Shadow Queen (16 page)

Nothing ever goes right in a Plan A.  When Szar and Calum showed up for the “guys night” of sports on the big screen and alcohol, the host wasn’t there.  My nerves were spent. 

Cord got the text the second we were in the make-do camp Borgon was housed in.  It was not very guarded and easy to spy on.  Lee’s car was parked in front.  For one so good at spying, he didn’t have to hide much.  I wish I knew his secret weapon against death.

The Godslayer was no where to be found.  The text said Liam saw Cas leave with Quinn and has yet to return.  Back and forth on the phone, the guys decided that Szar alone would risk going to the club for answers.  He apparently frequented there for intel.  Right!

The next day, however, Cas was back.  He texted Calum at about noon saying he’d make it up to “the guys” over the weekend. 

That night, Szar didn’t answer a text or anyone’s phone call.  I spent the whole next night without sleep again. 

The next day, he answered with a sorry around lunch time.  I had a terrible feeling it was not in his control.  Cord refused to talk or let me leave.  I had to get out of there.

Sneaking out was easy when they didn’t expect it, but being farther from my father’s court was.  My own car was there, so I drove out with ease.  Unfortunately, Weres were scent trackers.  Angus was on my tail within sixty seconds of exiting the main, well guarded, gate.  I let him follow me all the way to the Valkyrie court and even waited for him to enter my own gates.  Several times I looked in the rearview mirror to find him talking on his phone. 

Hightailing it out of the car I punched in the code and watched the doors close before Angus could park and make it in. I smirked until I saw the car that was parked beside him.  It was Cas’.

With the door already closed, I began to panic.  I hadn’t seen Cas but once in the last three weeks and only then it was as a defiant asshole draining a wayward Hunter who was as nuts as the rest of them.  For once, I hated that I was right about someone.  I wanted now to be right about Cas.

I raced up the stairs, through my father’s rooms and down the hall to Szar’s sofa room where we all tended to meet.  I heard a male voice as my hand hit the doorknob, but knew who was in there before I could think about entering.  And he knew I was here too.

Backing up, I plastered myself against the wall across from the door.  Now that I was here, I didn’t want to know.  Inching against the wall to leave, I knocked into one of the stupid statues I always forgot about.  My father’s version of yard art. 

The door opened and there stood Cas. 

My perfectly badass self stood stark still in shock.  His face was a mangled mess.  Cuts and bruises covered his face and arms.  Shirtless, his torso was slashed in various places, but healing already.  Being told your old news, I didn’t know what to do or how to proceed.  He would have to make a move before me. 

I blinked back the tears thinking this was adolescent and ridiculous to have feelings for someone this much, but my heart was telling him all he needed to know.  I closed off my mind the best I could and started sliding down the corridor to the next statue that would lead to my father’s office. 

That door opened and strong arms wrapped around my middle.

“You’re going to be okay,” a whisper came right above my ear.  Cas had followed.

I inched back with Cord watching Cas’ eyes with every step.  I saw the way they went black when Cord grabbed me.  I caught the jerk of his body meaning he was coming after Cord.  But he never came.

In the office, Cord sat me down on my father’s sofa.  He started to talk and I reminded him with a finger to my mouth that our words are heard by others. 

“I want to see Szar.  Either you go get him or I am ending this game once and for all.  I am sick and tired of Cas acting like I’m a leper.” I screamed as loud as I could my next five words.  “HE CAN GO TO HELL.”

It didn’t look fake anymore.  It was just the bodily reaction our connection felt.  He didn’t love me.  I was done.

“Stay here,” Cord jumped up fast and left out the door we just fell into. Two minutes later, Szar entered.  His face matched Cas’.  He had a shirt on, but I was sure of what I would see if I raised it.  To be sure, I asked him to let me see. And I was correct.

“Who is doing this?” I grabbed my hair and pulled.  I felt like a depressed housewife from one of those movies I used to watch so much.  I had to look the part with my actions today. 

“You know who?  But it doesn’t matter, sis.  We can take it.  It isn’t the first time he has busted my nose.”

Borgon.  “Is Cord next?” I skimmed both their faces.

“I imagine, but not necessarily.  They know he has you.  I have a suggestion that will hold him off more, but I know you will say no to it.”

