Page 22 of Queen Takes Checkmate
But because I felt my queen’s hunger.
I knew that thirst. I’d suffered centuries, unable to feed. Unable to quench the terrible thirst.
Shara had ten Blood at her disposal and still burned for more. Despite the throbbing of her fangs, she gently took the other woman’s hand in hers and lifted her wrist to her mouth.
Gwen’s blood filled my queen with ancient strength. This queen didn’t currently have much power, but her potential was considerable, even without tasting Shara’s blood. Honeyed mead filled Shara’s senses, along with the clamor of war and the brutal clash of swords. Guinevere had always been at the heart of war. Through the centuries, she’d been blamed for Camelot’s downfall. Her infidelity with her husband’s knight had led to King Arthur’s downfall, so the stories went.
I tasted secrets in Shara’s new bond. Dark secrets and old hurts. And yes, far in distant lands, the faint tug on her heart, as if fragile strings stretched almost too far, almost too thin, but held against the world.
Gwen laughed softly, even though her tears fell harder. “He lives. He’s still free and he’s coming.”
“Very nearly one-hundred percent likelihood of success,” Carys whispered hoarsely. “If he’s at her side, New York City will always be yours, Your Majesty.”
“He will,” Gwen swore. “Nothing will keep him from me.”
Shara lifted her head and licked her lips, her eyes blazing with hunger. She held her wrist to Guillaume, even as she turned to Carys and motioned her closer. Guillaume made the same neat cut on our queen’s wrist for Gwen, and then turned to cut Carys so our queen could formalize that bond as well.
Carys went down on her knees and offered her bleeding wrist, but Shara didn’t reach for her. Instead, she stared at the owl.
Her bonds surged with fresh strength, but she didn’t use any of that new power base to compel or force the giant bird.
“What do you think, Winnifred?” Carys asked, stroking her fingers over the owl’s head. She tipped her head a moment, and then she beamed up at Shara. “She says you truly are the Great One’s daughter. We eagerly serve House Isador.”
Guillaume snapped to attention and the rest of the Blood still in human shape joined him in saluting our queen with a fist over their hearts. “Long live Shara fucking Isador!”
7
Shara
Two new bonds gleamed in my head. My two new sibling queens, Gwen and Carys, both on their knees, looked up at me with equal doses of awe and terror as they tasted the power burning in my blood and felt the surge in their own gifts.
Isis’ blood flowed through me to them, stirring their magic to new heights. Both already felt stronger in my head. Gwen managed to take quite a bit of my blood, much more than Mayte had been able to take the first time. I could feel my power resonating in Gwen like a deep echo. She had plenty of depth to her power, and the social skills that would be beneficial here.
Carys only took a few swallows and slouched back on her heels, her eyes fuzzy, as if she’d downed a pint or two at the pub rather than a little of my blood.
“Oh, my.” She giggled, and the owl stepped closer to her neck and nestled up against her cheek. “That is… Wow. Yeah. Shara fucking Isador indeed.”
Amused, I gave a nod to Guillaume, and he helped both women to their feet, though Carys needed a steadying hand.
“Your Majesty, what are your orders?” Gwen asked.
“I want the former Skye sibs sorted and formally sworn to Isador if they’re going to stay. If they want to leave, that’s fine.”
Virginia stuck her head in the door. I thought she’d left already, but maybe she really didn’t have anywhere else to go. “What about our share of the Skye legacy?”
I looked over at the two consiliari. Madeline scanned through a file on her tablet and whispered to Gina, who nodded and then spoke aloud. “Your Majesty, Madeline has already prepared a final tally for each queen’s share of the Skye legacy, according to the agreements between Keisha and each queen at the time of their sibling agreement.”
I didn’t really care about the numbers. Gina knew that. So she must have a reason for discussing it. “I see. Madeline, what were the details of Virginia Athos’s agreement with House Skye?”
“Virginia was to receive a set amount of one hundred thousand dollars each year she remained in House Skye, for a grand total of ten million, three hundred and thirty-three thousand dollars, rounded to the nearest dollar and prorated to include today.” Madeline looked up at me, making sure she had my attention. “But all funds were forfeited at Keisha Skye’s death.”
“What? No!” Virginia strode back toward us, though a low snarl from Itztli kept her from coming within twenty paces of me. “That can’t be.”
Madeline’s mouth quirked, her eyes gleaming as she tapped on the tablet and then proceeded to read. “‘Upon Keisha Skye’s death, all sibling agreements will pass seamlessly to her designated heir. If no heir has been declared in writing and legitimately recognized by the Triune, then this sibling agreement will be nullified, and all funds will revert to House Skye’s legacy account.’”
Damn, she really was relishing this, especially the accounting and contract aspect. Even Gina grinned as the other consiliarius revealed the intricacies she’d deliberately written into the agreement to protect her house’s interest at the time.
“As this court knows full well, Keisha Skye did not have an heir after her daughter’s death. She refused to name any other heir until she was able to have another child.”
