~ Gwynnore ~
Japri, Ultima Esperanza, Chile
Pacific Coast
One day with the crown on my head and shit had already taken a dive for the worse. My ass was killing me, each butt cheek aching and protesting my chosen vantage point—chilly and jagged rocks weren’t made for relaxing on. But I continued to sit high on a small boulder, cold and uncomfortable, while I evaluated the soldiers assembled.
My first official task as Queen was here.
The men and women sat or stood, their postures relaxed as they talked quietly to one another, waiting patiently for me to give instruction. None seemed bothered by the crumbling, dusty mess where I’d decided to hold this process. Their clothes already sported dirt and filth just by walking in here.
I considered the two men who were lying side-by-side on the ground, both staring up at the ceiling of the cave—the cave where I’d been crowned as the new Queen just this morning. I glanced up, eyeing the black rock. The ceiling didn’t appear all that remarkable, and neither man was talking to anyone else. I flipped through the tablet on my lap while the boulder and pebbles continued to bite into my ass. I scrolled until I found their pictures and then wiggled my backside to get the circulation flowing again. A quick scan of their profiles had my black brows rising. The outward appearances of the men were as different as night and day, but their profiles indicated they were cousins…and extremely old. Nearly two thousand years old.
And apparently mute for almost a thousand.
I swiped my palm over the screen, turning the viewer black, wondering if someone had tampered with the files. Felicia, a general in our vampire warrior forces, had done as I’d asked. She’d sent the best pairs of vampire soldiers for me to decide who I’d like to have as my private guards, but I hadn’t expected her to send individuals who couldn’t, or wouldn’t, speak. Communication in dangerous situations was necessary, and sign language with swords in your hands wouldn’t be feasible. Even if a sword through a chest was the universal language of ‘you’re fucked.’
I’d rather not have a sword through my chest.
I glanced at the pair once more.
The man with skin the color of midnight shifted and placed the back of his head on his cousin’s stomach, getting more comfortable as they continued to stare at the ceiling. His cousin placed his milk-pale hand on the other’s forehead, leaving it there, the contrast of skin color beautiful. He didn’t move any further, just enough to indicate it was okay for the cousin to use him as a pillow. Each man was perfectly at peace, thousands of years being in each other’s presence obvious.
My lips curved up on one side.
Well, now that they were more at ease, perhaps I should start up this evaluation. I wouldn’t want anyone getting too comfy during this. The eval wasn’t meant to be simple.
I set the tablet aside and slid down the curve of the boulder, my black leather pants taking the brunt of the rocky edge digging into my legs and butt. I landed with fluid grace on the floor, a puff of dust shooting out from under my black boots, coating them in a film of dirt. I brushed off the back of my pants as everyone’s—including the cousins—heads snapped in my direction. I watched each individual as I walked closer, all jumping to their feet or straightening to their full height, standing at attention.
I stopped in front of the group of twenty soldiers. My blue eyes ran over each person. These vampires had muscles on top of their muscles, not one ounce of fat to be found. They weren’t all the same, though. No, they had different body types. After the day I’d had with the stronghold attack, this might provide entertainment.
I placed my hands behind my back and cleared my throat, speaking over the wind whistling inside the cave—the opening from the blasts still in disarray and in need of repair. “I’m sure you all know who I am by now and why you’re here. I know you were given orders from your general to be here.” I started walking up and down their formed line, but I didn’t look at them now, allowing them a moment to listen and think on their own. “I don’t want you here if you don’t want to be. The two individuals I pick to protect me will be dedicated to me—and only me. Anything I ask of you, you will do. You will follow my orders no matter what they are. This is not the vampire army, a camaraderie of brothers and sisters in arms. This is a lonely life you’ll lead—all for the Crown. You won’t have friends. You won’t have lovers. You won’t have a family. You will only have me.”
I pivoted and strolled back to the small boulder I’d been sitting on, waving my left hand toward the exit of the ceremonial room. I spoke over my shoulder. “If you leave, it won’t be held against you. Decide now. You have until I reach the top of this rock before the process begins. Anyone left in this room will start sparring on my command, and you won’t stop until I give the order.”
I gripped the cold rock and placed my feet in the divots marring the stone. I began climbing at a leisurely pace as rustling commenced with the soldiers, quiet decisions made behind my back. I wasn’t lying. This would be one hell of a solitary life. They needed to know that going in. The last problem I wanted was my personal guards feeling trapped. It needed to be their decision.
At the top of the boulder, I brushed off my hands and stood to gaze out into the darkness of night through the hole in the mountain,the hole inmy stronghold.
My teeth ground together in frustration.
The Overlords were keeping quiet on their thoughts of the attack, facts alone only allowed for my eyes. I knew why. It didn’t make it any easier not being party to their theories. The Overlords didn’t want Master Niallan knowing vampire affairs…not until he was crowned king. Which meant, my true reign to protect my people couldn’t begin until shit was handled with Nial.
The Queen was below the King.
I sniffed at the thought. Current law was a bitch.
The Overlords were handling the attack, the investigation into it, the repairs to the stronghold, and added soldiers to our ranks at this castle. At least, they kept me in the loop, permitting me to see any discoveries about the attack—unlike Master Niallan, who was kept entirely in the dark.
But I didn’t know the real information.
What was inside the Overlords’ heads.
Not until the king and the queen were both crowned.
The Overlords would hand over information then.
I rolled my shoulders and pushed the stress away to focus on the task at hand. My personal guards needed to be chosen. I turned around on the boulder and focused on the soldiers below me.