“Coming from you brother, I would say that is a big fat no.”

“It wasn’t my suggestion,” Szar motioned his head to where Cas was in wait.

“Go on,” I replied slowly.  Whatever Cas suggested, I wanted to hear.

“With the current circumstances,” he looked between us, Cord and I, “I think it best if the two of you come out of the closet on your love affair.  Others would calm down if the threat is eliminated.”

I cracked even more than I had at other times lately.  “Are you insane?  Szar, you’ve thoroughly lost your mind if you think I will—

Cord silenced me.  He leaned over me where I stood and whispered, “It is just a plot.  Nothing more.  They know of your and Thorns blood connection now.  Cas is just making it easier for him to get the surveillance off his back.  If they leave, he can help us again.  He isn’t suggesting we have sex.”

“Cord!” I folded my hand over my mouth.  My face turned red out of anger, not embarrassment.  This wasn't
the
plan.

“See, I told you we should come out with it.”  Cord said this to me and Szar.  He was acting, but it was too real for me.  I couldn’t make heads or tails of anything and I sure wasn’t in control anymore.  And Cord knew.  He freaking knew this before I came here today.  I hated now that it was my suggestion to go to his court.  It made it look too real.

“Why now?” I asked calmly to Szar ignoring the fondling hands of Cord on my hip. 

“If we are to look disbanded from our motherly plans from above, they will leave us alone.  If we try to go on, they have promised to take us apart one by one.”

But we can stand together.  How can we do anything apart?

He is taking them one by one to make me crack.  And it is working.

              “For now.  But for the record, I hate this plan.”

              I stomped out through the office and ran to my car.  Away and gone before Cord even exited the door, I was gone.  I stopped halfway up the driveway and looked back to my brother’s balcony.  I had memories even there of Cas and I together. 

              He was standing there, shirtless and beautiful.  I didn’t care if he was marred with cuts and bruises and hated me.  I didn’t hate him. 

              And nor I.  Just the opposite.

              Unhinged by the words entering my brain, I hit the brakes.  I heard him.  He talked to me.  I stared wide mouthed and retraced what I’d just said.  I’d said I didn’t hate him.  The opposite meant he…I had my answers. 

              I will win this damn war.  And I will have Cas back.

“We need a distraction,” I surveyed.

Szar grunted.  “Got it covered.”  He ran a little forward, threw his hands up crazily and pointed away from us behind the ten or so remaining Elves with weapons and shouted, “Hey look over there.  Naked Elf girls dancing.”

Effectively
standing alone now with not one eye watching us, we jetted around the almost vacant camp. 

“For once brother, vulgarity wins.”

“Not vulgar, sis.  Facts of life.  What guy wouldn't appreciate a bunch a females showing off their artistic abilities?”

“Put that way Szar, you make it sound like were museum pieces.”

“Perhaps we consider you just that,” Cord said pointedly.

Stunned, I looked from boy to boy.  They believed just that.  Wow!  “I do believe that is the greatest compliment I've ever heard from a guy.  Amazing.”

Running like mad, Cord doubled back running backward at me, “Did you just say we’re amazing.  You know that translates to “hot” in today's lingo.”  He jogged over to Szar.  “Dude, she just said we're hot.”

“You furrball.  Not included on that observation.”

I felt like being stupid for once and throw my brother off his step just for kicks.  “I'm surrounded by hot sweaty sexy men all the time who know they are hot sexy men.  You don't need my opinion to know what you are.”

“Ew, Stace.  Whatever.  For the record, I don't ever want to hear that you are dancing naked anywhere.  My man Cas would shit bricks.”

“Oh, nice.  How do you know I haven't?”  At the mention of Cas, I descended into a bad mood instantly.

Both of them halted to a solid stop with
that
look, but it wasn’t at the mention of Cas.

“Kidding.  Kidding!  No naked Stace pictures have been posted anywhere.  We don't have time to stop guys.  Come on.”  I left them standing there and zoomed off.   I was
effectively
laughing my head off and back out of my bad mood.  And ready to fight.

It has been three more weeks since I saw Cas and all we have done is chase Borgon around with no gains.  I was frustrated at first, but realized it threw the enemy off his game too.  We had our own spies, i.e. a boy I knew well-named Dyer Lee, who kept track of Nara and Dr. Quinn.  They were rarely at the Vampire court anymore since Cord and I had been seen holding hands at a couple of local places.  I learned that Nara was quite the one to get around and had actually never spent the night at Cas’ court.  With that bit of info, I was on fire.  Nothing could stop me now except losing Cas.

I stumbled upon two argumentative Elves and no Borgon in sight.  With our version of giving up on running the factions, we focused on helping the "poor" Elves.

“You’re the one that lost her.”

“You did.  I just stupidly listened to you when you said go south," the better dressed one argued.  By better dressed I meant no holes in his clothes and cleaner on the surface.

“No, you’re the screw up that couldn’t get her attention and make her veer off to the left.”

“I hope you’re kidding.  I—

“Boys, do you mean little ole me?
”
Both rather short dudes turned their bodies and weapons in my direction.  “I don’t mean to intrude, but I did know your plan and only thwarted it because I wanted to talk to you. Alone.”

They dopily looked at each other and shrugged like I wasn’t their greatest enemy, but rather a street vendor selling tacos to taste.

I successfully convinced them they should cross over to follow Lord Jetten and his turn to his reign again.

We left the few Elves who still challenged us to clean up their own and left our same note that we’d pinned on every wild goose chase we’d been on to find this stupid sword.  Staying silent in the shadows, they had no idea what we were really doing.

Trick or treat.

The jokes on you.

We only want a once dead race

To rise again.

So come join us

So that your people are safe.

We’d spread the word that Lord Jetten had finally returned and we intended to use our energies to help them.  The enemies took the bait.  Now we just needed to find Lord Jetten.

A few were resisting though.  We couldn’t hold out much longer without real proof of his return.  We needed to find that lord.

Elves tried to stop us on the chevroned road by the Ryan Manor that was supposedly a deterrence for seeing the enemy coming.  These came by foot and refused to listen to us.  Cord put up a good defense but I told him I could deal with it. I thought back to some of the fights I'd won against the Valkyrie boys for years when my brother wasn't looking.  Now that I'd practiced on boys I actually like, I knew now it was flirting.

“It’s like this boys.”

Cord tilted his head but not his eyes.  They were transfixed on the frothy looking crew readying their claws and swords that I swore were sharper in the light.  The one in front licked his lips at the way my voice changed making it a good guess that
inter
relations weren't a problem for them.  Some, not all, displayed their minds openly.  And they weren’t branching far.  I spoke to all of them alike.

“I know the catcall kind. They throw their praises, hope to get her attention, then crash and burn when she reminds them they are out of her league.  It happens.  I deal.  The difference is
they
are rabid Elf thieves who want to steal more than just a few batted eyelashes. Like I said, I can deal with you.”

Fumbled words-1  People Skills -0

I felt like my track record was being recorded somewhere and the numbers were all wrong, but no one believed me.  Either way, I would keep trying.

My little speech did wonders for Cord’s humorous side even if it as off course for the enemy.  “By all means, my lady.  Take the charge and lead the way,” he rolled his free hand in a circle and laid it out palm faced in the three stooges direction.  It did the trick.  It caught them off guard, no matter how foolish I looked.

I plowed through the grass taking the left one down with my magic #2.  Rightie went down next.  Mid-thigh high went down before it hit him on his short little neck.  I think he even fainted first.  I couldn’t have planned it better.

Feeling way to ego boosted happy I lifted my chest when I turned back to see Cord’s for certain look of shock for my own entertainment.  He didn’t give me what I wanted though.

Instead, he was beside me rather quickly pulling my knife from the first Elf and wiping the blade clean for me.

“I’ll remember this the next time I need a bodyguard. Your mouth is as deadly as your knives.”

That was all the admiration he would give.  He was so different than the rest
.
 
He flirted in his way like his usually self all the rest of the way to the Were Manor gate where Angus met us. 

I knew now why Cord preferred the cabin.  It was simple compared to the manor.  My own court was known for it's "glamor", but the Were court was extravagant.  I didn't picture elegance associated with the wolves, but there it was. 

Coming here before, I was too angry to notice. But now that something threatened to destroy it, I hated the idea.  My own court was in shambles at the moment.

