The Passionate Queen (Dark Queens Book 2) (26 page)

I was happy for my friends though; it was good to see the death god so deliriously happy.

“Well, my beauties”—I stood sensing my partner in crime was quite distracted now—“the sight of you two has made me miss my, Hephy.”

“Yes. Do go.” Caly waggled her brows. “I wish to rut my mate like a porpoise.”

“Hm.” I grinned at Hades, who shrugged adorably. We loved our Calypso, though she rarely made much sense.

By the time I’d vanished, I doubted they were aware I’d even gone. Clothes had been ripped off at breakneck speed, and all I could do was grin.

“You’ve still got it, lady love. You’ve still got it.”

~*~

Zelena

I
woke up the next morning feeling deliriously happy. I knew I was days away from finally being able to announce to the world that Ragoth was mine. And not only was he mine, but he would rule as my equal.

I’d never wanted another king, because I’d had no respect for any male. Except for my dragon. He would make an honorable king. I knew this.

But I also knew he’d never wanted the crown. He’d abdicated from his own bloodline, refusing to be a king in waiting should anything happen to his brother. My dragon was wild and free; he’d always been. I only hoped I could somehow convince him of the rightness of my decision.

I knew my people might worry, and while I did wish to make a different and good impression on them, on this I would not budge. Ragoth would be my king and theirs. Though I would still very much be the neck that turned the head. I grinned.

We would rule as equals. And I couldn’t believe that the idea of that excited me, but it did.

And it had nothing at all to do with gaining my powers back once he put on the ring; even if I never gained them back, I wanted and needed him in my life.

He’d helped me put things into perspective last night. And this morning I knew that he was right. Talking to Hatter and Alice was a start. But beyond that, I had also decided that I would visit neighboring villages and drop by to speak with the leaders there as well.

The journey of a thousand miles began with the first step after all.

My door was suddenly flung open, and Druscella strolled in, carting another one of my many royal gowns across her arms. “Good morning, my quee—”

She stopped dead in her tracks when she realized I was already awake and smiling. She frowned.

“Are you ill?”

Laughing, I tossed back my heavy quilt and practically hopped off the bed. “No, but I am in love. So possibly yes, I am ill. Either way, it is a glorious day.”

She hardly breathed, she looked so spooked.

Rolling my eyes, I tossed my curtains open, letting in the morning sun, and even pushed open the glass-pane window, inhaling deeply of the early morning. The land smelled of sweet dew and dragonsnaps.

“I’ve decided that today I shall tell the men who I’ve chosen.”

“So soon?” She blinked. “But the trials have only just begun.”

“Oh come, Dru, do not be willfully obtuse. You knew this would happen. I love Ragoth, and he loves me, and that is all there is to it.”

Finally the shock seeped away, replaced by a knowing but happy glint. “I rather suspected you meant none of what you said concerning that dragon. Though how do you suppose we will get the people to accept him as their new king?”

Funny, how she knew me well enough to accurately guess I’d make Ragoth king and not consort.

“You are one of the most level-headed and smart people I know, Dru. If I could make you see Ragoth as the good beast that he truly is, I’ve no doubt my people will someday come to see it too.”

“True enough. Do you wish me to tell the men they are dismissed then?” she asked as she sat my dress down on the corner of my bed and clapped her hands for my dress fitter.

“No, leave the rest up to me.” We had no more time for talking when an instant later a meek, mousy looking girl with orangey-red hair came sprinting through the door, bowing instantly. Her freckled face was splotchy and red as though she’d been running pell-mell to get to me.

Bloody hell, yet again I had another new fitter. My reputation was in tatters, but I would change this. I would. Grinning, I nodded at the girl.

“Who are you, child?”

The girl’s big blue eyes grew to twice their size, and she darted a glance over to Druscella, as though for help. I had to remind myself that snapping at her to look at me and not my handmaiden was the very opposite of best behavior, so I patiently waited and was rewarded when finally she softly said, “Telulah, my queen.”

I smiled. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Telulah, and I do hope that you will consider staying my personal fitter from here on out.”

From the corner of my eye I could see Dru giving me a beaming thumb’s up. I smiled; this would be a piece of cake.

