Page 14 of Queen Takes Checkmate
Mehen grunted sourly.:Great. The last thing we need is a grumpy sib.:
Ezra snorted softly.:Irony’s a bitch, ain’t it, dragon?:
“I’m assuming you know about Marne Ceresa’s favorite way of communicating with other queens.”
“She sent you a bloody mirror? I’ll be damned.” Whistling softly beneath her breath, Carys shook her head. “Maybe you can play with the big dogs after all, girl. There’s an empty seat on the Triune. That’s why Keisha came after me.”
I tried not to bristle atgirl, though my welcoming attitude definitely cooled. “What does the Triune seat have to do with House Tylluan?”
“Absolutely nothing. She didn’t come after my house. She came afterme.” Her tone sharpened. Evidently, she liked repeating herself about as much as I enjoyed being called girl. “I have a unique gift that makes me very valuable for a powerful queen with an eye on the Triune. Hell, any strategy, but especially the greatest game of all. We tried to keep it quiet, but some moron blabbed and here came Keisha Skye, demanding we solidify an ancient sibling agreement that no one had cared about for centuries.”
Intrigued, I tried to think what unique power she might possess. She didn’t feel that strong to me, though I didn’t have much experience on which to base such a judgement. Gina said a queen’s strength was like a weight in the air, but I sensed nothing.
Carys laughed, shaking her head. “You can’t feel me, right? I don’t feel like I have any power at all, and compared to you, I don’t. But I do have one specific power that can make me extremely valuable to the right person.”
If she wasn’t strong with power, then she might not be the best sib to hold New York City. I touched Gina’s bond.:I think we need another candidate to hold the city.:
Gina nodded slightly in agreement and headed for the door.
I studied Carys a moment, weighing my alternatives. I decided to lay my cards on the table. “I’d intended to ask you to hold New York City in my stead.”
She recoiled like I’d slapped her in the face and called her a filthy name. “Goddess preserve me, no. Please. I’d rather be burned at the stake or drawn and quartered than ever run a nest this size. I know my limitations. I’d be horrible at running a nest. Absolutely horrible. Any nest, but especially in a city this large.”
The owl on her shoulder chirped and rustled its feathers, puffing itself up like it was angry. Or excited. I couldn’t tell which.
Absently, Carys reached up and stroked the owl’s head. It nestled against her neck and started making a whirring sound somewhere between a purr and a dove’s coo. “There, there, Winnie. She doesn’t know. She didn’t mean it.”
I leaned back against Rik and waited for her to settle herself and the owl, so she could explain what the hell was going on. Rik stroked me, one hand on my arm, the other sliding beneath my arm and up my sweater so he could palm my stomach, spreading his fingers to cover as much of my skin as possible.
Hunger stirred again, even though I’d just had a taste of Ezra. A taste wasn’t enough, especially after all the shit I’d already done today. I just wanted to go home. Home home, my manor. My nest. I ached for it almost as badly as I ached for Rik to bury himself deep inside me, both fangs and dick.
An idea sprouted.:Remember how we rode your motorcycles to Kansas City that first time? Do you think we could ride back to Eureka Springs?:
:If you’d like:Rik nuzzled my throat.:Though I’d rather have you safely in a car.:
Daire laughed in our bonds. :Better yet, a tank.:
:No tanks. I want to feel the wind in my face. Surely with all of us together, we’ll be strong enough to make such a short trip.:
Carys focused on my face, though she was still pale, as if she’d seen a ghost.
Rik gripped my throat in his teeth a moment, making me moan softly, even though he didn’t puncture my skin.:What about Ra?:
My face hardened.:I have to face him eventually.:
“Oh. Oh, my.” Carys stepped closer, drawing a rumbling growl from Ezra and Daire. She jerked to a halt, but then dropped to her knees in front of me. “I’ll swear to House Isador.”
I leaned forward, searching her eyes, watching for anything suspicious. “Why now?”
“Whatever you’re planning, I need to be a part of it. You need me.”
“How do you know?”
She lifted her hand up to the owl and stroked its head again. “Winnifred tells me things.”
“Your power is speaking to your owl?”
Carys snorted and the owl chirped again with a decidedly disgusted tone. “Not at all. She can speak to whomever she chooses. However, she will only speak to people she trusts. Winnie is Blodeuwedd’s avatar and my very good friend.”
