Page 29 of Queen Takes Queen
He bobbed his head and leaped up into the air, sleek black wings lifting him off to check in with the birds. Many of them were roosting on the lower branches now, fat and sleepy, though some of the smaller birds still pecked at the ground in search ofants.
Rik shifted back to his human form, and the rest of my Blood quickly followed suit. Even Mehen, though now he had both Daire and I sitting on his very human form. He didn’t seem to mind and still didn’t push usoff.
My former Blood naturally congregated near me, leaving the newest Blood on the fringe. On the surface, he didn’t seem to be bothered. He’d even say he preferred his solitude. But deeper, I sensed an aching loneliness in his bond. Especially when he looked atDaire.
“Everybody, this is Ezra Ursula Devana. Ezra, this is Mehen, formerly Leviathan, king of the depths. Rik and Daire, you know. Wu Tien Xin, Guillaume de Payne, and Nevarre Morrigan,” I added as he came striding back to joinus.
“Isador,” Ezra drew my house name out slowly, looking at us one by one. “Are there any more of you hiding around invisible or flying around in the nightsky?”
I smiled slightly. “Nope.”
“Seven.” He looked at me, shaking his head. “You think to stand against Skye with seven Blood. Don’t even get me started on Ceresa. I don’t know if you’re a damned fool or juststupid.”
Guillaume narrowed a hard look on the man. “Respect our queen’s honor, or I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t soonforget.”
Ezra humphed with disgust. “I hate to be the one to tell you this, sir knight, but honor isn’t worth shit as far as Skye is concerned. We won’t win any battles because we’rehonorable.”
I stroked one hand lazily through Daire’s hair. I wasn’t upset by Ezra’s words. For the most part, they were true. I was a fool for hoping to defeat major houses like Skye and Ceresa with only seven Blood. We all knew it, and they’d already tried to convince me that I should call many more Blood, or even take a sib and herBlood.
I just didn’t wantto.
“Peace, Guillaume,” I said softly. “I’m notoffended.”
“You should be,” Ezra muttered. “We’re all going todie.”
“Maybe.” I started to stand, and immediately Rik lowered a hand and Daire and Mehen both scrambled to their feet to help me up. “Or maybe I’ve got a few plans in the works that you don’t knowabout.”
“I should hope the fuck so.” With another disgusted grunt, he turned and headed off into thewoods.
Rik didn’t move a muscle, but his bond rumbled with alpha irritation.:I told you no wandering off into the forestalone.:
“Fuck off,” Ezra growled, not stopping. “Or send someone with me if you don’t trust me to fetch the bag I stashed about a mile back in case she was alreadydead.”
Rik narrowed a hard look on Daire. “Go with him and keep him inline.”
Pouting, Daire trudged after his childhood friend. “I told you I didn’t want to let himin.”
Ezra hollered back over his shoulder, “I’ll be ready for dinner when we getback!”
“What a delightful personality,” Mehen drawled as he turned to the other Blood, shaking hishead.
Guillaume slapped him on the back as we started toward the guest house to get some clothes. “Yeah, he makes you look about as friendly as a smilingcrocodile.”
Mehen flashed his teeth in a vicious grin. “Well, at least I’m fuckingsmiling.”
DAIRE
“So…”I drew the word out, not really sure what to say. It’d been a long time since Ezra and I had been alone, walking in thewoods.
He didn’t say anything, but slowed his step so I could walk beside him. He didn’t make conversation easy. He neverhad.
“How are our queens backhome?”
“Worried as fuck, thanks to Keisha Skye. As soon as I slipped out of her territory safely, I called our consiliarius and let her know we were both out of House Skye’s control, though I wasn’t sure where you were yet. My link to you was pretty fucking faint. She promised to let our mothersknow.”
I winced. I’d left Skye’s court at least a year ago. Not once had I thought to call home and let Mom know. Or to let her know that I’d found my own queen, and was now Blood to House Isador. She’d be thrilled. “If someone from Skye’s court came to find us, I’m glad it was you. Thanks for letting Mom know I’m allright.”
“The shit is going to hit the fan on both sides of the pond. Keisha Skye lost her leverage. Our queen’s pissed that threats were made. It’s gonna getugly.”
