Page 13 of Queens Will Play

“Well, I suppose I should take another shower,” Smoky said. “Join me?” He slapped my ass with a strand of his hair.

“I might as well,” I said. “That’s what I was planning on doing before Trillian caught hold of me,” I added.

Trillian waved us on. “I’ll freshen up in the other bathroom and meet you for breakfast.”

As Smoky and I lathered up, he pulled me to him and kissed me, his hair wrapping around me to lift me up to meet his gaze. The water poured down, soaking us as he backed me against the shower wall and, once again, slid inside me. This time, though, he loved me long and slow, and by the time we were done with our shower, I was glowing in the warmth that came with being loved, and with loving.

Morio was at the table with Trillian by the time Smoky and I joined them. Morio grabbed my hand and pulled me down to give me a kiss.

“I’m sorry I missed the fun,” he said, his eyes twinkling.

“You’ll get your turn, don’t worry,” I said, grinning back at him.

As Vine stood near, the serving girls brought in our breakfast. I kept wanting to call them waitresses, but that wasn’t the tradition of the Barrows. The Fae Queens had servants, though they were well-paid and even had retirement plans.

I had put a stop to the endless buffet that Morgaine had ordered held every morning. Most of the food had been wasted, though the kitchen staff took it home, but I’d still pared it down to eggs and bacon, toast and waffles, and fruit. And, of course, coffee, espresso, milk, and juice. At that moment, Mariya—Maggie’s official nanny—brought her in to join us for breakfast.

I held out my arms and cuddled the little gargoyle as she slid into my arms, her wings flapping like a happy dog’s tail. She wrapped her arms around my neck.

Maggie was starting to grow up a little. She was still in the toddler stage and still wore diapers and would for quite a while, but she could speak a little more clearly and she could waddle around without falling over so much.

Her fur was soft against my face as I pressed my lips to her cheek and gave her a big kiss.

“Mama Cammy! Cammy!” She still looked sleepy, but there was something wrong. I could sense it.

“Are you okay, Maggie? What’s wrong?”

She stood on my knee as I held her by the waist. Her little pot belly pudged out—as it should at this stage—and she gave me a wide-eyed look. In a solemn voice, she said, “Bad deems. I deemed bad things.”

I froze. Maggie had been having bad dreams? Was she picking up on whatever it was headed our way? I didn’t want whatever it was touching her, mind or body.

“What kind of bad things did you dream about, Maggie?” I asked.

Maggie looked at me, her eyes so wide that I could fall into them. I loved her dearly and she would stay with me as long as she wanted to—I’d always have a place for her in my heart and home. Her chin trembled.

“Was dark, so dark. Cammy holding Maggie. Bight light go poof…man there. Look nice. Smile. Cammy lets go of Maggie, puts on floor. Man holds out hand. Big claws. Scatches Mama Cammy. Cammy sceems. Man gabs shiny stone and Mama Cammy falls to ground. Then wake up.” She burst into tears. “No want! Mama Cammy stay with Maggie?”

A knot formed in the pit of my stomach. I pulled her to me and hugged her tight, whispering to her. “Everything’s going to be fine, Maggie. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. You’re safe and I’m safe.”

After a few minutes she quieted down and I motioned for Mariya to take her. “Give Maggie her favorite breakfast. Bring her back to me for a kiss before she goes to play. And listen, I want you to keep two guards with you at all times when you’re with her.”

Since Mariya slept in Maggie’s room with her, that meant they’d be there watching over her at night. Until we figured out what was going on, I wanted her safe.

“You want your cream drink with your lamb kebobs for breakfast?” Mariya asked.

Maggie sniffled but quit crying and nodded. “Cream drink. Cookies.”

Mariya looked at me.

I nodded. “She can have two cookies with her breakfast.” That brought a smile to Maggie’s face. I leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Go have your breakfast. We’ll have playtime later—Morio said that he made you a toy,” I added.

“Toy?” Maggie swiveled to look over at Morio, who winked at her.

“Yes, I have a new toy for you. Be a good girl and eat your breakfast and I’ll give it to you after your lessons,” he said.

As Mariya carried her back to the playroom, where Maggie ate and played, I sighed. I missed having her around 24/7, but with my duties, it was safer for her to stay with the nanny most of the time. But I always made sure to spend some time with her every day, and if I couldn’t, I’d make sure the guys stopped in to play with her.

After Mariya vanished out the door, I turned back to the others. “We have a problem. I hope to hell Carter can find out something to help us.”