Page 35 of Queen Takes Queen
“Not just the old ones,” Daire snorted. “House Skye’s formal court is the length of a few footballfields.”
“The first dinner will be formal and very structured,” Gina continued. “Every queen’s court is different, of course, but generally the queens will sit together at an elevated table overlooking the rest of the court with their consiliari. Usually the queens sit side by side, so they can talk, and their alphas will be close, usually standing behind them the entiredinner.”
I frowned. “The alphas stand the whole time and don’teat?”
“Usually, no, they don’t eat,” Guillaume said. “Some queens won’t let any of the Blood eat for fear they’ll be distracted. This is all about the queens and their security. We’ll eat after, usually in shifts. Both her Blood and yours will be on high alert the entire time. A twitch at the wrong time can be deadly. Bloodshed beforequestions.”
With a sinking feeling, I looked down at Ezra, who was still glaring at Mehen across the table. The more wild bear Ezra acted, the more indolent lord Mehen became. The two of them were going to beinsufferable.
“Don’t worry about those two.” Guillaume didn’t raise his voice or even look at them, but there was an edge in his voice that made everyone at the table stop talking and look at him. “We’ll be on our best behavior for you, my queen. One word or look out of place before your host’s court, and I’ll have the man’s head. Whoever it maybe.”
“I can hold my tongue when I must,” Ezra muttered darkly, his cheeks turning red. From anger? Or embarrassment? I wasn’t sure. His bond roiled like an angry bear who’d been roused too early from hibernation, but he’d felt like that since he’d shownup.
“The rest of her court will be seated on the main floor in smaller tables,” Gina said. “They will all be watching you and your Blood, evaluating your power and your stature. Watching the way you interact with Mayte. If she’s unhappy, her court will be displeased. Everything from your clothing to the way you eat will be judged. If you send an offered dish away, for example, then Mayte could be offended. It will say her best efforts to entertain you areinsufficient.”
Geez, talk about pressure. “I’m not so great in social situations. I mean, I know better than to eat with my fingers or belch loudly, but other than that, formal table etiquette is beyondme.”
“We’ll practice,” Gina promised. “And Zaniyah’s a small court. The pressure won’t be as immense as youfear.”
“Oh, the pressure’s there,” Guillaume said, nodding. “But for Mayte, not you. She needs you. Remember that. She wants to impress you. She wants to make sure you’re willing to protect her from other queens. Anytime you’re worried about something, just remember that her alternative is Keisha Skye, the queen who would have tortured your alpha before he could find you, and you’ll befine.”
Indeed, just the thought of how close I’d come to never having Rik at all made my power rise. Goose bumps flared down my arms and my hair fluttered slightly about my shoulders, as if someone had cracked adoor.
“What’s the worst thing that could happen?” I asked. “Honestly, I want toknow.”
“Honestly?” At the end of the table, Mehen kicked back with a beer in his hand. “We’re killed. Every fucking one ofus.”
Guillaume sighed. “The snake’s right. Worst case, she seals the circle, locking us inside. We’ll be out numbered. It’s been done before under the guise ofdiplomacy.”
I took a deep breath, my mind racing. I didn’t want to go into this if we didn’t have a Plan B. Some back door way to get out if we needed to escape. “I couldn’t break her bloodcircle?”
Gina spluttered on her wine and set her glass down. “No.”
I arched a brow at her. “No? Forsure?”
“It’s never been done before. A blood circle, made by a queen, isimpenetrable.”
“So you’ve told me, but then ants tried to crawl up from underneath mycircle.”
Mehen took a long pull of his beer and then said, “I could fly you out. But no queen’s circle can bebroken.”
“Unless the queen’s killed,” Rik said. “Here’s my orders to each of you so we’re absolutely fucking clear. If this meet goes badly, we get Shara out. No matter what. Kill your assigned Blood and get her to Mehen. He flies her out. Guillaume, your main priority will be to kill Mayte. Only you will be able to do it if she’s wellprotected.”
Guillaume nodded coolly. “Understood.”
Rik looked at Xin. “You will use your gift of invisibility to reach Shara and get her to Mehen. I don’t care if you kill anyone else, even your Blood. Just get her to the dragon so he can fly herout.”
“Understood,alpha.”
I shivered, looking down at my men, now grim and hard as they contemplated killing our way out of Zaniyah’s nest. I wasn’t scared, just… On edge. Nervous. Adrenaline already pumped though my veins and we hadn’t even left for Mexico yet. I didn’t doubt our ability to win. Not in the slightest. How could I after tonight’s battle with the ants? After Gaia and Morrigan and Isis worked together to grow a formidable grove of magical trees to protectus?
I wouldn’t have my trees or my nest inMexico.
I would have somethingbetter.
MyBlood.
13
