Page 1 of Queens Will Play

CHAPTER ONE

We were gathered at Delilah’s, the three of us sitting in her kitchen. It almost felt like old times. We’d spent seven years in this house together after coming over Earthside. Now, it belonged to Kitten and her family. Menolly lived with Roman and Nerissa—her husband and wife. As for me, I lived out in Talamh Lonrach Oll, the Fae Nation. There, I ruled over the Court of Shadow and Dusk, along with my three husbands—Smoky, Trillian, and Morio.

It had been two years to the month that we took down the Demon Lord Shadow Wing, winning the war but losing too many lives in the battle, and so we gathered for a private memorial. No big party, no large group. Just me and my sisters, our spouses, and our memories.

Everyone else was in the living room, except for Trillian and Shade, who were outside manning the grill. Morio was watching Maggie, and Hanna was taking care of Delilah’s daughters. As somber as the evening was, a quiet joy permeated the room. We were still together, battle scars bedamned.

“I got a letter from Rozurial. It came in today while I was sleeping,” Menolly said, holding up an envelope. “I thought I’d wait to open it until we were all together.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve heard from him. I wondered how he and Fraale are doing. I miss him, to be honest,” Delilah said.

“So do I,” I said. “But I miss a lot of things. Life moves on, I suppose. Everything changes. Hell, I’m not even sure of my own future. My advisors are so irritated with me that I’ve taken to avoiding them whenever I can.” I let out a snort. “I like to think I’m giving the crown an updated look, so to speak, and that doesn’t sit well with them. Or with Titania and Aeval.”

In fact, I’d gone from having weekly teas with the other two Fae Queens to being on the end of their constant ‘suggestions’ and backhanded compliments.

“You’ve always been a handful to deal with,” Menolly said, grinning. She picked up her bottle of blood, labeled ‘Pizza & Beer’. “At least Morio’s made a fortune with this stuff,” she added, lifting it in salute.

“He has at that.”

Morio had resisted patenting his spell for flavored blood for vamps, but after some introspection, he decided that he could set us up for life, as well as help out several charities. So, he applied for a patent on his formulation, received it, and now was raking in the cash.

“We’re set for life. He’s decided to sell the business, though.” I laughed. We didn’t need any more money, and the business took up more of his time than he wanted. He wasn’t a suit-and-tie guy in the least, so we’d all agreed that it was best he cash out while he could.

“Really?” Menolly asked. “Why?”

“It’s blown up, and he’s really not a businessman at heart,” I said. “Why, you want to buy it?”

Menolly thought for a moment. “Roman might be interested. It would make sense to have a vampire running a business solely marketed to vampires. I’ll ask him about it.”

“I don’t blame Morio,” Delilah said. “I’d get tired of all the administration, too.” She glanced over at the two girls playing on the kitchen floor as Hanna swept past. The sturdy Northwoman flashed us a cheery grin as she gathered them up and headed toward the stairs to put them to bed.

“I’ll be up to give them kisses soon,” Delilah said.

Over the years, Delilah had changed. She was no longer our timid Kitten. Ever since she’d given birth to Chamiya, actually—even before that, when she took in Astrid, she’d become a fierce Mama Panther. She was far stronger than she had ever been. Nobody messed with her family, and her family included Menolly and me.

“They’re adorable,” I said.

Astrid, her foster-daughter, and Chamiya, her daughter with the Autumn Lord, were night and day. Astrid was tow-headed and babbled away like a bird on a sunny morning. Chamiya had the dark hair of her father, and was quiet, like an autumn cloud-covered sky.

“They had a playdate with Jason and Tim’s kids the other day. Chamiya needs all the socialization I can give her, considering who she’s growing up to be. We have to make certain she grows up with a level head. I have no desire to be the mother of an entitled brat who can start fires with her mind,” Delilah said, looking worried.

“Can she do that?” Menolly asked, straightening her shoulders. “That’s not good.”

“Her father said it will be one of the powers she grows into. I’m praying she won’t develop her stronger powers until she’s older, but we’re keeping a close watch.” Delilah shrugged.

“That seems like a good idea.” While I might be married to three men, Kitten actually had one of the most complicated relationships out of all of us.

“Let’s see what Roz has to say.” Menolly opened the letter, shaking out the page. She scanned it. “I don’t believe this. Oh, crap.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“Fraale left him,” Menolly said, looking up from the page.

“Cripes, what did he do?” Delilah said.

“Nothing, actually. It’s not his fault,” Menolly said. “Let me read the letter to you.”

My friends,