~*~

I
glanced up from the head of the dining hall table when the golden-haired Midas walked in. The man’s eyes were red, and his features looked pinched. I knew the siren’s song had still not fully released its grip on him. He looked awful, his clothes were wrinkled, and his hair was a mess.

“Midas,” I said without preamble.

He glanced up and quickly bowed, as though only just noticing me. “My...my queen,” he said with a hoarse voice and tried to bow but looked more like a drunk jester than a courtly noble as he did so.

I grinned. “You are dismissed.”

It took him a moment to understand my statement. He stood there in stunned silence for several heartbeats before finally asking, “From breaking the morning fast?”

I wiped my mouth with my napkin and pushed my empty plate away. “Oh no, from the castle. You may go.” I clapped my hands, and one of hundreds of servants awaiting my call materialized as though by magic.

“My queen?” The painted-faced servant bowed deeply.

“Pack his bags, Milo. This male’s attendance is no longer required.”

Two things happened at once. Milo’s eyes grew wide in astonishment. I’d felt restless last night after Ragoth had left my room and had set about finally learning the names of a great majority of my servants.

I’d never called any of them, save for Dru, by name. The poor man looked fit to be tied that I’d done so now.

Crossing his arm over his chest, he bowed far deeper than he had initially and muttered reverently, “As my queen wishes, so shall I do.”

Midas, on other hand, looked astonished, dumbfounded, and then shivering with fury. “You cannot simply just toss me thus—”

I laughed, slipping easily back into the character of the queen I once was. “Oh yes, I can. You’re a vile, no-good, despicable liar who only came to the games for a chance at the crown. A crown you’d never have received, by the by. I was not looking for love, Midas, but I was certainly not looking for you.”

“You foul bitch!” he snapped.

Dukes could be so predictable. Snapping my fingers, I called yet another servant to me.

“Titus,” I said to the brute of a man whose eyes widened just as Milo’s had, “you may toss him out on his arse. Just get rid of him.”

Easily twice as broad as Midas and equally as tall, with twin tusk-like teeth that curled upward from his bottom lip, Titus was an imposing figure. My guard tucked his hand behind Midas’s collar and began to drag him out.

Midas shrieked. “Unhand me, vermin. You’ll pay for this. You’ll all pay for this!” He reached up and brushed his finger across Titus’s cheek, but my guard laughed.

“You think to turn me to gold, you foul leech?” Tossing his head back, he boomed, and if it hadn’t been obvious to Midas before, it certainly was now.

Titus wasn’t human. Or at least not entirely. Part ogre, he was—just like Ragoth—immune to most magics.

“Stupid human.” Titus grunted, and then quick as a blink rammed his hammy fist across the pretty man’s temple, knocking him out.

I grinned, snorting happily to myself. There was nothing wrong with being just a little naughty sometimes.

Lifting a finger when Milo started walking past, carting Midas’ valises, I stopped him. “Oh, Milo, one last favor.”

My servant paused, giving me a reverent bow of his head. Odd, but I thought I might have just made another ally in this place.

“My queen?”

“Send that spineless worm, Jonas, down to me as well.”

Anxiety scrawled across his forehead as he shifted on the balls of his feet. “I, uh, meant to tell you, queen, but—”

He paused for so long that I snapped with exasperation, “Well, spit it out, boy.”

Still looking nervous, he met my gaze head on. “He hied it out of here late last night, my queen. Said you weren’t worth the trouble.”

“Wasn’t worth the trouble,” I muttered.

And instantly Milo cringed. But I must have done the very last thing he’d expected, because I tossed my head back and laughed to the rafters.

“Well, how do you like that? Not worth the effort, indeed. Send him a box of chocolates in the morning post, Milo.”

I knuckled tears from my eyes. I thought that maybe my pride should be a little more wounded than it currently was. Indeed, I felt very little other than amusement.

“My queen?” he asked in confusion. “You would have me send him...chocolates?”

I grinned with delight. “Yes. The very best decadent chocolate from the very best chocolatier in wonderland.”

“O...kay.” He nodded, looking confused as he turned to leave.

“But make sure you tell the confectioner to fill them with skunk wart juice.”

Milo’s eyes danced with laughter, and I clapped my hands with satisfaction. Oh yes, being a little naughty could be very, very fun.

