“No. As he was the closest in line to the throne, he wanted me dead.” Alaric stopped his smile. “Fiona wanted him to become king, then she’d have the means to make war on humans. Now, without Damon, she can only gain power if I abdicate. In writing. That’s why they kidnapped you. To force me into abdicating in Damon’s favor.”
“Now, he’s dead.” I stared at the blue Pacific through the windshield. “And Fiona will still force you into abdicating inherfavor.”
“Yep.”
“Lanokota, have mercy,” I whispered. “She’ll use me to get to you.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“What will we do?” I demanded wildly. “She knows where we are, doesn’t she? Alaric, you can’t let her do it. We have to get in the house, stay there. Hide.”
He seized my hand. “She’ll not get to you while I’m here. I’ll protect you, my queen.”
He kissed my knuckles, smiling gently.
“That’s why you call me that.” I forgot my panic in the wonder that streamed through me. “Iamyour queen.”
“You got it.”
Alaric turned the truck onto the side road that led to his property. I gazed ahead at the McMansion and wondered aloud, “Will we live in a castle?”
“It’s not exactly a castle as such,” he answered. “But it’s a massive palace built into a mountain.”
“A palace,” I breathed.
If Alaric planned another comment, he didn’t get the chance to utter it. Something powerful struck the pickup from the rear and tossed it onto its roof. I shrieked as metal crunched and glass shattered in my face. Hanging upside down by my seatbelt, I caught a glimpse of gold blasting toward us and the overturned truck.
Fiona!
Alaric also hung upside down and blood dripped from his head to the cab’s roof below us. He appeared unconscious. Or dead.
I screamed his name as the passenger’s door was peeled open as easily as one might peel a grape. Fiona’s fore talon cut my seatbelt with ease. Helpless to fight against her, I still struggled as she plucked me from the truck. Yelling, I pounded her closed fist with mine as she took to the air, her wings beating hard.
“Oh, knock it off,” Fiona snapped as she gained altitude. “You can’t hurt me so stop trying.”
I obeyed. Panting, furious, terrified that Alaric had died, I gazed upward at Fiona’s massive head. “If you killed him,” I growled, “I’ll kill you.”
She chuckled, flames shooting past her muzzle. “Yeah, yeah. But I didn’t kill him, sweetheart. If that little accident killed him, he’s not worthy to be our king.”
“The title you plan to steal,” I snapped.
“Of course. Why do you think I needed Damon? Until he got himself dead anyway.”
I looked down at the ocean far below as Fiona circled high over it. “If he’s alive, and I drop from this height, you’ll never have any leverage over him.”
She snorted. “That’s why you won’t fall, toots. By the way, handsome hubby is over there.”
She pointed with her free talon. Sure enough, a black dragon with flames shooting from his muzzle flew toward us at an incredible speed. A fresh fear spread its evil claws through my heart. If Alaric fought with Fiona while she carried me, I would most certainly die.
“Oh, shit,” I muttered.
“Don’t worry. He’ll not dare challenge me while I have you.”
“So you hope,toots.”
Alaric spread his wings and slowed his headlong pace to fly beside Fiona. “You’ll die for this, bitch.”
“Don’t be stupid, Alaric,” Fiona snarled, lifting me toward him. “I’ll hold onto this sweet thing until you get the papers that turn the throne and all the power that goes with it over to me. So, fly off and get them.”
