Page 55 of Queen Takes Queen
He stepped forward and she called out his name along with DiegoZaniyah.
“Ezra UrsulaIsador.”
The big man stepped forward, winking at Shara when he caught her staring. He’d trimmed his beard and slicked his hair back in a bun. With the formal suit, he looked nothing like the wild grizzly we knew. “I clean up good, huh?” He whispered, way too loudly, and guests at the nearest tablesnickered.
Bianca announced him with Maxtla Zaniyah. Like our queen, Mayte’s alpha was actually fairly young. Maxtla was her oldest and strongest Blood, even showing some graying at his temples. Ezra would either piss him off with his blunt remarks, or they’d end up grand friends over a few mugs of ale. I wasn’t sure which way it’d end up yet, but if I were a betting man, I’d place my money on thelatter.
I gave Xin’s formal name next. “Wu Tien XinIsador.”
Since Zaniyah didn’t have any other Blood, a few sibs from her court stood ready to walk in with us. The whispers were louder in the plaza as the guests waited eagerly for each introduction. It was apparent now that we were coming in from youngest to eldest, and yes, the more famous. Even a relatively small nest in Mexico would recognize some of the rest of us. Bianca announced Xin with Armando Zaniyah, a handsome young man with a winning smile, who beamed up at Xin like he was alreadysmitten.
Two more of Zaniyah’s court came forward, moving as one with an eerie silent coordination that spoke of twins. They looked at each other a moment in silent communication, and then they turned toward Shara and took another step closer toher.
Rik and Mehen both growled at them, stalling their approach. But it made me look at the two men a little closer. None of Mayte’s other Blood or sibs had thought to approach our queen. These two were older than Nevarre, I thought, and maybe as old as me. Definitely older than the young sib they’d sent out. These two carried a sense of ageless power that made them harder to agecorrectly.
Which told me they might be very old indeed, and if so, fairly powerful. Then why weren’t they Mayte’sBlood?
“I’ll take over now,” Rik toldme.
I stepped up to Bianca, side by side with the twins. Neither of them spared a glance for me, which would have pricked my ego, if that sort of thing botheredme.
Bianca announced us. “Itztli Zaniyah and Guillaume de PayneIsador.”
I felt the surge of appreciation in Shara’s bond, and I was glad I’d given her house name. Most Blood took their queen’s name, but I never had, until Shara claimed me as herown.
“You’re old,” Itztli muttered beneath his breath as we walked toward the main table. “But you’re notalpha.”
Centuries of marching to someone else’s command kept my step steady despite his bluntness. “My queen has her alpha. I don’t need to be alpha toserve.”
“He’s big,” the man admitted as we turned to face the room. “But I think I could take him with my brother’shelp.”
A laugh spluttered out of me before I could contain it. “Good luck withthat.”
Rik caught a sense of where the man’s thoughts were headed through my bond and narrowed a hard look on the waitingbrother.
Mehen’s lips pulled back in a fierce, hard smile as he gave his name toBianca.
Her eyes widened and she gulped, but announced him. “Tlacel Zaniyah and Leviathan GorgonIsador.”
The man standing beside me humphed beneath his breath. “Leviathan? As in king of thedepths?”
Figured. The bastard didn’t give his real name. Not that I could blame him when Leviathan carried so much promise of destruction and mayhem. “Yep.”
“And he didn’t take youralpha?”
I laughed again. I couldn’t help it. “He was too busy being fucked senseless by our alpha and queen to worry about taking anyone’sposition.”
Rik looked at me, waiting for anexplanation.
:He thinks he and his twin could take you. I’m guessing they have designs on becomingBlood.:
Rik’s shoulders and biceps seemed to swell, making him bigger, broader, and meaner than ever. Our queen looked like a child standing beside him, or better yet, our beauty to the massive hulkingbeast.
“Her Majesty, Shara Isador, and her alpha, Alrik HyrrokkinIsador.”
“Hyrrokkin,” the man grunted beside me. “That explains much. Does he shift into a wolftoo?”
I knew the reference he was thinking of—a giantess riding a wolf into battle. But the hell if I’d make things easy for him to figure out. “Nope.”
