Page 2 of Queen Takes Triune
“I killed you,” I whispered softly, shivering at the memory. I wasn’t cold, but he tucked me closer to him and Rik dropped down behind me to press against my back.
Normally being sandwiched between two of my Blood was more than enough to turn my thoughts from worry or fear to something more carnal. But this time, my stomach still bubbled with guilt, my teeth chattered, and I felt…
Ashamed. And worse, afraid that I would let them down. That I would letmyselfdown.
“Never,” Rik retorted against my ear. “I have no doubt or fear in that regard, Shara.”
He only rarely used my given name, and the soft, tender way he said it made my eyes fill with tears. Such steadfast love and devotion. They were the most honorable men I’d ever known.
Which made what I’d done to G that much worse. I’d put a massive dent in his shining armor. His own queen, whom he loved beyond a shadow of a doubt, had killed him. Used him. To win.
“The only way you could damage my honor is if you forced me to break my word. Even then, I would do it, Shara. I would break my most solemn oath for you. If that meant I could keep you alive, I would do it without hesitation.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“A knight’s honor is simple. His oath is given to his cause, and then he keeps that oath until his death. All the hundreds of years I lived and worked as a knight, I kept my oath. I kept my honor. But I was miserable. I lived in hell every single fucking day. Why was that, if I was so honorable?”
I blew out a sigh. “You swore an oath to Desideria and you kept it. She enslaved you with your honor.”
Guillaume nodded solemnly, the lines deepening around his mouth and eyes, giving him a haggard look that I hadn’t seen since he’d first come to me, starved and broken and nearly dead. “I would rather die in dishonor tomorrow in service to you, than keep my honor and live without you. You’re my queen, Shara. Your actions go far beyond the simple concept of a knight’s honor. It’s my greatest honor to serve you, whatever task you set me to, and I will do it. Gladly. Without question.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “What if I make a mistake? What if we die because of some stupid choice I make? That would wreck me.”
“Then we die, and we count it an honor to die in service to you.” Rik’s voice vibrated with conviction. “You know this. Why do you question yourself now?”
I tucked my face against Guillaume’s throat. The raw, ugly scar that looped around his neck pressed against my cheek. Maybe it was my imagination, but the scar felt thicker and rougher now.
Because I had dealt him a fresh wound in the same spot.
My voice broke. “BecauseIkilled him. I didn’t know if I could bring him back. That’s awful, G. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me.”
He nickered softly, a comforting low whicker from his hell horse. I’d never heard him make such a sound when in his human form. “There’s nothing to forgive. You did exactly what you had to do to save us. I have one-hundred-percent confidence in you, my queen. I still do. I can only thank the goddesses that They allowed me to live so that I could see you take your rightful seat at the Triune.”
I jolted against him and jerked my head up. “What?”
He stared back at me steadily. “You will be called to the Triune. We know it. Surely you know it too, which is one reason for your anxiety.”
I dragged my gaze away, giving my mind a moment. I automatically flinched away from thinking about the Triune. Because of Marne Ceresa? Or because I was… scared?
I didn’t like it, but yeah. I was fucking terrified.
We’d pulled over in the middle of nowhere south of Branson, Missouri. I wasn’t sure if we’d even crossed into Arkansas yet. The hills were getting steeper, the trees closing in on the narrow black-top road. We were high enough that I could see a few lights in the distance, scattered few and far between. Lonely little cabins with the porch light still on. Waiting for someone to come home.
I tipped my head back and gazed at the night sky. Outside the city, it was dark enough that I could see millions of stars. It was a perfect, clear winter night. No moon. No clouds building on the horizon.
Yet I felt the coming storm.
Resentment stung. I’d already brought Keisha Skye to justice and ended Ra’s reign of terror. We’d all suffered. I’d bled and bled and bled some more. Couldn’t I have a fucking break before facing another challenge?
I didn’t feel prepared for a Triune war. At all. I had a feeling it’d be the kind of fight where I’d be forced to smile and nod while pulling the knife out of my back.
“I don’t want this battle,” I finally whispered.
“I know.” Rik kissed the top of my head. “I wish we could spare you from this fight, but your goddess has a purpose for you. She gave you immense power for a reason.”
“And it wasn’t just to kick Ra’s ass,” Daire added. “The Great One intends to bring the ancient houses to heel.”
I looked up at him, usually my purring, joking Blood. It seemed so strange that he was the one who’d been gifted the most knowledge of the ancient Aima houses. As the youngest Blood, such diplomacy wasn’t expected. But I’d already seen his gift at work. He’d known every single house and their background in New York, and his charm and ability to put defensive siblings at ease had worked wonders at bringing the former Skye siblings under my control.
