Chapter 48
SHARA
Before we exited my heart tree back in my nest, a plan of retribution and vengeance had started to formulate. The four new Isador birds flew up into the tree and began chirping rapidly with Thierry, rustling wings and touching each other despite their species’ differences.
It broke my heart and put it back together again at the same time. Especially when Lew drew me against his side and pressed a kiss to my temple. “Thank you for bringing them home, my queen.”
Gina, a woman I assumed to be the new consiliarius, and Regina were sitting around the table as we strode in. Gina took one look at my face and picked up the phone to call Kevin. Julie rose from her seat and faced me, her hands clasped before her, waiting to be introduced.
As I sat down and accepted a fresh hot cup of tea from Winston, Sekh added the final piece to the puzzle.
“My queen, I See the other three Isador Blood leaving with the queen of Rome and her contingent. They stepped onto a yacht approximately three days ago.”
Sipping my tea, I nodded. “Let me guess. They’re sailing up the Seine River to Paris?”
He inclined his head, his golden eyes shining.
“They arrived at almost the exact time we left Mykonos. They’ve entered a home in Paris different from the Valois house we saw earlier.
I’m unable to See them currently inside the queen’s blood circle, but I’ll notify you at once when they leave again. ”
I touched Leonie’s bond. I felt her far away, walking hand in hand along a riverbank with a new Blood. :I’m sorry to interrupt, but if you’re able to join me, I need you.:
Her bond jumped to attention. :At once, my queen. I’m on my way.:
“Should Gwen come with Kevin?” Gina asked, still on the phone. “They were getting ready to depart for Glastonbury Tor—”
I shook my head. “No. Gwen should go home as we discussed.”
:Are you sure?: I could feel Gwen wringing her hands in the bond. :If you’re going to war, I want to be there.:
:I know.: I assured her. :But for my plan to work, I can’t actually take you with me. So you might as well proceed with your original plans.:
Her worry faded to relief. :House Camelot rides with House Isador, always and forever, my queen.:
:Thank you, Daughter of Guinevere. May your quest for more Blood be fruitful.:
She laughed ruefully. :It’s like looking for the holy grail, I’m afraid.:
Gina hung up. “Your Majesty, this is Julie Summers, here on a trial basis as consiliarius as we discussed. Julie, this is our queen, Shara Isador. Kevin’s on his way, my queen, but Althea is staying in New York in his absence.”
Julie gave me a very polished and professional curtsey as if she was well used to such formalities. “Your Majesty, it’s an honor to serve such an esteemed house in even a small capacity. I pray you find my work exemplary, for I’d be ecstatic to stay on long term.”
I offered her my hand, meaning to shake, but she kissed my knuckles and curtsied again. “Thank you for coming to help us, Julie.”
Before I continued, I looked at Gina. :Do you trust her to hear our war plans?:
Gina gave me a subtle nod.
:How about Regina?:
Gina nodded again. “All the contracts have been signed, Your Majesty. Both ladies understand the penalties for any indiscretions.”
“Excellent.” Which was probably also why Althea wasn’t coming this time.
Not because we needed her so badly in the tower—but she likely hadn’t signed the consiliarius agreement yet.
Or Kevin didn’t trust her enough to recommend we extend an offer.
Either way, the new person wouldn’t be involved in our planning.
Honestly, I didn’t trust either Julie or Regina to hear the whole plan either. Neither carried my blood, and it was too soon to offer it to them. But they could stay for now.
Guillaume opened the door and Kevin came rushing in, his eyes bright with excitement. Though he jerked to a halt when he saw us all sitting at the table looking at him. At a more sedate pace, he moved around the table and sat down beside Regina, his cheeks pink.
“Sorry for any delay, Your Majesty,” he said.
“Not at all. Thank you for dropping everything to come so quickly. We’re waiting on one more anyway. Have you met Regina and Julie yet?”
Gina did the introductions again. Winston delivered more tea and then dishes began appearing as if by magic.
Of course I was fucking starved as soon as I smelled the rich, lemony roasted chicken over a bed of creamy risotto with asparagus and spring peas.
So fucking good I was already halfway through my plate when the door opened again.
