Page 21 of A Game of Queens
I’d only ever heard Mama’s warnings about the sun god’s house, but this man acted like Sunna and Helios were siblings. He’d done nothing to hurt me. Yet. But I’d heard Mama’s screams, and I’d seen the blackened footprint.
The sun demons were real.
I looked around at the ruin of our home, hoping that maybe one of our friends would still be nearby to help me. But they’d either run away or were dead. I hoped they’d made it away, though I couldn’t help the nagging disbelief that they’d left me alone.
Even Thomas. He was supposed to make sure I got to another queen if something happened to Mama and Auntie Lynnea. I couldn’t believe that he’d abandon me to find my way across the country all by myself. I had supplies in the shelter, but I hadn’t grabbed anything before coming out, and now I was afraid I wouldn’t have the opportunity to even grab a bottle of water, let alone money.
What would she want me to do?
I’d never had her bond, but I heard her voice whispering in my head. I closed my eyes, straining to hear her. As if she’d pressed her lips to my ear, I heard her.
“Do anything you must do to survive.”
I slipped my fingers into the vizier’s waiting hand.
“Very good, princess. Let’s go home to Heliopolis now. His Imperial Majesty is most eager to meet you and your mother.”
2
EIVIND
Current Day
Ismelled something in my territory that set my hackles on edge. My wolf surged inside me, demanding his freedom. Eager to hunt. Ready to feast.
But I was no cub. I could usually control my beast to a point. As long as I truly didn't feel threatened, I could keep from shifting. Though if the Aima queen that I smelled so much as thought about collaring me...
I'd rip her fucking throat out.
I followed the faint, tantalizing scent through the busy streets of Chicago. A group of humans stood on the corner. Their leader, a young man maybe sixteen or seventeen years old, lifted up his sweatshirt to show me his weapon. So I showed him mine.
Just a hint of teeth. The feral light in my eyes. The snarl that rumbled deep in my chest.
The group of young men quickly crossed the street.
My nose led me to a narrow garbage-lined alley that smelled so badly of rotten food and human waste that it took me a fewmoments to find her. I ended up using my hearing as well as my nose, though her heartbeat was so faint and erratic that even my wolf sense—that could pick up an elk munching on a sapling miles away—could barely hear it. It took an unbelievable amount of injury to put one of our kind this close to death's door, but I still kept my beast poised inside me, ready to attack.
I tossed aside several bags and layers of refuse to finally uncover her nude, battered body. Someone had thrown her out literally with trash. A queen, descended from a goddess. It was unheard of. Who had such power? Who had managed to nearly kill her? She didn't look young enough to be a fledgling, though with the dirt and grime streaked on her body, it was hard to tell her exact age.
Braced for her to leap up for my throat, I waited a few moments, watching for any sign of life. But she didn't even open her eyes. Her pulse fluttered weakly. A candle almost blown out.
I knew what she needed.
Goddess help me. I refused to be bound.
I couldn't do it.
If she were someone from my house, perhaps I'd have been able to give her my blood. But a complete stranger? There was no telling what kind of horrors she could commit once she revived. It would probably be a blessing to let her lie here and quietly pass to the Great Mother, may She have mercy on my soul for letting one of Her children die.
:Eivind.:My sister, Helayna, chided in my head gently.:House Ironheart has more honor than this.:
:I won't be bound,:I snarled in our blood bond.:Not by anyone. Ever.:
:You were lead to her for a reason.:
I ground my jaws, refusing to say anything. I didn't buy into the hocus pocus divine shit. I couldn't. Not when I'd seen exactly what my fate would be at any queen's hands.
:Not every queen will be like our mother,:Helayna continued.:And we need every queen. Desperately. You know what I saw.:
