“Alpha.” The man holding Leonie’s arm in his waited until I looked him in the eye. “I will guard both queens with my life.”
I gave him a short nod. Though if it came down to the new man saving Shara over Guillaume or Xin, then her plans were already fucked.
“Xin, go first,” she said in Isabelle’s voice. “Get inside the nest and find Marne. Then wait for my signal.”
He howled with glee as he disappeared through the watery portal.:It’s an honor to serve, my queen.:
She looked at each one of us, admiring what each Blood had chosen to wear for warfare. Mehen had brought an expensive looking suit, but evidently he was saving it for later. He still looked sharp in black dress pants and green silk shirt, while Nevarre wore only his kilt, fully expecting to shift on the other side. Ezra had upgraded his normal jeans and flannel to black jeans—and white and black buffalo checked shirt. Though he had at least combed his hair and beard.
Out of everyone, Lew’s outfit surprised me the most. He wore a sleek black tuxedo and a shimmering red silk shirt with what looked to be real gold buttons. Golden gryphons—like from medieval heraldry—were embroidered on both lapels and cobras twined up both arms from the cuffs. Instead of a tie, he wore a gold collar lapel. A large ankh hung from the chain with matching cufflinks on his sleeves.
I found myself regretting my basic black pants and white dress shirt, but short of having a tailor make on-the-fly alternationsevery time we needed to make an appearance, it was the best I could do.
“You all look resplendent,” she said as her eyes came back to me. Not her dark, swirling eyes of velvet midnight sky but light gray, though still heated. She even let me see just the tip of her fangs.
The sound of ripping material made me grimace. “Fucking hell. There went my pants.”
Her lips curved in a sultry smile made particularly strange by Isabelle’s thin, pale lips. “My alpha gets bigger every time I look at you.”
“Then stop looking at him,” Gina said tartly. “Or he’s going to look like the Incredible Hulk walking through Paris in tattered rags.”
“Can you make him green?” Daire asked. “That would be fucking hilarious.”
“I love you all. I’ll see you on the other side.”
Then holding on to Guillaume’s arm, she took a step forward and sank beneath the water.
My world, my life, my everything. Disappeared from my sight.
SHARA
The Dauphine’s magic…
Stop it,I told myself firmly.It’s my magic now. It’s a gift from the goddess, and I’m going to use it as I see fit.
Eleusinian Mysteries wrapped around me, disguising my appearance, but also molding my behaviors. It did no good to wearIsabelle’s face and use her tongue if I walked like myself. The magic bent my body and slowed my steps, forcing me to appear and move like an elderly queen. At least I didn’t have to wear her dried-up tongue around my neck like the Dauphine had done to sound like Isabelle. The weird slip of dried flesh was safely in my pocket.
Yes, my fanciful cobra queen gown had pockets. And of course I’d tucked my trusty pocketknife into the other pocket. Not because I thought I might need it—not with Guillaume at my side. But for luck. To remind myself of where I’d begun, and where I was now.
Wearing a dress that probably cost more than most people’s annual salary with a heavy gold crown on my head. In fucking Paris of all places.
Leonie and Jenrade had gone first. I felt her step out of the fountain as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
:There are several cars parked in front of the building but I don’t see anyone outside,:she told me.:Jenrade says there are Blood on the roof, but they’re currently focused on the rear of the building.:
Guillaume and I passed through the portal. As quickly as he dared, he stepped out of the fountain and then reached back to help me. My muscles protested at moving so slowly. Sweat trickled down my back. Not from exertion but from the surge of adrenaline. Finally, the game was afoot.
One benefit of wearing Desideria’s jewelry was the ability to have my blood already drawn, ready to go, but concealed so well my own Blood didn’t even smell the wound. I let a single drop of blood drip into the water. Not enough to alert anyone. Hopefully. Though certainly if my Blood were on duty here, one of them would sniff out even the smallest drop of another queen’s presence near my nest.
:Blood are approaching,:Guillaume said.:On the roof. Ten paces. Eight.:
I stepped out of the fountain and stood there wobbling a moment, trying to settle back into the aged body. I glanced up atthe roof, but it was so bright with the morning sun glaring in my eyes I couldn’t see a thing.:How do you see them?:
:I don’t.:He tucked my arm around his and then laid his right hand over mine. Together, we shambled over to join Leonie and Jenrade.:I sense them. It’s almost like radar.:
:Interesting. I guess even queens learn something new every day.:
He started to laugh and then remembered he was supposed to be completely silent. We didn’t know who might recognize Barrau’s voice, or Guillaume’s, for that matter. So instead he started to cough, really hacking and gasping, bending over and grasping his chest like he was on death’s door.:Only the smartest and best queens like mine.:
