Page 61 of Queen Takes Rook
:Good. I hope they’re on their way to her.:
I pulled back gently and focused on my Blood bonds. Xin glided unseen up a series of staircases. He’d be here shortly. Ezra felt further away, perhaps even underground. He moved slowly and carefully through dark, empty halls, his senses alert for the slightest whisper or sign of life.
Guillaume had his head tipped back against the leather seat in the car, pretending to sleep, his body completely relaxed. His scarred hands rested lightly on his thighs as he thought of each blade on his body like a mental exercise. Mehen had been driven out of the limo by his boredom and leaned back against the hood of the long car like a negligent lord surveying his kingdom.
Before I opened my eyes, I focused on the pocket of magic I’d used to hold the period blood inside my body. I cracked it open a little so the blood would start to trickle free.
Time for the demonstration of my life.
I opened my eyes and slipped my arm through Rik’s. He wrapped his other hand over mine on his arm and slid closely enough to me that my skirts fell over his leg. “I’m ready.”
Of course, it wasn’t going to be that easy. Trying to get into my head and rattle my nerves, Keisha had evidently decided to make us wait. Forever. Long enough that my feet—trapped in ridiculous high heels—were starting to ache. Sweat trickled down Rik’s face, his body so hot against me that my thigh and side were sweaty too. But neither of us moved a muscle. I didn’t fidget or shift my weight or look at the woman guarding the door.
I refused to let any impatience tighten my face.
After what seemed like a lifetime, Vega turned and pushed the doors open.
Noise flooded my senses. The clamor of a thousand voices or more, also bored to tears and talking among themselves. The clink of glasses, the murmur of staff passing through the press of people offering trays of hors d’oeuvres.
Then, to make sure I fully understood how thoroughly Keisha Skye was trying to insult us, Vega didn’t announce our names or provide an escort down the hallway.
Daire stepped forward, turned sharply like he was in a military formation, and shouted, “House Isador has arrived!”
The people closest to the doors whispered to the people beside them, spreading news of our arrival through the press of people, even if they couldn’t see us at the door. Slowly, the crowd quieted. Many of them knew Daire and recognized that a good show was about to start.
:Would it be considered rude for each of you to shift?:I asked through our bonds.
:Extremely rude.:Daire’s bond chortled with glee.:You heard our queen.:
“Her Majesty’s Blood, Nevarre Morrigan Isador.”
Nevarre shifted into his glossy black raven, leaving his kilt and suit jacket puddled on the floor. He let out a raucous screech and flew down the hallway, dive bombing at people and tearing at hair and clothes to be as annoying as possible. I hoped to goddess that he crapped on somebody. Hopefully Keisha herself.
Daire scooped up the kilt and handed it to Gina for safekeeping.
“Her Majesty’s Blood, Itztli Zaniyah Isador.”
Itztli shifted to his gigantic black dog and bayed like a hell hound to start the Wild Hunt. Tongue lolling, he sat on his haunches, waiting for his brother. Tlacel picked up the obsidian blade and handed it to Gina with a flourish.
“Her Majesty’s Blood, Tlacel Zaniyah Isador.”
Tlacel leaped into the air, shifting so quickly into his Great Feathered Serpent that some of the people closest to us gasped with wonder. Bright green and teal feathers dotted with red, he cut through the air with a sinuous swipe of his tail that did look like a flying snake. His twin trotted beneath him. People oohed and awed as they passed when they caught a glimpse of such rare Blood.
“Her Majesty, Shara Isador, last daughter of the Great One, Isis, She who is all that has been and is and shall be, with her consiliarius, Gina Isador, and Her Majesty’s alpha Blood, Alrik Hyrrokkin Isador. Not present are Her Majesty’s Blood Guillaume de Payne Isador, Leviathan Gorgon Isador, Wu Tien Xin Isador, and Ezra Ursula Isador.”
:Do you want me to shift?:Rik asked.
:No. I think we’ll have more fun interacting this way, and I’d rather them not know what you are yet.:
Rik and I stepped up beside Daire, and Rik used his booming voice to announce, “Her Majesty’s Blood, Daire Devana Isador.”
Daire shifted into his warcat and padded along with Gina behind us.
Head high, I stepped into the long room. I didn’t look at anything or anyone, and I kept my pace slow and deliberate. I could feel blood smearing on my thighs as I walked. Spreading to the tulle skirt as it moved against my legs.
The first shock rippled through the crowd. Sharp inhales. Gasps. A woman, visibly bleeding from her period, in public, without a care. Entering a huge room crammed with ravenous vampires. Even more…
I was breeding, something that was so rare that their own queen had resorted to torture to try and recreate.