Leonie came in like a warm, sunny breeze across golden plains and shimmering waters.
We had to repeat the introductions for her, and then she introduced us to a tall, broad-shouldered man beside her.
“Your Majesty, this is my alpha, Jenrade. Jenrade, this is our queen, Shara Isador, daughter of Isis.”
“Your Majesty.” He bowed low, his deep voice melodic. “It’s an honor to serve.”
“My alpha, Alrik. Sir Guillaume de Payne is at the door. General Sekh of the All Seeing, Never Sleeping Legion.” Each of my Blood gave him a nod. The man was already looking a little wide eyed, so I smiled. “We’ll introduce everyone else later.”
Leonie sat down with us, her alpha at her back like Rik. Winston brought another place setting, and I gave everyone time to get their food and drink settled. Then I gave them a brief rundown of what we’d seen in Mykonos and the swamp.
“The ones trapped in the swamp were all Isador Blood?” Gina dabbed at her eyes with her napkin, shaking her head. “Oh, Shara. I’m so sorry. I know you were hoping to bring them home.”
I pushed my plate away, my appetite gone.
Though I gave her a sad smile. “I did, in a way. We have some new colorful birds in the nest. At least they’re no longer suffering.
Vaughn and Mallac were unfortunately entrapped almost from the beginning when my mother dissolved her Blood.
They took the most… damage.” I swallowed hard, willing my stomach not to bubble up the delicious dinner.
“Zharr and Lucian were more recent. Not only was Sekh able to determine they were in the group of five Isador blood sent to House Ceresa, but also they were still in her control when we were called to Rome.”
Gina sat back hard in her chair. “Excuse me?”
I nodded, watching her face harden. Her eyes snapped with fury, the same as mine.
“While she demanded I take a Blood from within her house, there were five I would have gladly taken home with me. She not only didn’t even tell me they were there but then she sent two of them to Paris, where they were immediately betrayed to the Dauphine. ”
Gina’s eyes widened, her gaze flickering over to Sekh and back to me. “And they’re headed to Paris now. With her.”
“Exactly.”
“But why? To what end?”
“I can only assume to inflict as much pain on me and my house as possible.”
“Goddess,” Kevin breathed out. “That’s why Granddad called. She wanted you to know she hadn’t sent them to the Dauphine herself.”
I forced out a harsh laugh. “She knew what she was doing when she sent them to Rosalind. She certainly can’t claim innocence now when she’s taking the last three Isador Blood to Paris to hand deliver them herself.”
“But why?” Leonie shook her head. “Granted, I haven’t been involved in court politics in decades, but Rosalind isn’t Triune. Why is the only Triune queen going to her instead of demanding Valois visit her in Rome?”
“That’s how weak she is,” Gina said. “She needs Rosalind more than Rosalind needs her.”
“She needs two to have a quorum,” I said softly.
“I think she intends to ask—or try and force—Rosalind to take a seat at the Triune. Then they can pass judgment on me for killing the Dauphine before I can call a Triskeles quorum against either of them. Marne’s taking the only leverage she still has—my three Isador Blood.
” I gripped the edge of the table, my voice threaded with power. “I’m going to fucking take them back.”
GUILLAUME
It’s a fucking pleasure—and such an honor—to watch my queen come into her own.
No longer the scared, hesitant, inexperienced queen, Shara commanded the casual round breakfast nook table with the aura of the most feared and formidable Triune queen to ever walk this earth.
Calm and confident despite her justified anger, she still kept an open, curious mind and invited everyone to offer their opinions.
Shara had heard and valued her Blood’s concerns before going to Mykonos—and then walked with fucking grace and honor to take care of the trapped queen and former Blood. Not just freeing them—but ensuring they received retribution for what they’d suffered.
“But what crime could they charge you with?” Gina protested. “Any Triune-level queen is going to have to take other houses. Some by force. It’s the way to play the game and Marne knows that.”
“So did Keisha, though. She accused me of stealing Skye blood—which I technically had done. I’m sure Marne will think of something archaic but legal to charge me with, even if it’s bogus.
Byrnes has probably scoured the archives, looking for any silly legal charge to throw at us.
