Page 38 of Queen Takes Knights
Alrik
I don’t know why my anger still simmered just beneath the surface. When I opened the door to the bar Daire pointed out, I had to deliberately think about opening the door gently, not tearing it off its hinges. Music throbbed in the air, some band I didn’t recognize. A few people sat at the industrial-looking bar and a couple of tables, but the place wasn’t packed yet. Come five o’clock I imagined this place would be humming. So probably a good idea to head out well before dark, though I didn’t appreciate the fact that she was scared to be out at night.
My queen was not scared. Ever.
Daire snagged her hands and pulled her out onto the empty dance floor. “Get us some drinks!”
Deep breath. Relax the fists. Try not to growl at the man behind the bar who was looking at my queen appreciatively. I ordered three drafts, since I had no idea what Shara would like, and carried the mugs to a table in the corner near the rear exit sign. Then I sat and watched her. Everyone in the bar did.
She was fucking beautiful for one thing, especially in that silver dress. Daire whirled her around, making her laugh, and I swear my heart grew ten sizes too big for my chest. She looked at me, her brow furrowed, as though worried what I thought. Afraid I was jealous. And I was, but not for the reasons she feared. She should laugh and dance, every day, every minute. She shouldn’t be afraid or solemn.
And Daire would always be the one to make her laugh. Not me.
The song ended so they headed toward our table. A few people clapped as she walked by, startling her into a blush that only made her more gorgeous. My fangs and dick both ached. I hadn’t fed last night. Hadn’t needed to. But I was definitely feeling the lack tonight. Maybe that explained my bad mood.
She took a sip of the foamy beer and made a face. Daire started to slide out of the booth to get her another drink, but she stopped him with a hand on his arm. “This is fine. I’ve just never had beer for before.”
“I can get you a glass of wine. Red or white?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t had that either until last night. I haven’t been in a place where I felt safe enough to risk impairing my senses with alcohol.”
“Uh oh, now you’ve done it.” Daire winked at me. “Now you’ve given us an excuse to get you totally wasted.”
“Not out here,” she whispered, looking around. “What time is it?”
I clenched my jaws so hard my teeth ached.
“We’ve only been here fifteen minutes,” Daire replied. “At least drink some more of your beer.”
She looked at me, her eyes gleaming. “And dance with Rik before we leave.”
I had four left feet and moved as gracefully as a mountain when I didn’t have a weapon in my hand or an enemy to eliminate. “As my queen wishes.”
More people started to stream in, keeping my senses on high alert, even though I didn’t expect a thrall to just walk into a human bar. I could feel her anxiety leaking through our bond, too. Her flight response was screaming that it was time to move. Time to leave. Hide. Now. When Daire drained his mug in several long gulps, I knew it was affecting him too.
“I need to hit the rest room,” she said.
Daire scooted to the edge of the bench and helped her up. I stood too, not willing to let her out of my sight, not with her fear so high. “Watch our drinks,” I told him, and then followed her to the opposite side of the building. She hesitated at the entrance to a dark hallway. No windows and very little light made it hard to see for human eyes, but she shouldn’t have any issues. Concerned, I stepped closer to her, letting her feel the heat and nearness of my body. “What is it?”
I could hear her heart thumping quicker. “I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel right down there. Can we go? Please?”
I intended to step around her and investigate that hallway, because nothing was going to make her beg. Nothing. But she turned to face me, pressing against my body, her arms coming around me.
“I don’t want to have to leave Kansas City until wewantto leave.”
“Why would we have to leave?”
She pressed her lips to my throat. “Because you get into some bloody fight with a monster, with all these witnesses to take pictures and post online. Or because you called me ‘Your Majesty’ in front of that sales lady. People talk, and they’re curious, and with today’s technology, there is no such thing as a secret. Not for long.”
I tightened my arms around her, lifting her slightly so my dick nestled into the sweet softness of her body. Her breath caught. Her fingers tightened. I felt her teeth—very human teeth, sadly—at my throat and something cracked inside me. I had her up against the wall, her thighs open, my hand sliding up under that gorgeous dress.
Skin. Pubes. Not underwear.
Fucking hell. My queen was walking around completely bare. Evidently my brain shut off because all the blood in my body had drained south. Worse, my power surged and rock hardened beneath my skin—and not just in my pants. “Where are your panties?” I rasped out, trying to get myself back under control before I transformed into the rock troll and became a national news sensation.
“My period started and I tossed them in the trash at the clothes store.”
I had to have missed some words. Misunderstood. Period. I knew what that was, but… but…
