Page 8 of Queen Takes King
“I have a few ideas for our other human visitor,” Gina said. “By your leave, Your Majesty, I’ll make a fewcalls.”
Heavy footsteps thumped into the room, drawing her attention. “Of course, thank you,Gina.”
Since I was still fully connected to Rik, I felt his initial reaction as the man entered theroom.
Overwhelmingdread.
Not something I expected to feel from my alpha.Ever.
Alrik
I recognized the newBlood.
Few of our kind carried the kind of scars or signs of age that he did because we healed and aged so well. Even though he wore jeans and a simple long-sleeved button-up shirt, I could almost hear the jingle of chain mail and the unmistakable sound of steel being drawn. He stepped into the living room, drawing Shara’s attention, and I heard the ticking of the timer counting down to the end of my life much tooquickly.
I pulled back from Daire, but it was too late. He felt my initial reaction and his eyes narrowed, claws unsheathing in hismind.
:Hold,:I ordered, willing him with every ounce of alpha drive I possessed to obey me. Claws sheathed, he turned to look at the newBlood.
:He doesn’t look like much,:Daire said with a snort.:Your rock troll will smash him tobits.:
I didn’t reply, but concentrated on locking down all my uneasiness. Control. No doubt. No hesitation. I’d tested the new Blood last night. I’d felt his response. He wouldn’t challenge me for alpha. He wouldn’t haveto.
The man’s step hesitated slightly when he saw us, especially Daire on the floor. He came a few steps closer, but kept his distance, his gaze locked on Shara. Daire and I were beneath his notice at this point, and I couldn’t fault him for that. I’d have been hard pressed to look anywhere but her too when I first felt hercall.
But he shocked the hell out of me when he knelt and then stretched out face first on the floor, arms spread wide, hands empty. “My queen, I come in peace in answer to yourcall.”
“What are you doing? Get up. I don’t require such…” Her words fell off, as if she only just realized that Daire sat on the floor at her feet. “Please, you don’t have to do that. Who areyou?”
He lifted his head and moved his hands in front of him, braced palm down on the floor, but he still didn’t look into my eyes. He didn’t want to antagonize the alpha. At least not yet. “Guillaume de Payne, YourMajesty.”
Daire twitched so hard it jolted her body against mine so I felt his alarm without tapping his bond. He recognized the name at least. A low, rumbling growl started up from his chest and he raked claws on the floor in a warningscreech.
“Daire.” She only said his name, but it was enough to quiet him. “What’swrong?”
“I see my reputation proceeds me.” Guillaume’s mouth twisted in a wry smile. “As I said, Blood, I come in peace. I come tohercall. No queen commandsme.”
“What reputation?” She asked, stroking her fingers through Daire’s hair to calmhim.
The little fucker started to purr, already relaxing against her. It wasn’t his head on the line. “He has a reputation for wooing a queen long enough to kill heralpha.”
Shara shot to her feet, digging in her pocket for herknife.
It amused and touched me at the same time. That she thought to defend me, albeit with a little pocketknife that would make a Blood laugh, let alone one with Payne’s reputation. Especially when she had Isador magic at her disposal. I stood too, towering over her back and the Blood on the floor. But I held my tongue. If she wanted to take this Blood, I’d say nothing. Nothing at all. Exactly as the dozens of alphas before me who’d met their fate at Payne’s sword. Alpha or not, no Blood commanded his queen. Notone.
She flicked the blade open, holding it out to her side, arm stiff. “Get.Out.”
“Myqueen—”
“I’m not your queen,” she retorted. “You won’t have him. Do you hear me? You won’t lay a finger on him. You’ll turn around and march straight out mydoor.”
I settled my hands on her shoulders, but I didn’t draw her back against me. “You should hear himout.”
She shook beneath my hands. “You want me to accept him? Even if he killsyou?”
Payne stayed on his belly, but looked at her evenly. “I’ll swear any oath you ask of me, my queen. I’ll swear to never touch your alpha, any of your Blood, whatever you wish. If you only allow me to stay in yourservice.”
“Fuck you and fuck your oaths. Why should I trust you, a man I don’t know, just because you swear you won’t hurt my Blood?Why?”
