Page 79 of Queen Takes Queen
Bianca and Mayte signed the contract, then Gina, and then me. It was done. Mayte beamed as Tepeyollotl bounced their laughing daughter on his knee, but all I could think of was what would happen toher...
To themall...
If Ifailed.
29
Shara
Itookone look at the ornate throne they'd set up for me during the formal procession, and I balked. Hard. That was Zaniyah's throne with jaguars painstakingly carved into the burnished wood. Why on earth would I want to sit inherthrone? Why would I want a throne atall?
After some arguing and insisting, they finally agreed to put one of the comfortable large leather chairs from the library beside the throne. It was big enough for Rik to sit with me and not be pretentious. This whole formal ceremony was already too pretentious for my taste, and if I had to sit for hours while Zaniyah's court was presented to me, then by goddess I was going to becomfortable.
Standing at the door while Bianca readied everyone in the plaza, I tried not to show how tired I was. How hungry. I hadn't fed yet today, and I hadn't fed my Blood either. They didn't need my blood every single day, but as much as they—we—enjoyed it, I preferred to give them all at least a taste. We needed to be strong at all times, in case Skye attacked, and now I had even more people to protect. I had more at risk thanever.
"You have more to gain now too," Rik whispered softly at myside.
I sighed and leaned my head against his shoulder. With Guillaume and Ezra standing in front of us, I felt hidden enough to drop my guard, just a little. "Right now it doesn't feel like it. It feels like Zaniyah has basically sold all their problems to me and I got screwed without a single drop oflube."
He rubbed his mouth softly against my forehead. "It seems like that now, because you haven't received the benefit of this arrangementyet."
A scuffle behind us alerted me to the approach of Mayte's brothers. Evidently they wanted to get closer... And, naturally, my Blood objected.Strenuously.
"Oh yes, here comes the benefit of that arrangement now." My tone sounded harsh even to my ears. "Let's see how many more fights and arguments we can have about who gets to do whatfirst."
"They're not going to be a problem." Rik didn't say anything to them directly, but I felt him turn his head and look at the twins. His rock troll swelled in his bond, his muscles sliding toward granite. "I won't allow them to annoyyou."
"Promise?"
"You knowit."
Bianca opened the doors and curtsied to me. "Your Majesty, thank you for your patience. We're ready to begin the procession when youare."
"I'm ready." I bit back the impatient words I wanted to say. “I've been ready for nearly half an hournow."
She turned to the plaza and raised her voice. "Our queen, Shara Isador, and her alpha, Alrik HyrrokkinIsador."
We stepped outside and everyone started clapping and cheering. The crowd was much happier this time around. Word must have spread about my deal with Mayte. These poor people. They must have thought I'd come to rip their homes out from beneath them. No wonder their reception had been so reserved that first night, even though I'd come at Mayte'sinvitation.
Rik held my arm as we walked down the aisle, and the cheers became deafening. I'd never heard so many people cheering so loudly before—let alone for me. Embarrassed, now, that I'd been so impatient, I stepped onto the dais and turned in front of the chair I'd asked for. I waited while Rik sat down behind me. Then his hands closed around my waist and he pulled me in between his thighs, cradling me againsthim.
The crowd fell silent a moment, and then the whispers started. Evidently they weren't used to such displays from their queen. It made me smile, because oh boy, were they in for a shock when I received Mayte'soath.
Bianca called out my Blood's names one by one, and they came to me, crowded close this time, because I didn't fucking care what the spectators thought now. Daire and Nevarre both dropped to the floor in front of the dais and leaned back to wrap an arm around each of mycalves.
Finally, Bianca called out Mayte's name. Her people rose again, turning to face her and applauding as she approached me, alone, head high. She came to me with a smile on her face, her eyes shining with hope and relief and gratitude. I couldn't help but picture how things would have gone down if Keisha Skye had managed to gain entrance to her nest. There would be no smiles. No cheers. I didn't even want to try and imagine what would have happened to Xochitl. The thought of her sweet baby girl being harmed fucking wreckedme.
Pausing before me, Mayte turned to her people and held her hands up for them to quiet. "Today, Zaniyah and Isador came to a sibling agreement to the benefit of both of our houses. Tonight, you serve as my witnesses that I come to this agreement willing and gladly of my own free will. From this day forward, House Zaniyah is sworn to House Isador. My blood is given to our new queen to seal this deal. May Coatlicue strike me down if I ever think to betray my bond toIsador."
She turned to face me. With practiced elegance, she lifted the full sweeping skirt of her gown and dropped to her knees. A golden crown gleamed on her head. I’d have to get a closer look to be sure, but it looked like human hands and skulls entwined with snakes. "I, Mayte Zaniyah, daughter of Coatlicue, Teteoh Innan, Mother of the Gods, swear my blood and all my house to Shara Isador, daughter of Isis. I offer my blood to my queen to strengthen our alliance and increase her power. In exchange, I beg Isador's protection for mypeople."
I held out my hand out to her, and she rose and came closer, dropping back to her knees between Daire andNevarre.
Holding my gaze, she tipped her head to the side, offering her throat tome.
My pulse thumped like a tympani drum in my skull. My fangs descended, more than eager to taste her. To claimher.
Her people watched breathlessly, waiting to see how I would handle their beloved queen. Images flickered through my mind. Mayte crying. Xochitl screaming. Tepeyollotl and Eztli bleeding, fighting, but unable to save their belovedqueen.
