The Passionate Queen (Dark Queens Book 2) (18 page)

My throat squeezed at the sight, and I found myself lifting a hand up to her image, as though I could touch, could bring her comfort.

I’d heard rumors of her time here, of the numerous death sentences that’d been handed down for crimes committed. Not that she’d been wrong in her sentencing; in Olympus, my own father and mother were known to be heavy handed with punishments rendered. But always the penalty was fair; sometimes being a ruler meant making decisions not likely to be popular with everyone.

Such was the way of things.

But I hated the lingering look of sadness in her eyes and felt ashamed of the resentment I’d harbored for her through the years. I’d lost her, and my thoughts had turned cold and full of hurt. I’d heard of her paramours and I’d assumed she’d been living it up. But what I saw here told me otherwise.

A heavy hand slapped at my back, causing me to stumble a step. “Well, come eat, shifter!” the thunderous voice boomed.

I had to gnash down on my front teeth and remind myself that I could not use my powers when apart from Lena; it would disqualify me, and I was taking no chances of losing her a second time.

But when I turned and stared into the golden-eyed gaze of the one called Midas, it was an effort not to let my beast have free reign. I’d heard the brute yesterday bragging of how he’d make her his, turn her and tame her to his will.

And just how starry eyed many other men had been his presence. Midas was one to keep an eye on.

Stepping away from his grasp, I dusted off my vest. “Lead the way.”

He snorted and threaded his fingers behind his back.

Midas was tall, golden haired, and with flesh that gleamed almost like molten gold in certain lights. There was an inherent arrogance to him that was immediately off putting and irritating.

“You don’t stand a chance, you know.” He smirked. “The queen will choose me. Avarice, if nothing else, will make it so.”

Goddess, give me patience
.

“Is that so? And do you not mind being used for your
talents
?” I said the last with an obvious sneer.

His nostrils curled. “I do not care if that’s why she chooses me. I loathe that woman; the very sight of her annoys me. No, I’m here for one purpose and one purpose only, to gain the crown and rule.”

Unlike last night, where I’d wanted to eat my companion, this fool made me chuckle. It was obvious he did not know my Lena at all. He mistook my grin for compliance.

The corner of his lips tipped up, and he thrust out his hand to me. “Midas.”

I didn’t trust him. I didn’t like him. But if there was one thing I knew, it was to keep my friends close and my enemies closer.

I shook his hand. “Ragoth, and yes, I am a shifter.”

Golden eyes sparkling, he nodded. “Reptilian, but what exactly?”

Shrugging, I spread my hands. “A little bit of this and a little bit of that.”

I was going to be keeping a sharp eye on this one. Having been privy to the mechanics and business of royalty, I knew Midas was right; he’d be chosen as one of the frontrunners. He brought with him a limitless supply of wealth to the kingdom; it would be nonsensical for him not to be chosen as a contender.

But this man was smart, ruthless, and cunning. I grinned.
Game on
.

“Well, Ragoth, I see a great future for us.”

“Absolutely.”

We didn’t have much time for conversation after that. We entered the dining hall, found whatever empty seat was still left, and ate. Halfway through my fourth plate, trumpets blared and banners suddenly appeared from thin air. In thick, bold letters were names.

The voice of the woman who’d spoken for Lena the day before echoed through the stone hall.

“The names have been chosen. If you do not see yours, you’ve not been selected to proceed further. Have a great day.”

There were twenty names.

And as I’d suspected, Midas was one. Mine was another.

Grinning, I tore into a haunch of antlered bear and smacked the shoulder of the man beside me.

“Made it.” I snickered.

“I didn’t.” The blond groaned then shoving to his feet, got up and shuffled off with his head hanging low.

I chuckled. One by one I’d mow them all down. Who knew playing nice could be quite so ruthless?

Fist pounding the table, I gave a roar of approval and was joined by nineteen other voices. Today was going to be a grand day.

Zelena

I
stared at the scroll in my hand in horror. “Dru! What is this?” I shrieked, waving it under her nose when she finally got to my side.

Pushing my hand aside, she gave me a pinched look and pursed lips. “Zelena,” she said in her snappy “let me do what I need to do” way.

