Page 83 of Queen Takes Checkmate
“Lies,” Ra whispered.
I didn’t leap to defend myself. I didn’t need to. Though sweat trickled between my breasts as I waited, barely breathing, for the confirmation I needed from another source. One that Ra would actually believe. Had the priest left the pyramid? I didn’t dare look behind me. Any reaction at all could tip my hand. No doubts. No fear. No hesitation. I couldn’t crack my calm, confident reserves.
The red serpent tightened on my throat, reminding me of its presence. Urgency coiled its scales into my flesh. I had to get closer. I wouldn’t have a second chance.
The High Priest finally stepped forward several paces to my left, his hands clenched tightly together. “Your Imperial Magnificence, I’m afraid the witch speaks truly. We did find a child queen in Mexico recently. We lost her only thanks to this one’s interference. But the avatar did taste the child enough to recognize Zaniyah.”
Ra’s lips twisted as if he’d smelled something vile. “The house I sent him to destroy centuries ago.”
The High Priest bent low at the waist, not meeting his god’s eyes. “The very one, Lord.”
Ra looked back at me, his eyes whitening, the solar brightness sheeting over like glass.
“Then it’s a pity that Hummingbird is no longer immortal. He will be of no use to you.”
I inclined my head in a single, measured nod, but I didn’t break eye contact with Ra. “A pity, my lord.”
“What do you know that Keisha Skye did not?”
Now I did allow my gaze to slip from his, but only to settle on his cock. He made Guillaume look like a pony, and that was a terrible thought that almost shattered my cool reserve.
My poor knight. What have I done?
I swallowed, trying to use any emotion that had flickered on my face as one he’d recognize, and appreciate, as a man with his particular lusts.
Fear.
Dread.
And yes, shame. All things he wanted women to feel at the prospect of sex. Goddess forbid a woman fucking enjoy her sexuality and revel in it.
Ra chuckled, arching his hips up in an air thrust. “Ah, yes, she enjoyed staring at my rod, too. All queens do.”
Carefully,I reminded myself.Slowly.
Pretending nervous shyness, I flicked my gaze back up to his as I sidled a single step closer. “Did she find pleasure in your arms, my lord?”
He thrust again, deliberately drawing my gaze back to his dick. The same frost spread down his shaft as in his eyes, as if he’d already jizzed and it had frozen on the tip. “The better question is how well did she please me?”
“Did she, my lord?” I whispered, running my gaze down his legs to his ankles. Had the book said which ankle had been bitten by Isis’ snake? I couldn’t remember. It might not matter. “Did she please you well?”
“No.” His voice sharpened, slicing my skin like razor blades. Blood dripped down my cheek, and cuts on both of my arms oozed blood. “She did not.”
A hint of something not gold flashed on his left outside ankle. A trick of the light? Or a scar from a snake bite that had never fully healed? I took another step and jerked to a halt. I curled my arms around my waist as if I’d had second thoughts. I looked back to Huitzilopochtli, braced on his hands and knees, head hanging as he coughed and vomited up chunks of gold stained with my blood.
Was he my pawn, a sacrifice moved to distract the king? Or could I count on him to be my bishop and protect my flank? I couldn’t be sure.
I stepped closer. I could feel the heat rising off of Ra’s body. My skin prickled, uncomfortably dry. He was too hot to even make me sweat. I didn’t want to touch him. I didn’t want to melt.
The snake coiled tighter on my throat, a faint quiver of anticipation. A spring waiting to launch it at our target.
Ten feet. Nine. It wasn’t enough, and the High Priest watched me suspiciously.
“Keisha conceived her daughter, my lord, but Tanza was not a queen. She certainly wasn’ttheSun Queen.” I added emphasis, a stroke to his ego. “She failed you, my lord.”
Ra flicked a finger at me, scattering an arc of gold droplets in the air. “Disrobe.”
My fingers shook as I pushed the single strap of the linen sheath off my shoulder and allowed it to slide down my body.
