“Hey sweetcakes, I thought that was you.”
Viola flinched and turned around to see Turk. It wasn’t fair. Why couldn’t any of her exes stop being charming and good looking? Turk was trying to be Johnny Depp’s stand in pirate, but failed a little on the charisma. He looked damn good, though, but she was happy that the butterflies in her stomach were more for what Sergei would do to him than the need to toss her panties and her dignity in the wind and throw herself at Turk. She scanned the parking lot of the marina and saw the blue Fat Bob Harley she bought him.
Viola spotted Ruby too. She was sitting in all her trashy glory on a beat up roadster. Ruby was checking out Sergei who was having a heated conversation. Something Reed was saying wasn’t agreeing with him.
“You’re a long way from home,” Viola said, frowning at the way Ruby was staring at Sergei’s ass. And was that a Smooshie hanging out of her saddle bag? Those things must have been more popular than Smythe expected.
Turk shook his head. “Coincidence is a funny thing. Here we thought the operation was over because Champ’s a boy scout who wouldn’t let us run drugs over his river. So when new Queens started popping up, we figure we’d get one to exchange for allowing us free passage, but we can’t find him. Then two of the ugliest dragons I’ve ever seen decide to rescue her and all our plans are shot to hell.”
What the serious fuck?
“You never used to be 1%,” Viola said. “What the hell happened?” She was happy that she felt nothing. Becoming a Queen gave her some self confidence that she normally discarded when talking with handsome and dangerous men. Or maybe overexposure to Sergei really made Turk look like a punk in comparison.
“I got sick of not living the good life, sweetcakes. Just because I’m not a dragon doesn’t mean that I can’t get rich. Or that I’m not willing to do what’s necessary to keep what’s mine.” If Turk was trying to threaten her, it wasn’t working. Viola fought the urge to smile at his antics. She was a little embarrassed that this sort of behavior used to turn her on a bit.
“You get what I’m saying mama?”
For a moment, a trill of fear did puncture into her heart when she thought he was referring to her buns in the oven. But then she realized, he was just being Turk.
Even at his most menacing, Turk couldn’t hurt her, with Sergei standing only fifty yards away. The fear passed and was replaced by annoyance.
“Why don’t you find another patsy? I’m sure there are a lot more girls at the rec center where you picked me up from.”
“Too much work. I like running drugs.”
“Well, it’s over now. Champ’s got the girl and even if she doesn’t want to keep him, he’d never let you smuggle across the Champlain River.”
“Seems to me, I’ve got a Queen in front of me and a lot of studs will pay for that.”
Oh no, he didn’t.
“You are through using me, you thumb dick maggot.” Viola threw a punch, but Turk side stepped it and slapped her upside the head. It was more of a mocking blow than one that was meant to hurt – which is probably the only thing that saved his life.
“Who you think you are coming after me?” he asked. “Bitch, I’ll cut you.”
Kicking at him, she hoped for a groin shot but he danced away. Okay maybe she should take a hand to hand class. This was a little humiliating.
“Is that all you got, honey?”
Sergei bullrushed him into the pavement.
“No,” Viola sighed. “But I wanted to get a shot in first.”
Viola was pretty sure he was still conscious when she said it. But after the fifth punch, Viola stopped Sergei from beating his head in. Ruby was screeching down the hill waving a pistol at them.
“I’ve been practicing this,” Viola said, keeping her hand on Sergei’s arm as he turned to take on Ruby.
Grunting, Viola manifested her tail and walloped it into the side of Ruby. She was hoping to toss her into the water for dramatic effect, but the timing was off. At least the gun went flying and Ruby landed on her chin.
“Proud of you, babe.” Sergei kissed her on the head.
Viola patted down the prone figure of her ex-boyfriend and came up with a set of keys. “Here,” she said. “I want you to have this.”
Sergei smiled. “It’ll be my favorite.”
“Let’s get out of here,” she said as the harbor police came down the stairs to the marina.
“He’s with the slavers.” Viola pointed down and kicked Turk in the leg for good measure. “Not sure about her.” She indicated Ruby. “But she did pull a gun on us. It’s over there.”
“Want to go for a ride?” Sergei said, holding her hand as they made their way to the parking lot.
“Depends. Where are we going? To check on Champ and Margery?”
“Reed’s on his way. I told him we have bigger issues of our own.”
“I hope that’s a euphemism for you claiming the world class hummer I promised.”
He blew out a big sigh as he got on the Fat Bob.
“Why aren’t we flying?”
“I don’t want to share you with Kira and that other psychotic nightmare just yet.”
His phone buzzed as an incoming text popped up.
“Shit.” Sergei drew out the word so it was five syllables.
Viola climbed onto the bike behind him. “I’m assuming that isn’t your reaction to taking me back to our farm and having your wild way with me.” She held on, copping a quick feel.
“No, I’m rather all for that idea. Reed wants us to stay here for a few days.” Sergei slipped the phone into his pocket and put her hand back on his dick.
“Why? Do you think Margery will need us?” Viola focused as she sought out the newly rescued Queen in the weave. She was unconscious. “I think she needs a doctor more than she needs us. At least Champ knew enough to put her out in the sun.”
“Do you sense any other Queens in danger?”
“Not at the moment,” she admitted. “But that could change any minute. Now that Kira can amplify my detection, we’re going to kick some ass.”
“Are you sure?” Sergei wheedled.
Viola nodded and leaned her cheek on his shoulder blades. “Why? So eager to get back into battle. That's a switch.”
“Reed said your mother is at the Hartford embassy raising hell.”
“Why? I’m dead to her," Viola snorted.
“Apparently, your father came home after twenty-three years of exile. They want to meet with you and talk about repairing your parent-child bond. Reed’s words, not mine.”