No offense, Kevin. Ultimately, I think she will try to remove me from Triskeles, though she’d love to have me executed out right.
However, I don’t think Marne wants to be bound to the table, especially not with Rosalind, and most definitely not with me. ”
“That’s the crux of the problem, my queen,” I said, stepping closer.
“The Triunes are unbalanced. She doesn’t have any real power alone—and neither do you.
It’s a race to see who can call a quorum and bring the other queen to judgment.
Though I don’t think she’s thought it through, or she’d realize a quorum traps her as well. ”
“Or she’s in so deep she has no other choice,” the general said, drawing a nod and grunt from my lips.
“Do you know who the other Triskeles queens may be?” Leonie asked.
Shara’s eyes gleamed like deep, secret wells beneath a full moon.
“I suspect, yes. But neither queen is ready to take that step yet. Unlike Marne, I refuse to rush any queen to make such a commitment, and I certainly won’t attempt to imprint my will on the Mother’s Triune.
I’d like to keep Skolos’ secrets as long as possible as well.
I don’t want her to know I could complete their table again. ”
“Triskeles can’t reach a quorum. Yet.” Gina stared off into space, drumming her fingers lightly on the table. “Let’s say the queen of Rome successfully convinces Rosalind to take a seat at the Triune. Now they have a quorum. What can they charge House Isador with?”
Shara blew out a sigh. “Or are they simply going to order our execution and then pardon themselves?”
“They can’t pardon themselves,” Kevin said. “Triune Articles Section 2.1.1. Only a unanimous vote of a full Triune table may pardon a queen from any convicted crime. If all three Triune queens agree, a crime may be forgiven in the Eyes of the Mother.”
“A quorum could compel you,” Gina continued. “But to what end? Other than stepping down from Triskeles?”
Shara looked up at me. “You’ve seen Triune queens maneuver around the law for centuries.”
I nodded but couldn’t help a long sigh. “Very true, my queen, but I served Desideria. She didn’t care about the law, only about gathering power. She had the might of the law on her side.”
Her head tipped slightly. “Triune queens are above the law?”
“To an extent, yes. The Mother has called them to the table, so only the Mother can hold a Triune queen accountable, unless a quorum agrees to pass judgment. Desideria knew full well her Triune would never work together long enough to hold a quorum.”
“Not with the Dauphine and the queen of Rome.” Shara blew out an equally annoyed huff. “So it’s got to be something small and ridiculous.”
“The only thing that’s changed recently…” Gina’s voice trailed away and then she slapped the table. “The temporary consiliari agreements. That’s the only move we’ve made in the past week that exposes us in any way.”
“How so?” Shara asked. “I know you too well to think we didn’t follow protocols.”
“I did, absolutely, which means I notified the Triune we had offered new consiliari contracts, and what did we discuss, Kevin?”
The young man practically quivered in his chair like an eager puppy. “The complexities of offering a contract to Julie who was still technically engaged by another house.”
“Me?” The new woman’s mouth gaped open in horror. “I’m causing a problem already?”
Gina patted her hand. “Only because we couldn’t get House Shalott to sign off on your transition to House Isador, because Shalott no longer exists. But we have contingencies in place for that little hiccup, don’t we Kevin.”
Generally my impression of humans was as jaded and negative as any Aima could be.
I’ve seen countless humans betray their house for simple greed.
With access to untold wealth of basically immortal vampire queens, humans couldn’t grasp the concept of blood oaths.
The kind that wrote themselves into your bones and demanded you fulfill those words in any way possible.
But my queen had chosen her humans well. At least Gina and Kevin. I reserved judgment about the others sitting at her table.
Kevin patted an innocuous thin black folder on the table beside him. “I have copies in triplicate as well as printed pages of the Triune Articles if we need it.”
Gina’s lips curved in a fierce smile of pride at our queen. “The best part is we aren’t required to file these papers to the Triune in advance.”
Shara held her hand out to me. Her Executioner. “Then I look forward to seeing the look on the queen of Rome’s face when presented with our evidence.”
I lifted her hand to my mouth and kissed her knuckles. “Right before I take her head.”