Page 50 of Queen Takes Knights
“Kings are born with power of their own. They don’t need or even want a queen, which makes them extremely volatile. Honestly, they’re usually driven mad before they reach adulthood, overcome with powers they can’t control, urges they don’t understand, and no one can help them tame those dark needs. As a young male, I heard the tales of Aima kings gone mad, ravaging entire nests, killing his queen mother and any other heirs. Slaughtering Blood as easily as humans. These stories were our form of the Boogie Man, I guess. Even the Skotos Triune will exile a king to protect their queens.”
“The raven didn’t seem crazy, just… angry. Angry that he was too late. Do you have any idea who he could be?”
“A raven with Druid magic would very likely be from the Morrigan’s house.”
I didn’t know a lot about ancient goddesses, but even I knew that another name for the Morrigan was the Phantom Queen. I buried my face against his throat and a heavy pang thudded my heart. “I bit him, but I didn’t have fangs. It was awful. I had teeth like Greyson.”
Unbothered by my admission, Alrik kissed the top of my head and squeezed me gently. “I won’t mind whatever teeth you have.”
He might not mind crocodile teeth on his queen, but I felt his unease through the bond. He wanted me safe. That meant more Blood. But he wanted to remain as my alpha, too.
If a king was meant to join me…
Did a king overtake the alpha’s position? I was afraid to ask, but his worry told me that his position would very likely be at risk.
Which I didn’t like. Not one bit. I wanted him and Daire like this. Every night. I couldn’t imagine anyone else inserting himself between us.
I felt Daire before I heard him. In his warcat form, he padded into the room and jumped onto the bed beside me. I rolled over and rubbed my face into his fur and he rumbled out a deep, bone-rattling purr.
:I believe someone approaches, my queen.:
My heart pounded and ice trickled down my spine. But Alrik only folded tighter against my back, pressing me against Daire. “He saidsomeone, not a threat.”
Daire shifted to his human form, letting me feel his fur melt away to hot muscled flesh. “I feel someone out there, but I couldn’t get a good scent yet. I’m guessing he’ll arrive midday.”
I closed my eyes, relaxing back into their arms. I pulled up the tapestry of our surroundings and immediately, my attention was drawn to the east by a red glow, like a campfire burned in the wilderness. I touched the glow, soaking in as much as I could despite the distance separating us. Male. Older, scarred, tough. At my touch, he flared brighter and I had a sense of galloping hooves. “That’s what you looked like when I first felt you.”
“Then a third Blood will soon join our ranks.” Through our bond, I felt Alrik stretch toward that red glow. He prodded, hard, and the glow flickered and warmed, but it didn’t go out or blaze taller. Just hotter. He blew out a breath and seemed satisfied with whatever he’d found.
I rolled over and looked at him, one brow arched. “What was that about?”
Daire chuckled. “It’s the Bloods’ way of seeing whose dick is bigger. Our big guy won, by the way. Rik is still alpha.”
“As if there was any doubt.” He flashed a grin at my words and nudged me with his bigger dick. Daire kissed my nape, his still very impressive dick like a hot rod against my ass. Desire flooded me, my core already aching. In the night, I felt that red glow burn hotter. The campfire burst into wildfire as he thundered toward us. “We’re definitely going to need a bigger bed.”
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