51. Rik
RIK
Letting my queen out of my sight even for a few seconds was like swallowing down a vat of acid mixed with razor blades while lighting myself on fire.
Every nerve in my body hummed with intensity as she stepped into the pool, preparing to go ahead of us to House Valois where not one but two enemy queens plotted against her.
Including one of the most powerful Triune queens with over a thousand years of experience against my far younger queen.
I didn’t have a single doubt in my heart. Shara fucking Isador was going to wipe the floor with both of them. But I didn’t want to miss one fucking second of the action. Just in case.
Goddess. If she’s injured in any way, and I’m unable to see her…
“I’m in good hands,” she reminded gently, turning to face me. “And well protected until you’re by my side once more. I will also keep our bonds fully open so you’re aware of everything that’s happening around us.”
She raised her hand toward a seemingly bare section of her throat framed by the gown’s high neckline. As her finger came within inches of her skin, the thick golden necklace shimmered to life. Similar jewelry protected her wrists and core from both blades and fangs.
She could still take a blow to the head or thigh…
Except for the Eleusinian Mysteries she’d inherited from the Dauphine. Only an attack from a natural animal or beast would penetrate her veil.
Before coming to the fountain, she’d experimented with the opaque veil of power and the trophies Itztli had retrieved for her until she could perfectly mask not just her appearance but Guillaume’s as well.
Beside her, the former Triune Executioner and last Templar knight had been transformed into a stooped, aged country squire with rheumy eyes and gnarled, quivering hands.
I couldn’t see any blades on him—but I knew G had at least a dozen blades tucked away.
Right now, the Mysteries clung around her shoulders like a foggy stole or thick scarf. Beneath the veil, she wore a new Triune-worthy gown from her favorite designer, Alice Wong.
At first glance, the formal floor-length gown looked like glittering spilled ink.
Hugging her figure, the gown dripped with shimmering beads, making the fabric flow like liquid down her body.
Woven into the design in a reptilian pattern around the bodice, golden sparkles wound like a giant snake around her neck and bodice.
Its tail flowed down her back and dragged along the ground behind her.
The snake design wrapped around her throat on the asymmetrical high collar beneath her hair, giving the illusion that the snake wrapped around her head.
So naturally the crown she wore towered like the queen cobra’s arched hood with gigantic ruby eyes and glistening, bared fangs high over her head.
Even though she stood in the pool, water didn’t touch the gown. She didn’t raise her hands to touch the veil, but it slipped down her body and up over her head, including the crown, and my queen disappeared.
In her place, a short, frail-looking elderly queen stared back at me. “How do I look?”
Even her voice sounded decrepit. Her glittering gown changed into an old-fashioned court gown from the Nineteenth Century.
“Old,” Kevin said cheerfully. “And dusty.”
She laughed, a dry rattling chuckle. “Perfect.”
“Alpha.” The man holding Leonie’s arm in his waited until I looked him in the eye. “I will guard both queens with my life.”
I gave him a short nod. Though if it came down to the new man saving Shara over Guillaume or Xin, then her plans were already fucked.
“Xin, go first,” she said in Isabelle’s voice. “Get inside the nest and find Marne. Then wait for my signal.”
He howled with glee as he disappeared through the watery portal. :It’s an honor to serve, my queen.:
She looked at each one of us, admiring what each Blood had chosen to wear for warfare.
Mehen had brought an expensive looking suit, but evidently he was saving it for later.
He still looked sharp in black dress pants and green silk shirt, while Nevarre wore only his kilt, fully expecting to shift on the other side.
Ezra had upgraded his normal jeans and flannel to black jeans—and white and black buffalo checked shirt.
Though he had at least combed his hair and beard.
Out of everyone, Lew’s outfit surprised me the most. He wore a sleek black tuxedo and a shimmering red silk shirt with what looked to be real gold buttons.
Golden gryphons—like from medieval heraldry—were embroidered on both lapels and cobras twined up both arms from the cuffs.
Instead of a tie, he wore a gold collar lapel.
A large ankh hung from the chain with matching cufflinks on his sleeves.
I found myself regretting my basic black pants and white dress shirt, but short of having a tailor make on-the-fly alternations every time we needed to make an appearance, it was the best I could do.
“You all look resplendent,” she said as her eyes came back to me. Not her dark, swirling eyes of velvet midnight sky but light gray, though still heated. She even let me see just the tip of her fangs.
The sound of ripping material made me grimace. “Fucking hell. There went my pants.”
Her lips curved in a sultry smile made particularly strange by Isabelle’s thin, pale lips. “My alpha gets bigger every time I look at you.”
“Then stop looking at him,” Gina said tartly. “Or he’s going to look like the Incredible Hulk walking through Paris in tattered rags.”
“Can you make him green?” Daire asked. “That would be fucking hilarious.”
“I love you all. I’ll see you on the other side.”
Then holding on to Guillaume’s arm, she took a step forward and sank beneath the water.
My world, my life, my everything. Disappeared from my sight.
SHARA
The Dauphine’s magic…
Stop it, I told myself firmly. It’s my magic now. It’s a gift from the goddess, and I’m going to use it as I see fit.
Eleusinian Mysteries wrapped around me, disguising my appearance, but also molding my behaviors.
It did no good to wear Isabelle’s face and use her tongue if I walked like myself.
The magic bent my body and slowed my steps, forcing me to appear and move like an elderly queen.
At least I didn’t have to wear her dried-up tongue around my neck like the Dauphine had done to sound like Isabelle.
The weird slip of dried flesh was safely in my pocket.
Yes, my fanciful cobra queen gown had pockets. And of course I’d tucked my trusty pocketknife into the other pocket. Not because I thought I might need it—not with Guillaume at my side. But for luck. To remind myself of where I’d begun, and where I was now.
