Page 28 of Queen Takes Knights
Shara placed her hand over Gina’s and smiled. “It’s not your fault that I had no idea all this existed. Thanks for taking care of everything for so long.” She looked at me and Daire, her face softening. “I know it makes you angry, but I’m sort of glad I had these past years alone. It was awful at times—but I also learned how to be on my own, how to protect myself, and how to live in the real world with very few resources or help. I have a feeling I’m going to need all those skills and more to deal with the Triune.”
Gina spent the next hour going over bank and credit cards, how to access her money at any time with a phone call, and then made arrangements to get her passport picture taken. “Can you drive? Or do you have the desire to learn?”
“I took driver’s ed in school before I left, but I never got my license. I could use a refresher.”
“Your mother’s car is in the garage. I’ll arrange a private instructor.” Gina laid out a set of keys. “These are spares, in case you can’t find hers. We’ve had it serviced regularly and the tank is full. Will you be living here?”
She looked around the room and then settled her gaze on me. “What do you think?”
“Daire and I will explore the exterior, see how defensible the house is. I saw the salt walking in, but that doesn’t mean the whole house is safe.” I listened to her bond, sorting through her emotions. She was a bit numb from all the bombshells and exhausted. Rest would be ideal before she had to make any decisions. Deeper, though, I sensed sadness, and even fear. No matter how safe we made this house, she’d always remember her parents had died here. I didn’t think she’d want to make this place her permanent nest. “Daire, why don’t you start the inspection. I’ll make some dinner. Gina, will you stay?”
“Thank you, but no.” Gina stood, so Shara did too, and I stood with my queen. “I’m sure you’re exhausted and you need time to sort things through without a stranger to interfere. My card is in the folder, and…” She set a cell phone on the table and then snapped her briefcase closed. “My number is already programmed in. Call me day or night. It doesn’t matter how minor the question or need, Your Majesty. I’m at your disposal.”
Shara hugged her. Surprise flickered over Gina’s face, then teary affection and gratitude. “Thank you for everything.”
Gina sniffed as she pulled back and gathered her things. “No, thank you, Shara. I’m so honored to work for you. I’ll leave the legacy with you for now, but it doesn’t have to stay in your presence to give you power. I thought you might like to have access to it for a few days.”
Shara glanced at the four jars warily, as if they might come alive and bite her. “Are they safe to touch and handle?”
“Of course. They’ve survived thousands of years, dozens of wars, and even queen fighting queen to possess. I doubt you could break one of the jars if you tried. But when you’re finished with them, I’ll put them back in the safe. I also have a large amount of Isador jewelry stored for you. When you want to examine or take any of it, please let me know.”
“Should I hide it somewhere in the house?” Shara put the lid back on the box and the lines disappeared, making it look like one seamless block of wood again. “I don’t think we have a safe here. I guess I could lock it in the safe room.”
“You don’t feel it, since the legacy is yours.” Gina covered the box with the white blanket, tucking it over the old book on the coffee table. “But I’ve been told there’s an overwhelming sense of dread and danger that anyone else feels when they come close to it. For someone to mess with it, they’d have to get through the locked gates and doors, bypass your Blood, and then overcome the legacy’s own protections to take it. Even if they took it, they wouldn’t be able to open it. So I see no reason you can’t just leave it here until you’re ready for me to return it to the safe with your jewels.”
We saw her out, and after I shut and locked the front door, she stood in the entry way, looking a little lost. She hugged herself, looking around as if she’d never seen the house before, yet recognized every room. I took her hand and kissed her knuckles. I smelled a hint of blood, and so turned her hand until I found her thumb that she’d pricked to open the legacy. I licked the dried smear from her skin, and even that small taste made hunger twist like a knife in my stomach.
She stepped closer, linking her arms around my neck, and laid her head on my chest. I held her, giving her all my strength and comfort through the bond.
“It’s… weird. To be here, I mean, in my parents home, without them. There’s a lot of memories here, both good and bad. But mostly bad. It’s easy to forget all the good times, you know?”
“Yeah.” I tightened my arms, determined to wipe the many years of fear and loneliness from her memory. “So let’s work hard on creating some new good memories.”
Daire
Even in broad daylight, my cat prowled beneath the surface. I could almost feel its fur beneath my skin, rolling and swishing like a tail.
I paced the exterior of the house, checking all windows and access points. Ms. Talbott’s crew knew what they were about. A thick line of salt encircled the entire house in safety. The windows were all original leaded glass, full of minerals and impurities that thralls wouldn’t easily break through. A solid wrought iron fence surrounded the yard, with tight, locked gates.
I accidentally stepped on one of the border plants, and smelled garlic. An usual planting for sure, but another deterrent. Thorny rose bushes added to the defenses.
Solid brick, wrought iron, salt. Not impenetrable, but definitely difficult for one of the thralls to get through without causing itself damage.
I paused, looking up at the house. It had that old-world mansion feel, but somehow I couldn’t see Shara here. I’d be surprised if she wanted to make a nest here, but the choice was hers. I’d live in an off-grid hut in Alaska as long as she was there.
I was tempted to open a vein and line the property with my blood as an extra warning. But I didn’t want to waste my blood if she wanted it. She hadn’t fed today.
I didn’t need to search for her bond. She glowed like moonfire in my mind, spinning rainbows and light into the darkest corners. She didn’t like being back in the house much. So I definitely wasn’t going to mark the entire property with my blood.
Hurrying back to her side, I found them in the kitchen. She sat on the center island watching Rik at the stove. She looked so fucking adorable, swinging her legs, still in her leather jacket that she’d been so excited to get. Fucking made me want to buy her something every single day just to see her smile like that again.
That was better than beating the shit out of no one in particular to get the rage out of my head that she’d been denied so much for most of her life. The welcoming smile on her lips pulled me in like a ceaseless tide. I wrapped an arm around her and tucked my nose against her throat.
“Smells good,” and I didn’t mean just the food.
“Alrik said he’s never seen a better-stocked refrigerator. It looks like a grocery store in here. A high-end crazy grocery store. It’s a good thing he didn’t ask me what I wanted him to make because I wouldn’t have any idea.”
I didn’t meet Rik’s gaze for fear that both of us would spontaneously combust with fury. I didn’t want to think about the nights she hadn’t had enough to eat. Or the fact that she didn’t have more than a single backpack of possessions. “Whatever he makes will be good, I promise you that.”
