Page 41 of Queen Takes King
Her mouth fell open and his smile widened. “Smart Blood—who are very good at killing—live longer than theirqueens.”
“Okay, smarty pants. What can you tell me aboutLeviathan?”
“Not much, only that he was born to Skolos many years before me, so that he was a legend in my time. He inspired the sea monster stories, the monster from the depths. All the old religions and mythologies of the world reference a mighty serpent monster defeated by their god. Supposedly he was chained in the depths of hell to await hisjudgment.”
“Judgment forwhat?”
“By the time I heard of him, no oneremembered.”
“I hate going into this blind.” Frowning, she sighed heavily and reached over for the Isador book. “Maybe there’s something in here. She said to hurry, that he was going to pass soon. If he was born before Xin’s time, why would he dienow?”
Embroiled in unraveling the mysteries of her dream, she didn’t realize how hungry she was. I gave Daire a mental nudge and he reluctantly pulled away to rummage in the kitchen.:Not a sandwich this time. She needs a variety. Preferably beef. She’s bleeding. She needs plenty of iron. Gina’s bringing dinner later, but she needs somethingnow.:
:I’ll grill some steaks,:Dairereplied.
Guillaume stood too, though I didn’t ask him to. He caught my gaze a moment and tipped his head at Xin.:In case she wants to break the new Blood in now rather than later. She might appreciate a smaller audience and I had my turn lastnight.:
Flipping through the book, she certainly wasn’t thinking about sex. Or blood. Or a new Blood starved fortouch.
Though I didn’t think it would take much to remindher.
Shara
While I’m sure the ancient histories of my family line were very interesting, I went straight to the spoilers and skipped to the end of the book again. I’d work my way backwards and see if what I needed was in the final pages that my mother had written. I didn’t have much to go with yet, so I hoped there would be somethingthere.
What had she said?A dying god. Their last hope.Geez. Talk about the weight of the world on myshoulders.
The last page didn’t have a date, but when I backed up a few pages, I found dated journalentries.
November 1,1994
It is done. He’s gone. I can’t feel his presence any longer. The world seems somehow thin and gray without him yet life goes on around me. No one but me feels his loss. And that is why he was willing to die for me. For us. I feel her growing in my womb already. I know she’ll be a queen to be reckoned with. Mychild.
I already know your birth will be the last thing I accomplish, but I won’t fail you. I’ll endure until I hear your first cry and know that you live. That you’re strong. I’ll hold you, so you know that you’re loved. You’re so loved that I’m giving my life to have you. Then I will join your father in the mists of time. It’s been so long since he held me, though it was only days ago. It feels as though we’ve already endured lifetimes apart. My Blood are gone. Only the god’s memory remains. And my daughter. I already have her name pickedout.
Shara.
My throat ached but I didn’t cry. I flipped back again, looking for the start of the previousentry.
October 30,1994
The arrangements are all made. The nest is dissolved. The geas is laid. No one remembers me, even my sister and my own beloved Blood. Without their blood to sustain me, it took the last of my magic to accomplish, but it’s necessary. I need to step out of Aima memory before I go to him. Or all islost.
I dreamed of him again. He knows I’m coming. I’m sure She has told him and prepared the way. I heard on the news that Mount Vesuvius is stirring. I don’t need to ask why. I hope it doesn’t erupt when I rouse him from his longslumber.
Father of monsters—your bride iscoming.
I slammed the book shut, my mindracing.
“What is it?” Rik stroked his fingers through myhair.
“Um, well…” I hesitated, not sure I wanted to find out what they knew about my father. Or if it would change anything between us. “I found a few clues to who my fatherwas.”
“Was? So you know he’sdead?”
Nodding, I set the book back on the coffee table and drew my knees up, pressing into Rik’s side. “So is my mother. They’re both gone. They died to haveme.”
His arm came around me and he pulled me close, dropping his mouth to my shoulder. He didn’t tug on my shirt or even try to find skin. He just put his mouth on my sweater and inhaled. Like he couldn’t get enough air if my scent wasn’t in his nostrils. Which made me want to smell him too. Only I wasn’t quite so polite about it. I pulled his biceps up to my nose and pressed my face into the crook of hisarm.
