Page 45 of Queen Takes Rook
When she finally caught up on her sleep and restored her reserves, we switched to watching movies. Winston had a stadium-sized television screen installed in the bedroom, and instead of movie-theater seating, she lounged on us. The bed finally arrived, and it was even bigger than the two kings pushed together. Bonus—it didn’t slide apart when we got too energetic.
Most importantly, we made her laugh, and we never once talked politics. She didn’t even ask to see the legacy, as if she wanted no part of her new powers. Yet.
Marne’s mirror never chimed, or if it did, we didn’t hear it, since Shara had buried it in both salt and ground coffee. She’d also surrounded it by an extra salt circle to be safe. Mayte’s bond remained quiet for the most part as she hunted for a new consiliarius. Ra didn’t attack us. Keisha Skye was a distant memory.
I held Shara’s bond in the forefront of my mind constantly. I was in her mind and body and spirit. While she definitely healed and restored her energy, she was preparing, both mentally and spiritually, for war.
My queen was planning something, but it was so deeply buried and convoluted that even I didn’t fully understand what she had put in motion. We sat on planet Earth whirling at thousands of feet per second, but couldn’t feel a fucking thing.
Until we screeched to a crashing halt with a few simple words.
“I would like to go to New York City.”
Without batting an eye, Gina pulled out her phone. “When, my queen?”
“Next week. Could we go to Broadway? I’ve always wanted to see a live musical or play. Anything is fine.”
“If you wait until February, you could also go to New York Fashion Week. That would be a fantastic way for you to meet some designers…”
“No. I need to go next week. Any day after Sunday should be fine.”
Gina slowly lowered the phone, realization dawning on her face.
Sunday…? I tried to do calendar math in my head, but my skull felt like it’d been stuffed with cotton.
“Holy fucking shit,” Daire breathed, his eyes flying wide.
“What?” Mehen retorted.
I could only stare and hope my tongue wasn’t lolling like a dog’s. My brain shut off out of necessity. All the blood in my body had raced south. Already, I felt the surge of hormones in answer to the promise of her need for me. My nostrils flared, seeking her scent, eager to detect the slightest change in her body temperature or readiness.
“Her period,” Daire choked out. “She’ll be breeding.”
Eight Bloods’ heads swung my direction.
“You’re shitting me,” Mehen replied. “Next week? And you’re going to travel into Skye’s territory, rather than holing up in your nest to fuck your alpha’s brains out?”
She huffed out a soft laugh. “Don’t I always fuckallyour brains out? I don’t need to stay in my nest to do so, either. But yes, next week I should start bleeding, and I must be in New York City at the height of my period.”
Gina got up and hurried out. “I’ll be right back. Let me get my tablet. It’ll be easier to plan on.”
I cleared my throat so roughly that it felt like I’d swallowed razor blades. Yet I could only manage a garbled, “Why?”
“The power, surely,” Guillaume said with a grimace. “Though I’d rather you not expose yourself when you’re vulnerable like that. Rik won’t be at his best.”
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Rik will be at his absolute best. He’ll be obsessed with me. Wholly focused on me and pumped with alpha power. I will be stronger, but that’s not why I’m waiting to challenge Keisha Skye until next week.”
“It’s a message,” Daire said.
Even though she only wore one of my old soft cotton T-shirts and a pair of panties, she tipped her head up, her shoulders back and proud, and I could see the fucking crown on her head. “Yes. I can breed. I don’t need to resort to dark magic or torture to try and have a child. I care so little about having an heir that I’m not even staying home in my nest, but traveling to my enemy’s territory for some R&R.”
Gina came back in and sat down beside the bed. Typing rapidly, she was quiet for a few moments and then looked up at Shara. Her eyes flashed, her mouth a hard line of determination. If our queen was going into battle, so was she. “I’ve got my immediate staff online and ready to implement your plans immediately.”
“Thank you. Can they hear me?”
Gina nodded and turned the tablet around to show Marissa and Angela pressed closely to the camera, waiting for their orders.
“We’re going to New York City because I want to see a musical or play.Hamiltonwould be great, but if we can’t get tickets…”
