shoulder, sending tingles down my spine.

Shadow growled against my neck in the most delicious way and nipped at my skin. The sting dragged a moan from my chest, and Lex drew back. The look that flashed between them was pure fire, and my imagination drifted to a much less clothed and public setting.

“We’re ready,” Shadow said, and walked away.

Disappointment surged as cool air took his place behind me. We shouldn’t be doing this out in the open based on Verden’s standards of propriety, anyway, but I desperately wanted Shadow to come back and finish what they’d started. I shrugged the feeling off, knowing nothing could come of it, and curious about what he’d said. “What’s ready?”

Lex stepped aside so I could see past him. Under the reaching boughs of the forest, a blanket was spread out in the dappled sunlight, covered with food and drink. Joy filled the void Shadow’s departure had left, and I rushed over to the arrangement of place settings. “Did you guys plan a picnic?”

Ghost came forward and guided me onto the blanket, drawing me down next to him.

“We wanted you to feel welcome here, princess.” He lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my palm before leaning back on his elbows to watch me.

The rest of my men joined us on the blanket, arranging themselves around the edge. Grey looked uncomfortable sitting on the ground, but the rest of them lounged like those huge predatory ailuros that lived in prides on the savannahs of the moons of Pharanax.

It’d been a while since breakfast and I was hungry, but no one seemed to be making any move toward the food. I was impatient and unwilling to wait on their delicate sensibilities, so I dove in. Divine little cakes sat on tiny plates, and wooden boards were scattered with crackers and cheese. Fragile cups with hot tea and glasses with wine were balanced on serving trays. There was really no telling how they managed to get all of this out here. Based on the presence of some of my favorite things, I figured I had my maid Violet to thank for most of it.

Once I had a plate full of food, the guys moved in, grabbing meat and bread with their bare hands. I wrinkled my nose at their bad manners, and Lex noticed my pinched expression. He had enough sense to look embarrassed as he elbowed Shadow, who seemed to realize that they were acting like animals.

With muttered apologies, they wiped their dirty fingers and picked up the utensils that were provided. Grey and I could only laugh at their bad behavior. I didn’t know what a picnic was supposed to be like exactly, but bare-handed grabbing of food was a bit uncivilized, even for a blanket spread out on the ground.

I ate while watching my alphas follow Grey’s lead. When he used a small blunt knife to portion off a bit of soft cheese, they followed suit. When they reached for a slice of meat without the proper utensils, Grey’s subtle shake of the head deterred them.

It wasn’t as if they didn’t have manners. I’d seen them eat at a table. They just shrugged off the veneer of civility while out from under a scrutinizing eye. After I’d eaten my fill, I lay back on the blanket, watching them pick at their food cautiously. This wasn’t who they were. Well, maybe Grey, but the rest of them would’ve been more at ease in a military camp. I should’ve just let them eat with their hands.

They were trying to make me comfortable, but in doing so, they were uncomfortable. That couldn’t stand. I’d been wrong, but I could fix it.

I popped a handful of grapes off the bunch and flicked one at Shadow. He jerked as it bounced off his cheek. His midnight eyes darted around as he jumped to his feet. I hid my smile and turned to look out over the vista as if it was the most fascinating thing on the planet.

When he sat down again, brushing off the other’s questions about his action, I flung another grape at him. This one ricocheted off his shoulder and landed on Lex’s plate.

Shadow growled and looked accusingly at Lex. “Did you just throw a grape at me?”

Lex looked right back at him. “No, did you throw a grape at me?”

Ghost smirked in that knowing way of his that told me he’d seen the whole thing. Grey glanced back and forth between the two arguing men with confusion written all over his face.

I couldn’t stop the mirth bubbling in my chest, and I flopped back, giggling. Between gasps of laughter, I launched the remaining grapes at them. Now that they saw them coming, they dodged with ease.

I’d made a terrible mistake assuming they wouldn’t retaliate, and I was pelted with a rain of return fire in the way of cherries.

“No. No, stop.” I squealed. “Don’t! No more. No more!”

They didn’t take my pleas very seriously, not that I blamed them. I was laughing so hard my words were barely discernible, and I was rolling around on the blanket, trying to shield myself by batting fruit out of the air. I was sure they found my distress hilarious.

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