Wearing a dress that probably cost more than most people’s annual salary with a heavy gold crown on my head. In fucking Paris of all places.
Leonie and Jenrade had gone first. I felt her step out of the fountain as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
:There are several cars parked in front of the building but I don’t see anyone outside,: she told me. :Jenrade says there are Blood on the roof, but they’re currently focused on the rear of the building.:
Guillaume and I passed through the portal. As quickly as he dared, he stepped out of the fountain and then reached back to help me. My muscles protested at moving so slowly. Sweat trickled down my back. Not from exertion but from the surge of adrenaline. Finally, the game was afoot.
One benefit of wearing Desideria’s jewelry was the ability to have my blood already drawn, ready to go, but concealed so well my own Blood didn’t even smell the wound.
I let a single drop of blood drip into the water.
Not enough to alert anyone. Hopefully. Though certainly if my Blood were on duty here, one of them would sniff out even the smallest drop of another queen’s presence near my nest.
:Blood are approaching,: Guillaume said. :On the roof. Ten paces. Eight.:
I stepped out of the fountain and stood there wobbling a moment, trying to settle back into the aged body. I glanced up at the roof, but it was so bright with the morning sun glaring in my eyes I couldn’t see a thing. :How do you see them?:
:I don’t.: He tucked my arm around his and then laid his right hand over mine. Together, we shambled over to join Leonie and Jenrade. :I sense them. It’s almost like radar.:
:Interesting. I guess even queens learn something new every day.:
He started to laugh and then remembered he was supposed to be completely silent.
We didn’t know who might recognize Barrau’s voice, or Guillaume’s, for that matter.
So instead he started to cough, really hacking and gasping, bending over and grasping his chest like he was on death’s door.
:Only the smartest and best queens like mine. :
Leonie came over to take my other arm, pretending like I needed help, with her Blood on her opposite side.
Sandwiched between the two Blood, we slowly made our way across the courtyard.
More sweat dripped down my back, my heart pumping.
I couldn’t feel the blood circle yet. Any second, someone would stop us. Challenge our right to be here.
But we were almost to the cars before I even felt the warning tingle. The graveled driveway itself and the waiting cars were outside of the circle. Which I supposed made sense. Visitors would arrive and then must wait to be brought through.
Though we were nearly to the door itself before the magic forced us to stop. The massive black door swung open just enough for a well-dressed middle-aged man with snowy white hair to step closer to the threshold.
Where the magic pulsed. As if the blood circle had been laid into the foundations of the outer walls itself.
“Good morning, Your Majesties,” the man said, at least recognizing we were queens. “How may I help you?”
Though that made the hairs on my nape prickle. How? Could he sense our magic? Would he know how strong Isabelle should be and see through my disguise before we even got in the front door? Or did he simply assume everyone arriving today was part of the grand reception?
Calmly, Leonie took the lead, as we’d agreed. “Good morning. I’m so sorry we’re late, but Queen Isabelle was moving slowly this morning.” She gave me a patronizing smile, as if her patience with my tardiness was frazzled. “Have we missed the reception?”
Thanks to Talbott Agency’s incredible surveillance, we knew every minor Aima sibling of House Valois had been invited to attend the queen of Rome’s reception.
“Not at all, Your Majesties. What are your names, and I’ll check them against the rolls.”
Here was the first test.
“Leonie Delafosse of New Orleans.”
Pretending I hadn’t heard him, I waited to see if he could find Leonie’s name on the list. When he made a small check against his clipboard, I almost smiled. Almost.
Leonie raised her voice. “He needs your name and house, dear.”
“What?” I drawled out in Isabelle’s scratchy voice. “Oh. Isabelle Vasconia and my knight.”
The man scanned the list and frowned, peering at me over his glasses. “It says here that you’re deceased, Your Majesty.”
I cackled and tapped Guillaume’s chest. “Did you hear that, Barrau? We’re dead! I didn’t know.”
He harrumphed under his breath but didn’t say anything.
“There must be some mistake,” the human said. “I’m terribly sorry, Your Majesty.”
“I guess that’s what happens when you’re as old as dirt. You go on an extended stay in the Americas and suddenly you’re presumed dead.”
“She’s been staying with me.” Leonie sighed, giving the man a look of exasperation. “She promised to return home if I came along to pay my respects to Her Majesty since it’s been so long.”
“Well, I’ve made a note so we can get the rolls updated.
I’m sure Her Majesty will be pleased that her loyal vassal is still with us.
” He tucked the clipboard beneath his arm, opened the door wider, and then held out his hands.
“Their Majesties Leonie Delafosse and Isabelle Vasconia are welcomed to House Valois for today’s reception. ”
Leonie gave him an elegant nod and slipped her hand into his right, while I took his left hand. Our Blood touched our backs as we crossed the into the house.
But as I stepped across the threshold, I felt a buzzing along my skin. A quick hot flash. The human must have felt it too, because his eyes widened.
:Did I lose the disguise?: I asked Guillaume frantically.
:No,: he replied. :You still look like Isabelle.:
I fumbled at Leonie’s arm, leaning on her, making myself look even weaker and more infirm. “Oh dear. I fear I’m not feeling the best.”
She heaved another frustrated sigh. “Come along, Isabelle. I’ll find you a place to sit down. Maybe a nice cold drink.”
I shuffled along beside her, pretending to be delirious. “Yes, yes, a nice refreshing drink will set me to rights in no time. It’s not every day you get to see the queen of Rome, you know. I’m so looking forward to seeing her, even if I’m exhausted from the trip.”
Though I couldn’t resist looking back over my shoulder at the gaping human. “At least I’m not dead!”