Chapter 3 #2
Everyone had finished eating while our queen talked with consiliarius.
Everyone except the newest Blood. Goddess, the man was on at least his third giant piece of chocolate cake, after demolishing every other main-course dish on the table.
Evidently, I’d failed at trying not to glare at the man still stuffing his face.
“What?” He said around another mouthful of cake. “I paddled halfway across the fucking ocean, turned back again to come here, and I still almost beat you. I’m hungry.”
Myrk heaved a huge sigh as he gazed at our queen. “So am I.”
“Okay…” Gunnarr gulped the last chunk of cake and then almost choked when it finally hit him. “Oh.” He pushed the plate away and said much too loudly, “All done. That was a fantastic spread, Pàtair. I’ve never eaten better.”
Unappeased, the human jerked his head toward the table and the other staff immediately moved to clear the last of the dishes.
“If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask, Your Majesty. There’s an interactive panel in your suite that will allow you to call or text me any time of the day or night.
If I’m unavailable—” Which his flat tone indicated would be an impossibility, “The message will also go to the kitchens, where someone will always be available twenty-four hours a day.”
Helayna laughed with a bashful lift of her shoulders. “Oh, I would never think to wake someone in the middle of the night simply because I wanted tea or something else inconsequential.”
“Nothing is inconsequential in your House,” Clara said firmly.
“We exist because of you. Your power and legacy support our jobs and homes. Our very lives. If you’d like a glass of water and don’t care to trouble one of your Blood to fetch it for you, anyone in your House will gladly race to do your slightest bidding. ”
“Then they’ll come to the kitchens and brag about finally having the opportunity to serve you,” Pàtair assured her. “After you’ve rested, I’d love to have a few minutes of your time to discuss menus and dishes, so we always have your favorites available.”
“Of course.” Helayna stood and took the man’s hand in both of hers. “Thank you so much for this lovely dinner. I’ve never been so well taken care of.” One corner of her mouth tipped up in a rueful quirk. “At least, not that I remember.”
The human blushed beet red and muttered something beneath his breath as he bowed low over her hand. Flustered, he shot another hard look at Gunnarr and then rushed after the other humans.
“I hope you’re not offended, Your Majesty,” Clara said, giving a worried look at the man’s retreating back. “He might seem brusque, but he has a heart of pure gold.”
Helayna slipped her arm around her alpha’s massive biceps. “Not at all. How could I be offended when he kissed my hand and made so much incredible food? Though you might need to give me a tutorial on how to use the panel he mentioned. I’m not good with technology.”
Relieved, Clara led the way back to the basement access. “At once, Your Majesty.”
I bit back a groan of agony, which turned to a harsh growl when Gunnarr blithely joined the conversation.
“Oh, I’m a whiz at techie stuff, my queen. I’m happy to take that off your plate if you’d like.”
“Done and thank you. I would like to learn how to use the cell phone later so I can try and call Karmen, but you’re welcome to learn the panel.”
“Are you expecting any more Blood at this time, Your Majesty?” Clara asked.
Pausing at the stair’s upper doors, Helayna closed her eyes. A tingling brush of her magic swept over me, tightening like a fist in my gut. Even though I’d answered her Call, I could still feel its remnants pulsing through me. Demanding my presence at her side without delay.
“I don’t sense anyone close.” She opened her eyes, though worry creased her forehead.
“At least no one feels like they’re coming toward us.
I’m not sure I’d be able to sense humans or other queens who might wish to cause harm.
I need to get the blood circle done as soon as possible, though I should rest a little, I think. I want to be fresh and clear-minded.”
“There aren’t any other queens in Iceland at the moment,” Clara replied. “Queen Illa’s in Norway, of course. She’s the closest queen in the region and considers herself the head of the Scandinavian contingent.”
Helayna’s eyebrow arched and her lovely face smoothed to regal reserve. Chin tipped up slightly, eyes cooly narrowed, she radiated a quiet yet steely core. “Oh really? How convenient for her that I was mysteriously taken from her House.”
“If she thinks our queen will ever bow to her, she can fuck around and find out,” Gunnarr said.
The first smart thing he’d actually said this entire night.
“Ironheart and Fólkvangr relations have always been…” Clara paused, thinking.
“Coolly cordial. Some queens traded sibling relationships back and forth over the generations. We weren’t enemies.
I wasn’t exactly suspicious when Queen Helle decided to foster you with Fólkvangr, but surprised, yes.
Since she’d formed a sibling arrangement with Skye, I honestly expected you to spend time in New York City, but she adamantly refused. ”
“Well, I won’t rest soundly until the nest is secure,” Helayna said. “Especially this close to Fólkvangr. I don’t remember anything specific, yet, but I also don’t trust them.”
“I can’t argue in the slightest.” Clara came downstairs long enough to show the newest Blood how the intercom worked. Watching closely, Svar stood nearby, though I wasn’t sure how much he understood human technology.
I glanced at Dorr, trying to read the situation.
I didn’t want to challenge his authority in any way, though I wasn’t sure he knew how a nest or House ran, either.
The last thing I wanted to do was foul a working relationship with the alpha.
Especially if—when—our queen indicated she wanted me ready for her.
“Rest well, Your Majesty.” Clara stepped back to the heavy door, preparing to leave. “If you need anything, Gunnarr can call us at once. When you’re ready to initiate the blood circle, let me know, and I’ll make sure to clear the area.”
Helayna’s eyes widened. “Oh. Really? Is that a concern?”
Clara’s mouth quirked and her cheeks reddened. “Well, not a concern, exactly. Just… Uh… Do you remember how a blood circle is initiated?”
“I vaguely remember standing with Mother and bleeding over the circle. Is there more than that?” An edge of panic sharpened her voice.
“It’s a much easier process to add your blood to an existing circle. Setting a circle for the first time requires—and releases—a great deal of power.”
“Okay…” Helayna’s gaze flickered over Gunnarr, still fiddling at the panel, her other dark alfar Blood, and then landed on me. “Have you seen a queen initiate a blood circle before?”
I swallowed hard. “I haven’t seen it done, my queen, but I’m familiar with the process. Only a queen’s own Blood would be present when she’s setting the circle, and I’ve never served as Blood before.”
“Okay,” she repeated, nodding to herself as she turned back to Clara. “I’ll discuss with Lokken so I’m prepared for it, and I’ll let you know when I’d like to begin.”
Clara headed up the stairs. “Very good, Your Majesty. Rest well.”
No one moved to shut the lower door, though I heard the heavy clang of the upstairs door shutting into place. I clenched my jaws, fighting back the urge to say something. It wasn’t my place to correct the other Blood or contradict any command our alpha gave.
Silence weighed heavier, until Dorr’s voice rumbled. “If you have something to say, ice man, then say it.”