Page 70 of Queen Takes Queen
We pausedoutside a bright sunny room while the young woman who'd done my hair stepped inside and spoke to her queen. "They're here, YourMajesty."
Mayte set a cup of tea down and stood, smiling, though I thought she looked tired. Probably as tired as I looked. I'd slept less in my life many times, but now that I was queen, I was tired all the time. I didn't know if it was the blood loss, or the battles, or everythingcombined.
:It's exhausting just carrying the amount of power that you have,:Rik said in our bond.:You don't realize the toll such immense power takes on you, even if you're not immediately using it. Plus, you've been under constant attack in one way or the other since you came into yourpower.:
I sighed. Yeah. Constant attacks definitely took their toll. I tipped my chin up a bit and put on a hopefully polite, but coolly reserved,face.
"Good morning, Your Majesty," Mayte said, offering her hand. "I hope everything was to your satisfaction lastnight."
Her cheeks colored slightly, her eyes bright despite the shadows beneath them. She knew exactly how satisfied I'd been last night. "Thank you, yes, and good morning to you too, Your Majesty." I slipped my hand into hers, and again, felt a heat grow against my palm, like we clasped a warm, flat stone between our palms. "Do you feelthat?"
"Yes," she whispered. "I felt it before too, but I thought it was thegeas."
Braced for the heat to flare and blaze up my arm, I finally took a deep breath when nothing else happened. "I guess it's a queen touches queenthing."
She guided me to sit beside her so that we both looked out a large bay window, and Gina took a seat to my left. Mountains rose in the distance and horses grazed in the fields. Roses climbed around the windows, yellow, not black-red like the ones in my grove, but I still mentally flinched at the sight. I cast a quick look at her arms, bared by the short-sleeved pink dress she wore, but I didn't see any scars. Had the thorns pierced her like they'd done to me? Or did she just like flowers? I didn't feel like I knew her well enough toask.
"I've never felt that before," Mayte admitted as she sat down. "Though I can't say that I've touched many queens before,either."
Her hair was pulled to the side and plaited loosely in a fat, thick braid. The pink dress was soft and flowy and frilly, extremely feminine, and not something I could pull off. On her, though, it looked beautiful, highlighting the dusky brown tones in her lovelycomplexion.
Her alpha had his back to the wall, standing a foot from her chair, his hands casually jammed in his pockets. But he watched carefully as my Blood positioned themselves nearby. Rik on my left, though he stood, too. Guillaume and Mehen stood in the doorway, and the rest of my Blood took up defensive positions down the hall, guarding the other entrances. I didn't see any of her other Blood, or her brothers, thank goddess. Though Rik's bond shimmered with eagerness. He'd love a good fight, a reason to shift into his rock troll and thump someheads.
"Have you met many queens?" I asked as she poured some ice water forme.
"When I was a child, Grandmama had many informal dinners and parties here, though she was careful never to draw the Triune's notice. Keisha Skye even came here once when she was barely more than a fledgling. Many queens we used to know even a hundred years ago are long gone now. Would you like more coffee? And please, help yourself. I wasn't sure what foods you liked. I'm not much of a breakfast eatermyself."
"Yes, please." She lifted a carafe and Daire suddenly slipped up beside me to take it from her. He poured fresh cups of coffee for me and Gina, and added cream to my cup while Rik filled a plate for me. Despite it being an informal breakfast, Mayte had selected white china with a frilly silvered edge and soft pink rose border. My water glass was heavy, making me think it was real crystal. The linen table cloth was also a dusky rosepink.
Note to self. Mayte's favorite color waspink.
:What is your favorite color?:Rik asked with arumble.
:I like allcolors.:
He made a soft sound as he set my plate before me. Mostly fruit, with some kind of tart. I broke off a small piece to taste. Crispy on the outside but soft on the inside and lightly sweet like a bowl of oatmeal cooked into a cake.Delicious.
"So where are your other Blood today?" I asked Mayte, nibbling another piece of thecake.
She laughed softly. "They're occupied with keeping my brothers out of your hair until we can meet this morning. I have to admit, they put up quite a fuss lastnight."
I widened my eyes and quirked my lips. "It's taking four Blood to keep your brothers inline?"
"No, not four..." She hesitated and flicked a quick glance up at my face. "They've waited a long time for a queen. They don't mean to berude."
"I find it very rude." I sank my teeth into a huge ripe strawberry, watching herreaction.
"Oh." Mayte wrung her hands in her lap, dropping her gaze to her plate. "I'm terriblysorry."
"For which part?" I kept my voice light as I finished the strawberry. "That your brothers want me only because they've had to wait so very long? Or that you didn't respect me enough to warn me before I tried crossing into your nest at your invitation? Or that you have a fifth Blood you neglected tomention?"
"I already apologized about the geas." Her head jerked up, her voice sharpening. "And Idon't--"
"Don't compound the insult by lying tome."
She sucked in a deep breath, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. "So one of your Blood was sniffing around my nest lastnight."
She managed to sound insulted, despite being caught in a lie. "After the way I was welcomed into a vicious trap, do you honestly think I would sit quietly in my room and not send my Blood out to see if you were hiding anythingelse?"
