Page 8 of Queen Takes Rook
“It’s too early to know what you’ll call, sweetie.”
I sensed hesitation in Mayte’s bond, a reluctance to disappoint her daughter. Mayte’s mother and grandmother before her had only ever called jaguars, so it was very likely that Xochitl’s goddess would give her the same gifts.
Xochitl looked back at me. “What else do you have in your Blood?”
“A rock troll, warcat, hell horse, wolf, dragon, raven, and a bear. Plus, your uncles can shift into a giant black dog and a feathered serpent.”
Xochitl tipped her chin up, her eyes gleaming with sudden determination. “Then I’m going to call unicorns.”
My power stirred, my hair fluttering softly about my face. Staring into her brown eyes, I asked her solemnly, “Are you sure that’s what you want? Unicorns?”
“Yes. That’s all I want. Forever and ever.”
My power shimmered inside me, shifting with her intention. Isis could give her this gift through me. I touched Mayte’s bond.:My goddess is willing to make this gift, if you aren’t opposed.:
I felt a surge of tearful emotion from her.:Blessed be, thank you, Great One. Yes, please, I would give her anything in my power, but I cannot give her any Blood but jaguars.:
:Has she had blood before? I don’t think I can give this power to her otherwise.:
:Yes, she’s had mine and her father’s. She knows what it means, though she has no need to feed yet. She doesn’t have fangs yet.:
I looked back into the child’s eyes, shining with such promise. I didn’t want to call down my massive fangs and scare her, so I held my hand up for Rik. He carefully punctured the tip of my index finger and I offered my blood to the child. “Take your gift of unicorns, Xochitl. Make them yours.”
Her rosebud mouth closed over my finger and she sucked hard, like I was a piece of candy and she was determined to get every drop. Her eyes spun rainbows for a moment, glittering like crystals and diamonds. Then she pulled back and smiled brightly. “I can’t wait to grow up now, so I can have my unicorns!”
Mayte smiled, her eyes glittering just as brightly as her daughter’s, but with tears. “What do you say, dearest?”
“Thank you, my queen.”
“You’re very welcome, Xochitl, Princess of Unicorns.”
“I’m going to go tell Papa!” She jumped off my lap and raced for the door, but paused, looking back at me over her shoulder. “You will go for a ride though? Please?”
I laughed and nodded. “Of course. If Guillaume doesn’t mind.”
“Yay!” She skipped out the door.
I turned my attention back to my food. After a few moments, Mayte said, “You’re very good with her. You will make a wonderful mother.”
“Maybe someday.”
Mayte gave me a questioning look, her brow furrowed. “You don’t want children? I assumed… Well, I mean, if you can have a child, and children are so rare to our kind, I thought you’d be eager to have as many children as possible. The power you’ll gain will be immense.”
“How old were you when you had Xochitl?”
“Nearly two-hundred-and-thirty years old, but only because I couldn’t have children. I tried everything we could think of for decades. Every queen does.”
“I’m only twenty-two. I’ve been alone for the last five years, on the run and scared to death. I’ve only had my Blood and known what I even am for a few weeks. There are a million things I must do before I can even think about settling down into my nest and having a child. Not the least of which is making sure we’re all safe.”
“Certainly, take care of Keisha Skye and Marne Ceresa first, but—”
“They’re not my only enemies,” I whispered softly. “In fact, they’re not even the worst of my enemies.”
Mayte’s eyes widened and she dropped her voice to a whisper. “Who’s worse than Marne?”
“Ra.”
“The god of light? What does he have to do with you?”
