Page 71 of Queen Takes Queen
Defiant, she stared at me a moment, but then her shoulders slumped. "He said he felt something, but when he investigated, all he found was a faint wolf print at the outsidedoor."
I didn't say anything, choosing instead to continue eating. Sometimes silence was the best way to demand anexplanation.
"I've made a mess of this," she finally said with a rueful smile. "All my grand and careful plans thrown to thewayside."
"I haven't done this queen thing very long." I set my napkin aside and took a sip of water before continuing. "But it's common sense that if you're wanting to make someone your ally, it's not going to go well if she's mislead from the very firststep."
"I know. I'm sorry. I have a very good excuse, I promise you. The only reason I haven't been completely forthcoming is because of what's at stake. I need your help very much. In fact, after meeting you, I can easily say that no one else will be able to help me like you can. I need your help, Shara. I formally ask for Isador's protection and will offer throat at yourconvenience."
I hesitated, tipping my head to the side as I studied her. She met my gaze, her eyes resigned, yes, but also fiercely determined. "What's at stake?" I asked softly. "Who are youprotecting?"
"Come. I'll showyou."
27
Rik
Icouldn't beprouder of my queen. She might claim not to understand politics, but she'd handled Mayte perfectly, down to quietly and calmly getting her to admit to everything. However, I did not like the place Zaniyah led my queen. Outside to the rear of the house, to an old cellar door with a massive antique iron lock on it. The thick oak and iron hinges would give even my rock troll a workout if I needed to bust Sharaout.
Mayte touched the lock and it opened without a key, so it was coded to her blood only. Her alpha grunted as he lifted up one side of the door and threw itback.
I didn't look at Xin, so that the other queen wouldn't know which of us had penetrated her safeguards, but I gave him a salute in the bond.:How did you getinside?:
:I have myways.:
:Impressive,:Shara said, her bond gleaming pearly rainbows. She was pleased with how things had gone so far, understandably, and she was eager to see what Mayte was hiding, until she saw the dark hole she had toenter.
Mayte went first. "Let me get a light." She disappeared from view a moment, and then light bloomed from a largeflashlight.
Shara quirked her lips. She'd expected some kind of magical shit. We still didn't have any idea of the kind of powers Mayte had. Maybe she couldn't manage a light or a fireball.:Before you decide whether or not to accept her, you should ask her to display herpower.:
:Good idea. Is this tunnelsafe?:
:It will be.:I turned to Guillaume, Ezra, and Xin.:Guard the door and our queen's wayout.:
Theynodded.
I looked at Mehen, Daire, and Nevarre.:If anything happens, your primary objective is to get her out. Out of this hole, out of the fucking nest. Whatever ittakes.:
:Understood.:
I gave a hard look at Eztli. "One of us goesfirst."
The man gave a sardonic bow of his head. "Be myguest."
I jerked my head at Nevarre and he went down the stairs and past Mayte, deeper into the tunnel. Eztli went next, then Mayte, Gina, and Shara, with me and her other two Blood close behind. My fingers itched to touch her, to keep a hand on her, but the tunnel was too narrow. I didn't like that I couldn't keep a hand on her. That would delay me one more second from getting her tosafety.
:Don't worry so much,:she whispered soothingly, giving me a squeeze in the bond.:I'm not completely powerless, youknow.:
:But I'd rather you not have to bleed today, unless you're choosing to feed us, not to saveus.:
"Just a little further," Mayte said after a fewmoments.
Nevarre sent back a quick image of the tunnel ahead. A very large man waited, arms crossed and scowling just as Xin had showed us last night. As we neared, I could feel his power rolling off him inwaves.
Fuck. This man wasn't an alpha. He was something else entirely. Somethingmore.
I shook my head, trying to understand why Mayte had kept her most powerful Blood hidden away. Why did she fear Skye, when she had this kind of Blood at her side? Fuck, why was Eztli alpha atall?