“No, no.” I stomped my foot and paced back and forth in this heavy, ridiculous gown crafted of red silk taffeta and diamond pearls. “I told you, not Ragoth. Why is he still on the list?”

I ranted and raved and talked to her until my voice began rasping. Anger spent, I stared at her, and she finally spoke to me.

“Zelena, one”—she lifted a finger—“he is a dragon—”

“Which no one knows, and can never find out—”

She looked pretty today dressed in a sunny, buttery gown of lace and silk that hugged her slim curves prettily. I’d always thought Druscella a pretty girl, but she’d really come into her looks since her marriage.

“Why not?” She shrugged. “Just because dragons are known for eating humans, he hasn’t—”

I’d never told her about the incident with Hagar. Pressing my lips together, I sighed. “But Dru, it won’t matter because everyone will panic—”

She sighed. “You keep saying this. And I keep saying that having a dragon to guard our landians is a good thing. If they don’t like him now, they will down the line.”

I snorted. “That’s assuming I actually choose him. You do
not
get to pick my match. No matter what you might think.”

She crossed her arms and tapped her tiny slippered foot. She reminded me of a little dog rat, vicious and yet somehow still adorable.

“I never said I would, but I’ll be damned if I let you let him leave. You’re going to work this out with him, my queen; if you don’t, you’ll always regret it.”

“No, I won’t.” I sniffed.

Her gray eyes turned soft and sad. “Well, we both know that’s not true.”

Preserving my pride, I turned my face aside. Druscella knew me; she understood me in a way only Ragoth ever had. Deep down, I knew she was right. It had never been about him being a dragon; it’d always been about the man himself.

Dropping into my vanity seat, I sighed deeply and tapped my fingers on the marble top. “I’m trusting you, Dru. I really am. So what’s the plan for today?”

This morning I’d woken up and knew my powers were nearly all gone. I tried to turn on my chamber lights and had been unable to. I needed to find my consort soon, but I hated the very necessity of it.

She smiled. “Today, we have the males show off.”

~*~

T
he air was steamy and muggy with a hint of rain off in the horizon. I sat beneath a large canopy on the grounds behind my castle. The forest of wonderland to the front of me seemed far more alive and malevolent than was the norm. A grove of towering trumpet trees blasted their music, gloomy black oaks blanketed a section of land in total darkness, slithering snake trees with python branches hissed and struck out if anyone neared within striking distance.

I’d requested an angel-winged fern be positioned to the side of me, to help blow a gentle, sweet breeze on my face so that I wouldn’t pass out from heat exhaustion. My dresser (a churlish, crone aged servant) had again clothed me in a gown far too heavy and stifling, reminding me the moment I’d begun protesting, that I was the landian queen and was required to dress the part.

My face was painted, my breasts practically spilling from its too-tight top; all in all I felt ridiculous and uncomfortable. Thankfully I sat beneath a gilded tent lined with silks from the East and was not forced to interact with another soul.

I did not think I could bear anyone’s company today. Sighing, I stared sightlessly at the men parading about like a bunch of overstuffed peacocks.

One man in particular though, I could not find. Which only fueled my state of discontent.

Bastard
.

I was without magic, but Charles had been born without any. He’d not always worn his ring of power, and for instances like those, he’d developed a system of smoke and mirrors that gave off the illusion he still had it.

Thanking my lucky stars for it now because the woods reverberated with life, I watched as one man after another showed off in whatever manner he deemed appropriate.

One male, Donner or Ranger—goddess, who knew, I could hardly keep track of so many names—could apparently manifest glass with nothing but a thought. He’d crafted an entire panel of mirrored glass that, because of how it had been positioned, suddenly made the men of twenty appear as a horde of thousands.

The smoky manifestation of sulfur tickled my nose. “What a bunch of apish bores,” Cheshire drawled, his vivid green furred tail swishing back and forth lazily.

Normally, I’d tell him to shoo, but while I had no desire to deal with humans, I did not so much mind the cat. For today, I was oddly glad of his company.

“You’re green. Why?”

