Page 23 of Queen Takes Queen
:My queen,:Nevarre said in my head.:I have an idea, but will need to leavebriefly.:
Without hesitation, I replied,:Go. We havetime.:
Purring, Daire rubbed against my calf and Guillaume’s side.:When do I get to give you aride?:
Guillaume twisted his neck around and snapped viciously at the warcat. Daire dodged away and flicked him with his tail. I couldn’t help but laugh, even though it hurt my ribcage. Never in a million years did I think I’d have to say I’d take turns riding a hell horse and awarcat.
Mehen snarled in our bond.:And adragon.:
9
Shara
My knights’former sib slowly slipped through the trees toward my nest. When he stepped out of the woods at the far edge of the woods behind the guest house, he jerked to a halt, surprised as fuck to see us waiting onhim.
Maybe that’s why Keisha Skye had sent this particular sib as her messenger this time. She’d wanted to be stealthy, and if Daire had only fed from him once, and Rik not at all, they wouldn’t have likely felt himapproach.
A good plan. If I didn’t have other ways of tracking threats to my nest. Although maybe he was merely surprised to see me sitting on top of a massive hell horse. Even standing still, Guillaume’s hooves smoked against the ground and all the snow had melted in a ten-foot radius from where westood.
Ezra looked like he’d just climbed down a mountain where he’d been living off the grid in a cabin he’d built with his bare hands. Big and burly with massive shoulders and huge hands, he looked like he could pull up a tree and snap it like a toothpick. The full beard and bushy hair only added to his wild-man look. Somehow I couldn’t picture him living in a New York Citycourt.
I asked Rik,:Is he her Blood? Or just asib?:
:Sibonly.:
Daire added,:We grew up together in Christabel Devana’s court in the Ukraine, which is why he deigned to feed me once I came toSkye.:
I wanted to ask so many questions. There was still so much I didn’t know about my Blood. I had no idea if their mothers had been queens or not. Which goddesses they’d descended from. If they’d served other courts beforeSkye.
:None of that matters, honestly,:Rik said in our bond, and Daire nodded.:We were never famous like Guillaume orMehen.:
:It matters to me. I want to know everything aboutyou.:
“Your Majesty.” Ezra’s voice was just as rough as his appearance. “I’m—”
“Ezra Skye,” I cut in, nodding. I didn’t have time for pleasantries. I especially didn’t have the patience, not when I was still bleeding from dozens of thorn punctures. “Let’s skip to the threats,yes?”
“I prefer Ezra Ursula Devana because Skye did me no favors,” he retorted. “You’ve only got three Blood. Wantanother?”
Daire bristled, his fur rising along his spine.:I forgot how belligerent he couldbe.:
I didn’t think Ezra meant to be rude, exactly. He just didn’t give me the impression that he liked people, or had any patience for conversation. Same as me at this point. I could actually admire skipping the bullshit small talk. “Sure. But notyou.”
He drew his head back, shaking his heavy hair off his forehead so he could see me better. “Why’sthat?”
“You carry Keisha Skye’sblood.”
His eyes narrowed. “So. Do. They.” He jerked his head at Rik and Daire. “The cat can vouch forme.”
With a low hiss, Daire turned his back, winding around Guillaume’s legs, ignoring this old friendentirely.
“You little fucker,” the man growled. “I need help. You’d turn your back onfamily?”
Watching the stranger, I frowned. I was braced for all-out war and threats, not a plea for help. Despite the man’s lack of finesse, I sensed desperation. Though I still highly doubted his sincerity. He might be desperate to escape Skye. Or desperate to do his part in whatever dastardly plan she’d concocted. But did he really want help? My help? That, I couldn’t be sureof.
Daire didn’t look at the man, but I felt reluctant concern in his bond.:We did grow up together, though I didn’t know he counted me as family. I don’t know why he’d needhelp.:
“What help are you askingfor?”
