Page 24 of Queen Takes More
“No, thankyou. I agree wholeheartedly. Do you need to feed before you go back?”
She hesitated, her eyes going distant for a moment. Then she sighed and straightened. “I’d love to, but I’m afraid we’d get distracted again, and Xochitl has convinced my Blood to have a tea party. If I don’t rescue them soon, she’ll have them all wearing tutus and tiaras while she paints their fingernails in glitter.”
Picturing big, strong men like Tepeyollotl and Eztli, Mayte’s alpha, dressed up for a tea party made me snicker. “Oh, boy. That sounds fun. I can only imagine…”
My words fell off as the image filled my head. My Blood, all formidable monsters in their own right. Wearing pink fluffy tutus and sparkly crowns, sitting around a child’s play table with miniature teacups held precariously in their powerful hands. Held captive by a little girl with dark hair and eyes.
Like mine.
:In a heartbeat,:Rik whispered fervently in my head.
Affirmatives from each of my Blood echoed in our bonds.
Even Ezra.:Though I refuse to act out Goldilocks.:
:You will if she asks, furball,:Mehen retorted.:We all will. Even though you’re the only bear.:
Ezra grunted.:If I’m going to wear a fucking tutu, it’d better be blue or purple at least. I fucking hate pink.:
I’d never considered having a child, but that image—combined with the aching tenderness in my Bloods’ bonds—made me melt. I was still young to be a mother, even for a human, and barely more than a baby myself by Aima standards. But if I never had a daughter, Isis’s line would die out with me.
Even more, I’d never give my Blood the opportunity to love a child. Because they would. Wholeheartedly. They would love my daughter as much as they loved me.
I watched as Mayte stepped into the tree. She paused and glanced back to blow a kiss at me, and then she was gone. Back to her home and her daughter.
Closing my eyes, I connected to my heart tree. I felt the rough bark inside me. The piercing of the thorns. My blood flowed deeply into the ground through the network of roots that interlaced with the rest of the grove.
Xochitl’s laughter still echoed through the trees, a child’s light-hearted joy.
:Someday,:I promised.
House Isador would have a child laughing and dancing beneath these trees.
5
Queen Takes Tentacles
Special thanks to Jessica Caldwell for adding “Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea” and Heather Estabrook for “Angel” to my playlist for this story.
(Set after Queen Takes Triune)
SHARA
My stomach growled. Before I could open my eyes, I heard the door open.
“Breakfast and news for our queen,” Vivian said.
Her bond sparked with flames, but she didn’t seem angry or worried. Sitting up, I swiped my hair out of my eyes. Rik stacked a couple of pillows behind me so I could lean back and eat comfortably. Xin pulled up the comforter to cover my legs, and Vivian set the tray onto my lap. I looked around the room quickly to see who else was present.
Mehen and Guillaume stood near the large windows. Ezra and Daire stood at the door. Outside, I could feel Llewellyn and Nevarre circling the nest, sharp eyes watching for anything unusual. The twins were further away but inside my blood circle.
Okeanos was soaking in the grotto, giving his skin a much-needed drink. Though he didn’t like the water so hot, he didn’t make a single complaint.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Vivian lifted the silver lid, letting delicious steam waft up. “Crepes stuffed with mascarpone and strawberries with a light limoncello sauce,” she said, mimicking Winston’s prim and proper British butler accent.
“Yum.” I picked up my fork, my mouth already watering. “What news?”
Rather than answering, she picked up a tablet and hit play.