Overlapping marbled stairs with gold adorned columns. The entire front side of the manor was all windows from the ceiling to the floor.  A mosaic of various half transformed Weres were carved into each section of of wall near the roof.  In awe, I tried to memorize the story it told.  I know Cord wasn't in it, but imagined him there.

"They like art," his footsteps landed beside me.

"Art?" I asked.

"Weres like to sculpture, carve, things like that.  All the natural borns at least."

"Is that why you prefer the cabin?  Because you don't like art?"

"They didn't choose me, I was forced."

Ahh!  "Because you are not Were born."

When he didn't say anything, I glanced sideways to be sure I didn't offend him.  His usual confidence had faded, his eyes gave me an answer. 

"I'm sorry Cord, I shouldn't have said anything."  Those people person issues always made me open mouth, insert foot.

"Anastacia, I--

"No Cord, it was a bad guess."

He touched my elbow light enough I looked down to see if that was what I felt. 

"It was dead on."

Oh! Okay!  "Well, then you and I are not much different."

The vulnerable Cord disappeared behind the mask again.  "How so, princess?"

"Just that.  My childhood was stolen from me to become this Shadow Queen goddess girl.  My choices were taken away too."

His face revealed how much he hadn't realized it from my point of view.  I felt sorry for all the guys in that instant.  None of us had a choice.

"Well, we are all in this together now.  And for the record, I would only change one thing."

"To be human again?"

Cord's expression softened unlike any other time I've ever seen it, "Five days."

Confused, I watched on. He went through several hues of green across his face before saying, "If my uncle had died five days later, everything would be different."

The memory played on my mind.  "Your father was Hoover Ryan."

"Uncle," he corrected.

He was betrothed to me and set to meet me, but his father, no uncle, died and his funeral took place that day.  I never met him. 

"Cord, that can't be anything but--

"What can't be?  It doesn't make it any less true."

He stomped off before I could say anything back.  There was really nothing I could say.

Inside my room, I showered.  I hated that Cord was there, that near to me.  I worried even taking a shower with him so close with another truth revealed.  He wouldn't hurt me, but I always felt now like I was hurting him by just existing. Like Calum. 

I covered the shower poof in vanilla soap and washed away the day.  Twice. 

I got even more angry standing under the scalding hot water that kept reminding me of the pain.  I wanted Cas back.  I wanted to exfoliate every last stinking one of them with my sponge of doom from my skin.  Stab them with my bare fingernails.  Drac was to blame.  Borgon was the blame.  They were the bad guys.  I needed to remember that.

Fresh and clean, I stepped into the kitchen where Cord’s personal cook, a stout young girl named Tania, was giggling and holding her hand to her mouth with something Cord said.  I narrowed my eyes at him, not her.

Cord stood straighter and bid her goodbye.  Tania scurried out and Cord sat back down where he was currently eating a huge plate of spaghetti.  MY spaghetti I’d asked for.

“What were you saying to her?”  He ignored me and went back to eating.  I guess he was angry at what he admitted.

“Nothing.”

Nothing my ass.  “Leave Tania alone.”

He looked at me blankly.  “It’s not like I would hurt her or anything, Anastacia.”

Yeah, but you might lead her into places I didn’t want her.  I’d guard Tania. She’d helped me fit in more and saved me more than once when I was bored.

“Whatever, Cord.  Just leave her alone.  You’re flirting with everything that smiles your way isn't really you, just the mask you hide behind.  Give yourself some honor for once.”  I sat down across from him.  He stopped the fork midway and looked at the empty spot where I sat. 

“Would you like for me to get you a plate.”  Oh yeah, he was angry.  Angry at what he admitted and now angry that I was correct.

“Not hungry.”

He didn’t believe me.  I really wasn’t anymore.

“You do know you’re in my court, with my people, and you’re trying to tell me what to do?  We might as well be married and be done with it.  You’re already ordering me around.”  He chewed a bite and waited for me to respond.  He was trying to bait me and for once, I wouldn’t let him win.

“Might as well.  At least you’re acknowledging who is boss.”

He choked on his bite.  It serves him right.  We ate in silence and avoided each other the rest of the day.

The next morning Cord gave me a new plan.   Plan F for failure, he called it.   I didn’t like it, but it’s the only plan we’ve got!