Page 28 of Queen Takes Rook
Decidereverberated in my head.
If I said no, then many people would die, probably myself included. If I said yes, only one person was sure to die, but I’d have to live with the knowledge that they’d died because of me for the rest of my very long Aima life.
If I didn’t use Her gift, Ra would have more time to hurt and kill people. Maybe the very same people I loved. Maybe he’d attack Zaniyah again, and I wouldn’t be here to pull Xochitl back from the cenote. Maybe he’d get to Winston, mostly alone at my nest while I was away on Isador business, like this trip.
My loved ones could die in countless different ways, indirectly by my hand because of my indecision.
Oroneloved one, indirectly by my hand, but wholly my responsibility to bear.
My chest ached like Itztli had shoved his fist into my ribcage and yanked out my heart this time, but I nodded. I had to protect as many as possible. Save as many as I could.
I thought She would give me blood like Isis had done, but instead, She seized the snake curling up Her thigh in Her fist and yanked it free. By the grimace on Her face and the fresh blood trickling from Her lips, it hurt Her to do so.
The snake hissed and writhed in Her grip. It struck Her forearm, leaving bloody holes in Her flesh, but She didn’t release its coils. She moved Her hand closer to me, and the snake turned its head to glare at me.
I tipped up my chin and willed my tears to dry. I was the last queen of Isis. My mother and father had both died so that I might live. They had paid the ultimate cost to create me.
I would not flinch from my duty.
Even if it bared fangs and hissed with fury to be torn from the Mother of the Gods.
The ruby snake lunged at my face, and this time, She let it go. It sank fangs into my cheek, its small body winding around my neck. It hurt, but nothing like how badly my heart already ached. Shaking, I waited while the snake bit me a few more times, and then grudgingly settled around my throat like a collar, its head over my right breast.
Coatlicue leaned forward and enfolded me in Her arms. “There, my child. It’s done.”
But it wasn’t over. It would never be over. Dread would hang over my heart until I knew which one of my loved ones would die.
* * *
SHARA
Iwoke, sobbing.
Rik pulled me toward him, but I jerked free of his arms and sat up. Moonlight shone through the balcony doors, gauzy white curtains dancing in the gentle breeze like ghosts. Or shrouds.
Fuck. Was everything going to remind me of death now? Would I be able to smile and laugh without remembering that I was going to be sobbing over someone’s dead body?
Sensing my mood, he didn’t wrap me in his arms, but sat beside me, silent and comforting, my rock in the worst storm. Which only made me cry more. What if it was him?
“I’m not going anywhere, my queen.”
I choked on another wracking sob. “You don’t know that. I could lose you. I could lose any of you.”
He didn’t press for answers. Maybe he’d seen enough of my dream to know what the goddess had given me. Or maybe he already knew me so well that he didn’t have to ask questions. He read my heart and soul without effort. He always had.
My other Blood drew near, as silent as my alpha, but just as determined to soothe my wounded heart. They knelt around the bed, not reaching for me or making demands on my person. Just present. Steady. Unquestioning in their desire to be near me and do anything I asked.
“Even if I ask one of you to die for me?”
“Yes,” “aye,” “without fail,” they said, one by one.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered, slinging tears aside angrily. “It’s not fair. I love you too much to ask any of you to die.”
“You won’t have to ask,” Rik replied, his voice ringing with surety despite the soft, soothing rumble of his rock troll. “You never have to ask for anything, my queen. We know. We live to serve, even if that means dying.”
“I will die for you, my queen.” Guillaume offered me one of his blades over his arm. “Now. This very moment. Cut my heart out like Itztli’s. I’m yours.”
“I won’t be able to bring you back. This grave will be final.”
