Page 40 of Queen Takes King
Rik
Even alpha Bloodoccasionally needed a nap. I opened my eyes, surprised that I’d drifted off when I was so crowded. Daire’s head was on my shoulder, his weight heavy on my arm, Shara’s head on my thigh. Guillaume’s head was tipped back against the sofa and he slept too. Only the new Blood, Xin, remained awake, giving me a slight nod of acknowledgment. Grateful at least one of us had been alert in case we came under threat, I nodded back. He closed his eyes and stroked his fingers lightly on her ankles. A look came over his face that made my chest ache, even the big, mean, alphaBlood.
Reverence.
Yeah. Me too, buddy. Metoo.
I didn’t want to move and disturb her rest, but she’d be hungry when she woke up. We needed to get the nest established, both for her safety and to have a staff take better care of her. I didn’t want to feed my queen takeout pizza all the time, yet I didn’t relish leaving her side a singlemoment.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table. I carefully leaned forward, cradling her head so I didn’t wake her, and snagged it, in case we had an issue that the security guards needed assistancewith.
The text was from Gina.I have an updated list of repairs for your house in ES. Thought I’d bring dinner and discuss what other changes you’d likemade.
Ah, now that was a consiliarius that was thinking ahead and trying to anticipate her queen’s needs. I texted back.This is Rik. She’s sleeping, but that sounds great. Whattime?
7 PM. Howmany?
I grinned. Definitely a good consiliarius—who knew her queen was calling Blood to her as quickly as possible.4 plusher.
Got it.Thanks.
That settled, I started to put the phone back down but Shara opened her eyes, suddenly wide awake. The sleeping Blood snapped alert with her, even Xin who’d only rested a fewmoments.
“Myqueen?”
“I know where he is. I have to find it on a map. And Marne doesn’t know who my real motheris.”
Uneasiness pitched through my stomach but I didn’t react outwardly. “Gina’s coming tonight for dinner. I’m sure she can help you find thelocation.”
She stared up at me, her mouth tensing. “Why are you upset? You’re my alpha. Nothing will changethat.”
I drew her up into my lap, cradling her against my chest. “I’m not upset jealous. I’m worried for yoursafety.”
Guillaume fingered a small blade like he’d start gutting the man. “Who’shewho turns our alpha’s stomach into a pit ofacid?”
“Say her name and Ceresa is dead, my queen,” Xin said rightafter.
I forgot that he and Xin had only just joined us. They didn’t know all the tangled plots in which our queen was embroiled. “One of her gifts is dreaming, and she’s been dreaming of aking.”
“Fuck that shit,” Guillaumemuttered.
“Not you too.” Shara sighed. “What’s so bad about aking?”
“He won’t be Blood,” Guillaume replied, shaking his head. “That means he won’t be dedicated to you, let alone obey you. The only king I ever heard of killed everyone in his mother’s nest. Blood, queen, human, it didn’t matter. He slaughtered themall.”
“Why?”
“He was crazed. He shifted into his beast and couldn’t control it. When he finally shifted back, he found himself sitting among the torn apart remains of his entire family. So he killed himself. He wasn’t even twenty oneyet.”
“You two are older, right?” She turned to look at Xin and Guillaume. “So do you know of a king who was some kind of serpent monster ordragon?”
Xin didn’t have to think very long to reply. “Leviathan, a king born to the Skoloscourt.”
“You asked me about Leviathan last night,” Guillaume said. “But I didn’t know he was a king. I thought you said he was yourfather?”
“I don’t think so now. Not after that dream.” She nibbled on her lip, staring at Xin. “How old are you? Or is that a rude thing to ask anAima?”
The corner of his mouth twitched, as close to a smile as I’d ever seen the eerily-quiet Blood give. “I wouldn’t ask a queen how old she is, but this Blood doesn’t mind. I was born to Princess Taiping’s court in the year712.”