I hadn’t heard Icarus come through the doors, but he stood leaning against the wall with his lips twitching as though with suppressed laughter.

Dressed in casual clothing this morning, black leather breeches tucked into dark riding boots, and a snow-white shirt, he rather reminded me of a pirate.

“I like the look.” I nodded appreciatively.

He chuckled and shrugged, casually walking over to my side, before taking a seat beside me. I frowned, wondering what he was about.

“I rather suspected,” he began in his deep shivery timbre, “that today we’d all be axed.”

“Did you?” I steepled my fingers beneath my chin. “And how so?”

Leaning in, until his mouth was mere inches from my ear, he whispered, “I spied the dragonborne leaving your room late last night.”

Leaning back, I eyed him speculatively. “Indeed.”

I didn’t say more. I wasn’t exactly sure what he was getting at. If I’d slept with Ragoth all the men would have known it, as the magic of the joining would have immediately nullified the games.

Smiling widely, he reached over for a slice of toast and nibbled on it. “I knew I didn’t stand much chance after what the dragon had done yesterday. Fact is, my queen, I knew the moment you saw him that none of us stood a chance.”

It was impossible to dislike the man.

“I will leave as soon as I’ve broken my fast, if that is okay with you.” He dipped his head.

And I grabbed his hand, just as Ragoth walked through the archway. He stopped, eyeing our twined fingers, but saying nothing.

My heart lurched the moment I saw him. He was so beautiful, even dressed in Charles’ old clothes. The reds, golds, and blacks looked incredible on him. Ragoth Nur had been born to be a king.

He smiled gently back at me and I returned the look. Moving to the other side of the table, he took a seat and inclined his head in greeting toward Icarus, who looked confused at the two of us.

“Icarus,” I said without looking back at Ragoth. Part of leading was leading. I loved my dragon, but he was not my master. “I would never treat you as I’ve treated the other two. You’ve shown me nothing but respect, and I wish to do the same with you.”

I finally let his hand go, and he nodded slowly. “Okay.”

“I suspect very strongly that you are the leader of your village. You strike me as a truly good and honorable man. There was a dual purpose to this gathering, and that was my desire to show my people I can be the queen they need. When you return to your village today, I wish to ride with you and speak with your people. Would that be okay?”

He frowned deeply. “Truly?”

“Of course.” Finally turning to Ragoth, I said, “Pick me up when the sun sets. I shall wait for you out in the square. I wish the people to meet their soon-to-be king as well.”

I picked at the food on my plate nervously, not daring to look him in the eye. I’d not given Ragoth any warning as to what I’d had planned; I could only hope he’d agree to it.

Grabbing my hand in his calloused one, he kissed my knuckles tenderly, making me gasp as my stomach curled with heated delight.

“It would be an honor, my queen.”

Zelena

I
carus could have flown high above me if he’d chosen, but instead he remained by my side, practically floating as he gently flapped his wings beside me.

My cherry-red mare trotted along at a lazy pace. The countryside was lush and beautiful, the sky clear, and the air crisp from the scent of whispering flowers. I’d never had much of a chance to talk with Icarus, not as I’d wanted. I took the few hours still left to us to learn what I could about him.

I glanced at him and stifled a giggle when his brows lowered in intense concentration as he tried to work the tough leather seeds out of the dragon heart fruit to get to the meat inside. Icarus’ diet, I’d noticed, consisted mostly of grains, nuts, and fruit. The man was truly part bird.

“I’ve never really traveled this far west in wonderland. Tell me more of Avion, Icarus.” I said it slowly, so as not to startle him; the sound of my voice after miles of comfortable silence was still shocking, however.

“Hm?” Grunting, he glanced up, took a moment to register what I’d said, and then answered. “What would you wish to know, m’lady?”

“Describe it to me. I know that there are tall cliffs and many places from which to swoop and glide, but not much more than that.”

Smiling indulgently, he inhaled a deep breath, and in moments I could see his mind transported back to his homeland. “You are right; the cliffs climb for miles in all directions. Not all of my people have wings, but those of us who don’t have cloven hooves with which to climb the sharp, steep cliffs of our home. The world isn’t quite as nonsensical as it is around your castle, but we have our odd little beasties here and there. Pixies with horned tusks, wallarams—”