Sickle-shaped teeth exposed themselves with his half lilting, embarrassed smirk. “Don’t ask. Let us simply say it involved Hatter’s grandson, a bucket of frosting, and Alice.”

I chuckled. It’d been far too long since I’d made a visit out to see them. Many years ago, the Hatter and I hadn’t gotten on. There hadn’t really been a reason for it, other than he’d been far too mad for me to take seriously. But since meeting his Alice, things had changed for him.

“Good. Next time I hope they drown you in it.” I sniffed.

But the cat was not to be deterred; he chuckled heartily as his keen gaze studied the men. “I sniff the dragon in the lot.”

He did not say it with fear. Cheshire knew Ragoth. So far as Ragoth had told me, they’d often spoken at length while awaiting my arrival. Cheshire was a prickly, arrogant beast of an animal, but I would swear my last gold coin, there was a hint of delight purring through his voice.

“Where?” I’d still yet to spy him, and it annoyed me that the cat could see him and I couldn’t. If I’d had my magic, this would not have been a problem.

“Over yonder, beyond the blueberry petals of huckleberry hill.”

I looked where he’d indicated but saw nothing other than a field of bluebells and berries. Pressing my lips together, I hoped against hope that Ragoth did not intend to become his dragon just yet. Given time, my people might someday accept who he was...

And then it struck me where my line of thinking had led me, and I startled.

That’d seemed like a very permanent sort of thought.

Cheshire, completely oblivious to the meanderings of my mind, chuckled dulcetly. “That baboon is going to crack the mirror if he continues on.”

“Huh?” Frowning, I turned to look and then groaned when I spotted another male I didn’t quite know, flexing and pirouetting. Hopping like a prancing gazelle, so that the reflection of hundreds suddenly all joined in dance behind him. “Goddess,” I groaned.

“Pretty they may be”—his tail flicked nearly beneath my nose—“but they are truly some of the most vapid humans I’ve ever had the misfortune of knowing.”

I was about to agree with him, when I spotted one male whose name I did remember. Icarus flew high in the sky, twirling, zipping, and gliding along strong air currents. He looked magnificent, like a great golden harpy, and my heart sped to see him in his element.

“Like what you see?” A heated male voice had me stiffening instantly.

“And that’s my cue,” Cheshire intoned and then vanished in a plume of cherry-colored smoke.

I didn’t turn around, couldn’t afford to do so without giving Ragoth away. How had he snuck up on me this way?

“What do you want?” I bit out.

“You. I thought I made that perfectly clear.” The hot press of his calloused fingertips traced a swirl along the base of my neck.

I almost groaned out loud. As it was, I had to press my thighs together to try and make the tingling between them ease up. But the pressure building inside me only worsened.

“How did you sneak up on me? What have you done to my guards?”

I hated the breathy quality of my words.

“Do not worry, I’ve not harmed them. But I had to come see you. I refuse to parade myself before these worthless humans. I need to see you. Alone.”

“I...I can’t.”

“You’re queen, you can do whatever you want.”

“Ragoth, I—”

He sucked in a sharp breath, and it was absolute torture not to turn around and look at him. In this moment I resented my life more than I ever had before.

“Say my name again.” His thumb pressed hot and heavy against the base of my skull, and I did groan.

Long and low. I was a moth to his flame, and though I knew I should not entertain this, I did anyway.

“Ragoth.”

The whisper of his warm breath brushed against the shell of my ear as he said, “You will say my name again, just like that, when I enter you.”

I heard the snap of a nail as I clawed at the armrests of my wooden throne. Staring at the men still parading around the grounds, I was stunned that no one seemed to notice or care that one of their own had broken through my guards to get at me.

I’d thought I’d known all there was to being a dragon, but it seemed they were far slyer than I’d given them credit for.

“Please stop,” I gritted out, and that was so much the opposite of what I really meant. Because I never wanted this to end. The hurt was still there, but my desire for my dragonborne hadn’t abated in the slightest. My need for him was growing daily, each moment he remained on my grounds.

I knew I didn’t really know him anymore. All I had were memories of what felt like another lifetime. But the old feelings were still very much alive, and each day they only intensified.

“You know you don’t want that. Not really.”