Page 23 of Queen Takes Checkmate
I wondered if Keisha had planned to name Tanza as her heir again, if she could ever be cured from the darkness living inside her, or if Keisha had some other contingency built into her legacy. It would be interesting to discuss with Madeline in private, but I didn’t care for these other queens to know the details.
Virginia made a soft sound of dismay. “Then I’m truly damned. No house will take me in if I can’t offer a price.”
I looked at Gwen. “Do you wish to accept Virginia as our sibling?”
She didn’t mask her disgust. “Not unless you order it, Your Majesty.”
I turned to Madeline. “Give her the sum Keisha promised to her. Give any of the queens who wish to leave their share of the legacy. I don’t want it, and I don’t want them if they wish to leave.”
Madeline’s eyes widened but she nodded. “At once, Your Majesty.”
I looked over at the waiting queens. “Gwen will meet with you one by one and decide whether you’re welcome to stay, or if she wishes you to leave. You may leave if you wish. Either way, you’ll be paid your share of the Skye legacy. I want this resolved as quickly as possible.”
I met Gina’s gaze and before I could ask if she’d talked with Madeline about my offer for her to stay on as my second consiliarius, she nodded imperceptibly. “If there are any new amendments to the sibling agreements, I’ll discuss them with my consiliari tomorrow.”
Gwen stared at me, her eyes wide, though she didn’t dare question me in front of the others. I read her shock in the bond. She hadn’t really expected much freedom and power to make decisions on behalf of my house.
But the Great One’s approval bubbled up inside me every time I looked at my new sibling. Gwen Findabair was Isis’ choice to rule New York City.
:I trust you to decide who to keep and who should leave. You know them personally. If you have any reason to doubt or question their intent, send them packing. I don’t want anyone here that doesn’t want to be with us.:
She twitched slightly at my touch in her mind, and then replied hesitantly, as if shocked that I would allow such liberties.:As you wish, Your Majesty.:
She inclined her head and said aloud, “We’ll go through the complete registry and write new sibling agreements for each queen and house.”
“Call me Shara, please. All of you. Gina, let’s schedule a meeting for us first thing tomorrow to discuss contracts and Gwen’s choices so far.”
Gina smiled. “Of course. Let’s shoot for one tomorrow afternoon, but if we need to move it to two, I’ll keep our calendars open.”
Madeline had a polite, blank look on her face that didn’t disguise her confusion, Carys was still higher than a kite, and Gwen had a puzzled look on her face as she said hesitantly, “I thought you said first thing tomorrow? So shouldn’t we meet in the morning?”
I laughed out loud as I tucked my arm around Rik’s. “On a good day, I’m a late riser, and after the day this has been, I’ll probably want to sleep for a week. So even getting here by tomorrow afternoon will be a feat. Madeline, we’ll formalize a consiliarius agreement first, and then Gwen and Carys can join us for the sibling discussion.”
Gina nodded, already moving away with the determined stride of a general going to war. “Get some sleep, Shara. We’ve got things well in hand here.”
Just the thought of finally slipping away in the warmth and safety of my bed made my knees sag. Rik scooped me up and headed for the door. Closing my eyes, I rested against him, soaking in his heat.
A muffled oomph made me open my eyes and I rose up to look back over Rik’s shoulder. Guillaume blocked Carys from following after me. “Her Majesty has no need of you at this time.”
“But… but… I need to be with her. At all times. I’ve seen the probabilities.” Carys raised her voice enough the owl flapped her wings restlessly. “Please, Shara, I must come with you. You may need my gift at a moment’s notice.”
I liked the woman well enough, but it still seemed weird to have people living with me.
Daire snorted in our bond.:We live with you and that’s not weird.:
:But you’re my Blood. You’re mine. I want you with me always.:
:She’s yours too.:
I glanced back at her, waiting to see if I felt any physical attraction for her. I’d been surprised about how much I’d enjoyed having Mayte in my bed, but I didn’t feel any desire when I looked at Carys. I loved her candor and wit, but I didn’t see myself sleeping with her. Let alone fucking her.
Her eyes went round, her lips pursing with surprise. Evidently, she’d picked up on my thoughts through our new bond. :I have no such aspirations, Your Majesty, not for you, or any person, to be honest. Winnifred is my only companion.:
Daire rubbed against Rik’s legs and flicked his tail up to brush over my fingers.:She’s still yours, and you don’t have to fuck every sibling you take. Think of her as a sister, or the crazy spinster aunt with a thousand cats.:
The owl squawked and Carys patted her head soothingly. “No cats. I promise. May this crazy spinster aunt accompany you, Your Majesty? I would rather be close, so that I’m at your beck and call at a moment’s notice.”
Nuzzling back into Rik’s embrace, I sighed. “She can come with us, G. But will someone let Winston know, so he can call ahead and have Magnum prepare a room for her?”
