Page 47 of Queen Takes Triune
“House Delafosse won’t be consumed by Isador.”
“I didn’t consume House Zaniyah. I don’t know all the ins and outs of Aima politics yet, but we don’t have to be siblings. I just want to know I have friends when Marne Ceresa comes calling on her mirror again.”
“She’s given you a mirror?” Her tone sharpened, her pitch higher, as if she were trying to convey fear. But I couldn’t see the Dauphine ever being afraid, even of the queen of Rome. She was a very good actress, but I had the feeling that if I could have seen her face, her lips would have been twisted in disgust rather than true fear. “That’s a horse of another color, then.”
“I buried it in salt and locked it away, but yeah.” I heaved out a sigh, trying to put on as good a show as she was. “I wish I could toss it into the deepest part of the ocean.”
“It wouldn’t do you any good.” Her voice sounded distant, as if she was deep in thought. “I understand why you’re so eager to gain allies against House Ceresa, but I don’t believe I can help you. House Delafosse has taken great pains to remain neutral, which is one of the reasons Keisha Skye was content to leave me alone. Let me discuss your situation with my consiliarius and she’ll reach out to yours once I’ve come to a decision.”
“Thank you, Leonie.”
“You’re welcome, Shara.”
The call ended. I looked from Gina to Guillaume, Mehen, and Daire, my most politically savvy Blood. “What do you think?”
Gina dropped down into her chair and grabbed a tissue from her bag to mop her face. “You did extremely well if that truly was the Dauphine. I know it must be her, but it’s so strange. She never once indicated that she was anyone but a minor queen. Are we sure it’s her?”
“It has to be,” I said.
Guillaume grunted in agreement. “She’s good at hiding in plain sight. That’s her gift. That’s exactly why she hasn’t been discovered in so long. Naturally she’ll keep up the illusion as long as possible.”
“The real question is what the fuck is she going to do now that we know?” Mehen shook his head. “It won’t be good, I can tell you that. She did seem interested in Marne’s mirror, though.”
“Is that a good or bad thing?” I asked.
Ezra let out a disgusted humph. “No way to fucking know.”
Guillaume nodded in agreement. “My sentiments exactly. Something tells me that—”
Mehen broke in. “Don’t use another one of your tired horse or barn metaphors, knight.”
Guillaume gave us one of his rare grins. “Something tells me that a dragon would rather die than give up the hoard no matter how shitty it is. Is that better?”
Mehen slapped him on the back. “Fucking A.”
Gina met my gaze, a smile twitching her lips. “So what do we do now?”
“Is she actually a dragon?”
Guillaume shrugged. “Nobody knows.”
“Well, I don’t care to sit around and wait to be dragon chow, but didn’t someone promise me a full-moon wolf howl?”
Xin materialized beside me, making Gina let out a startled little gasp. “The wolves are ready to sing for you tonight, my queen.”
15
Xin
Iloved being the silent, invisible threat. My true nature had always been that of a lone wolf. A ghost barely seen, drifting away into the forest. So faint and silent that I might have been a figment of imagination. I had never regretted my gifts and embraced them wholeheartedly.
But I had to admit that when my queen saw me—truly sawme—that she rocked my soul like nothing else in this entire world.
Being able to do one small thing to make her smile… fucking priceless.
I only wished I’d been able to call a few hundred wolves to sing for her. The pack I’d scented hadn’t claimed this territory as their own, but we were too far south for any other wolves to be nearby. I’d been surprised to find any true wolves in the area at all, and I wasn’t sure that they’d join me in wolf song, though the instinct was strong.
Wolves loved to sing to the full moon. I loved my queen. I would pour every ounce of that love into my howls and hoped they joined in.
