I lifted one eyebrow, not looking away. I asked bluntly, “What do you need of us?”
“To kill a mad queen, Your Royal Highness.” Her lips curved up at the edges, at peace with her words. “The Queen of Vampires—in S’Kir. She needs to die before she hurts anyone else, and if your asshole lover is anything like his dick twin, they just might do the trick.”
My lips twitched in dark humor. I took my hand off Bel’s arm and held my hand out to her. “You have a deal. But we must be quick about it. The war starts soon on Earth.”
“Deal.” Kimber shook my hand solidly.
Chapter Three
GWYNNORE
The six of us staredat their four horses.
It had been many years since I’d ridden. That didn’t mean I had forgotten, but I much preferred a private jet to take us to the nearest town. S’Kir was most definitely behind in technology compared to Earth.
This would not be a fun experience for me.
“Um… the ladies get a horse, correct?” I muttered, my nose crinkling at the scent of manure. “I call the one on the right.”
“That one is mine.” Kimber lifted her chin into the air.
“Not anymore,” I stated evenly, hiking toward the horse I wanted. “Age over beauty, honey.”
Kimber blinked. “We have a deal.”
“Not for the horse, we don’t.” I flashed my fangs. Female solidarity was a joke. You stick with the one you came with, not with the person you just met. She would learn this quickly enough, a little life lesson given by little old me. “You can fight me for it if you want.”
“Gwen…” Bel snorted. “Now is not the time.”
I hoisted myself up on my horse, ignoring how the druid woman’s hands clenched into fists, and how one of her twins placed a hand on her shoulder. I kept my attention on my lover—the person I came with, where my loyalty lay. I settled down on the saddle and patted the horse’s neck softly. I stated honestly, “This place gives me the heebie-jeebies. I need a decent fight to calm my nerves.”
“We’ll spar later, if that is what you want.” Bel held my gaze, his frost eyes narrowing on mine. “But remember what I said before.”
Yes. Yes, I must be nice.
“You’re a bore,” I droned. He was anything but.
His gaze ran over the other horses, settling on one he liked best. “A bore with a white stallion to ride.”
“That one’s mine,” Rilen snapped, clearly irritated by these turn of events. “Try and take him. I dare you.”
King Belshazzar shrugged his shoulders.
Dorian groaned low under his breath.
I blinked… That was all. One. Blink.
Bel sat atop the white stallion, and Rilen was hogtied on the ground with dirt stuffed in his mouth.
Dorian shook his head in the stunned hush and stomped over to his mate, who looked vaguely ill on the ground—shaking his head, blinking hard, and coughing out mud. Dorian squatted down in the silence. He began untying his mate and cast a brutal glare up at his smirking brother.
Dorian hissed, “Stay away from them, Bel. They are off-limits. Dare or not.”
It was so hard not to laugh.
Only years of training kept my features smooth.
King Belshazzar grinned, full-toothed. “Be happy, brother. I left the two best horses for Kimber and you. I did this with love in my heart. I took the weakest horse just for you.”