Viola gripped him hard around his chest. “That’s not going to be a fun time. Can we stall?”
“I told Reed that we were going to wind things up here with Champ and Margery. He’s interested in the drug angle that Margery was talking about. So far the only thing on board the boat was a shipment of those dumb dragon dolls.”
Holy Shit.
Viola hopped off the bike.
“Where the hell are you going?” Sergei called.
“I can get us out of here with the bike faster than
you can run. Besides, you’re going the wrong way.”
Viola tore off toward the edge of the water, searching for one of the Smooshies. She rubbed her side where a sharp pain sprung up in her mad sprint. She needed to get in more exercise if that quick burst of speed winded her.
“What?” Sergei said, coming up behind her. Jerk wasn’t even out of breath.
“I need one of those dolls. Smythe Industries make them.”
“Why? They’re not made out of yarn.”
Viola elbowed him. “No. If Margery was taken because these guys were smuggling drugs, they could have hidden them in the Smooshies.”
Sergei helped her search, but in the end whatever the police or Reed’s men missed, the bystanders must have scooped up.
“I can’t see Smythe as a drug smuggler,” Sergei
said, as they made their way back to the bike.
“I woul
dn’t put anything past him.” Viola trudged back up the hill.
“If he is, Reed will handle it.”
“Why does he get to have all the fun?”
Sergei’s phone buzzed again.
“So your parents are headed up here to meet us for dinner tomorrow,” Sergei told her in a voice that was usually reserved for informing someone that their dear Aunt Agatha had passed away. On Christmas. In bed with the butler. And a midget. And twenty pounds of uncut cocaine.
“Oh Sergei. It’s terrible," Viola said, mock horror in her voice.
“I’m not all that eager to go either.”
“No, there’s a Queen in trouble.”
Sergei looked up from his phone. “What’s her name?”
“Viola. She’s in dire need of piña coladas."
“No drinking, Mamacita.”
“Oh, right.” Viola grinned and hugged him hard. “I guess I'll just have to settle for some Malabringo. A lot of it.”
“Is Malabringo a Spanish appetizer?”
“Not exactly. Anyway, we have to rescue this poor Queen. I’m thinking Miami Beach.”
“It sounds like an emergency.” Sergei caressed her arms. “Or is it a Babymoon?”
“It is. It's a vacation until we need to gear up and find more Queens. Right, partner?”
“As my Queen and my love commands,” he said, revving the engine on the Harley.
“We can take the bike until it runs out of gas or our asses hurt too much and then fly the rest of the way,” she shouted over the pipes.
“Hang on.”
The Harley full out didn’t come close to the feeling of flying. But it was a lot more relaxing. Viola held on to her mate and let him take them to safety—and a lot of virgin cocktails and, of course, yarn.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Oh no,” Viola said.
“What?” Sergei answered over the roar of the bike.
But then the sun was blocked by two large dragons. Cassandra and Justice. Sergei flew off the bike and into the air. Viola shot forward to grab the handlebars of the Harley and pulled it over.
“No fighting,” she shouted, but she didn’t think they could hear her.
Shifting, Viola launched herself where the three dragons were circling each other. Her heads filled with the otherworldly presence of Kira and Amaranthe.
“What is the meaning of this?” Viola allowed Kira’s voice to thunder through. “You are violating treaty by attacking us in our region.”
“You have no region, sub-Queen,” Justice snarled, ducking Sergei’s tail.
Cassandra lunged for Sergei while he was distracted, but he punched her in the teeth.
“You’ll die for that,” Cassandra vowed.
“Halt.” It was Amaranthe’s turn and the sheer brutality of her magic sheered through the three dragons.
Justice recovered first. “How did you do that?” He shook his head to rid the aftereffects.
“Mate,” Amaranthe grunted.
“Oh, hell no,” Viola told her white horse head. “He’s an asshole.”
“Mine,” Amaranthe said, her voice brooking no argument.
“I have not felt such power in millennia. When I was young there was a Queen...”
“Niiti,” Amaranthe intoned.
“How do you know that name?” Justice choked out.
“Um,” Viola said. “Justice, this is Amaranthe.” She gestured to her head. “Insanely powerful and old Queen.”
“It can’t be.” Justice flew in and instinctively flinched back from Sergei’s tail. Amaranthe snapped her goat’s teeth at Sergei. “My love.”
“Kill the abomination,” Cassandra snarled. The wind whipped through her long whiskers and flailed around her head like a mad Medusa.
“You die first,” Kira said, speaking from the horse’s head.
“And you all know Kira,” Viola said.
Cassandra and Justice hung in the air as shock hit them harder than Amaranthe’s power blast had.
“She’s ba-ack,” Viola sing-songed. “And pretty pissed.”
“How can you house two long-dead Queens?” Justice tilted his head. “You must come to the elders’ council.”
“No, she is carrying my eggs. Let the council come to her,” Sergei commanded.
“My Queen, this changes things,” Justice said, turning to Cassandra.
“This changes nothing.” Cassandra wheeled on Viola. “You destroyed my life.”
Viola blinked. “Which one of us? Kira—whom you ordered Sergei to kill?”
“You killed Kira?” Justice drew in a deep breath.
“Thanks,” Sergei said. “Not making the situation better,” he told Viola.
“I thought he was in on it.”
Sergei shook his head. “Just the other five Queens.”
“Blasphemy!” Cassandra said. “Justice, execute him.”
“No,” Amaranthe rolled out.
Justice nodded. “As my Queen commands.”
Viola tensed, but instead of attacking Sergei, Justice flew to Viola, closer to Amaranthe’s head. “Or did Amaranthe ruin your life, Cassandra, by breaking free in your keep after you allowed another Queen to die.”
“My keep,” Amaranthe said, nuzzling Justice’s cheek. “Not hers.”
“Yuck. