Page 47 of Queen Takes Queen
“And then there’s the Triune,” Mehen said with a grim scowl. “Eventually they’ll demand yourpresence.”
My eyes narrowed. I didn’t like that word.Demand.Let them try and make me do anything or go anywhere I didn’twant.
“A Triune audience gown makes everything in this store look like something you’d wear to a picnic,” Gina admitted. “Which is one reason I wanted you to meet Alice and see if you like her designs. If so, we’ll commission her to make you a formal presentationgown.”
Formal presentation. Just the thought made me itchy, like I was breaking out in hives. “What if Irefuse?”
Everybody stared at me, jaws dropping, eyes widening inhorror.
“You can’t refuse the Triune,” Gina finallysaid.
“Whynot?”
“They have ultimate power over all Aima. If the sitting queens take a vote to execute you, it’s done. No trial, no excuses, no chance to explain your side of the situation. You, your Blood, and all your court will be put to thesword.”
I shivered, hugging myself. Rik made a low rumble and came to me, wrapping his arms around me and pressing his solid heat against my back, but I still felt chilled, deep inside. “The nest wouldn’t protectus?”
“For a time,” Guillaume said, staring down at his broad, scarred hands. It made me think about his years as Desideria’s executioner. How many queens—and their Blood—he must have killed over the centuries. “I’ve heard the formal order go out for execution, though it’s been years, before Desideria died. It’s hard to keep everyone inside a nest indefinitely, especially in this day and age. No one’s self-sufficient any longer. Eventually the nest will run out of food or water. Or they’ll let someone in who’s in danger, or who promises to help, and they’re betrayed. Or, more often than not, the queen will negotiate with the Triune to allow her court to live if she surrenderspeacefully.”
I tried to imagine what would happen to us if the order came down from the Triune to execute House Isador. Rage bubbled up inside me, a dark shadowy miasma that burned like acid. I didn’t know how I’d protect everyone, but I would. I’d find away.
And if Icouldn’t…
:We would never allow you to sacrifice yourself for us,:Rik whispered, though his whisper cut like razor-sharp steel.:Never. If you die, we die. I refuse to live withoutyou.:
Alice stepped back into the dressing area with a long linen bag draped over her arm, but she hesitated a moment, sensing the dark mood in the room. “Everything allright?”
I forced a smile. “Yes. We were just discussing the possibility of someday needing an even grander gown than anything you may have in thestore.”
Her eyes brightened and she gave me a wide, charming smile. “Now that sounds like quite thechallenge.”
“Let’s see this gown first,” Ginasaid.
Alice used a small stepladder to hang the bag on a hook high enough the dress wouldn’t touch the floor. She unzipped the bag and carefully pulled the linen back to reveal thegown.
The skirt was long and full, made out of some kind of flowy material that drifted in the air like a cloud. The bodice looked fairly simple in a traditional corset princess style. It didn’t have any jewels or ruffles or sparkles. What made it unique was the dyed ombre effect, from a dark midnight purple on the bodice that slowly faded to lavender-gray and silvery white at the verybottom.
Alice lifted the skirt and let it flutter back down, showing how it would move as I walked. “What do you think? I call itMidnightSonata.”
“It’s incredible,” I answered, looking to Gina. “What do you think? Is this fancyenough?”
“With the appropriate jewels, yes, I think this will work.” With her arms crossed, Gina studied the dress a moment, drumming her fingers on her elbow. “Yes, I think I brought that set. Let me have Angela bring the case in so you can try it ontogether.”
“Wait, you brought jewelry? Not even knowing what gown we’d end upwith?”
Gina gave me a smug nod and said on the phone, “Could you bring in the red velvet case and the other I showed you in from the trunk, please. Yes.Thanks.”
Nevarre stood. “By your leave, my queen, I’ll walk herin.”
I nodded and he immediately headed for the limousine. I was still trying to figure out how Gina had brought down a bunch of jewels. The last I’d heard, all the Isador jewels were locked in a safe in Kansas City. Even if she’d stashed them on the jet, we’d only rented the car. Maybe that was why Angela had stayed in the car instead of coming inside with us. She’d been guarding the jewelry that I hadn’t even knownabout.
“It’s my job to think ahead and plan out everything to the last detail,” Gina reminded me. “As soon as you made the move from Kansas City, I had a majority of the jewelry transferred nearby so we can access it at a moment’s notice. Angela’s sole job on this trip is to keep track of your jewels and make sure they’resecure.”
“Should I always have one of the Blood help her guardthem?”
“It’s up to you, but really not necessary. Angela is armed and is more than capable of dealing with anyone thinking to stealthem.”
Dressed in a navy suit and elegant heels, Angela walked in with Nevarre, a large red-velvet case in one hand and a larger black case in her other. I glanced over her, trying to see where she’d hidden the gun, but it wasn’t obvious to my untrainedeyes.
