Page 86 of Power
“That’s what they all say,” she says with a scowl.
“Funny, aren’t you?”
“I try.”
She hides her smile as I stab my own finger, and then we both squeeze a few droplets into the small pot Duchess is holding out.
She dips her finger in and mixes the blood together before smearing some on my Queen’s forehead and mine.
“Eww,” my Queen mutters.
I chuckle.
“Do you faithfully promise to uphold the sanctity of Solitaire as King and Queen of the Manchester Chapter, the House of Hearts?”
“Yes,” I murmur.
“Yes,” my Queen mutters under her breath.
“Then by the Court, you are now the King and Queen of Hearts.”
“Is that it?” my Queen asks.
“What did you expect?” I inquire with a smile.
She shrugs. “Fanfare, and probably more water being thrown on me.”
“Nope.” I lean forward to kiss her lips.
She draws back sharply. “Wait. This doesn’t mean we’re married now, or anything does it? Like some weird Society ritual?”
“No, that will come later.”
Her eyes heat up but narrow. She wants it, but she doesn’t want to want it. Not yet.
I take her hand and kiss it. “I’m so proud of you. So proud to call you my Queen.”
“Uhn,” she mutters and turns away to sit.
I learned a long time ago that people respond to praise. It was only later on, when I became an adult, that I truly realized the effect certain words could have on certain people. I can tell by uttering a few words which way they will go. I honed the craft and became a master at getting people to fall under my spell. Above all, I enjoy it. I enjoy making people feel good about themselves and feeling pride in merely existing. I get off on it, especially when it’s Mad Hatter and my Queen.
I take my seat, feeling a sense of accomplishment now that this thing that has been hanging over me is complete.
“Next order of business is the death of Laura James.”
“What?” my Queen interrupts, sitting forward. “Ms. James is dead?”
“Indeed,” Gryphon says, eyes firmly on his daughter. “I do believe she was taken out by the Hare after Laura attempted to protect the Queen from, well, all of us. He took umbrage, apparently.”
“Who is the Hare?” my Queen asks, looking at me for assistance and not her father.
Gryphon replies for me. “He works for the King of Spades. The Liverpool chapter of the Solitaire.”
“Oh…” She bites the tip of her tongue like she does when she is worried.
“You have nothing to fear,” Mad Hatter says, also having picked up this tell. “We will protect you.”
“Protect me from what? Ending up like Ms. James?” she exclaims.
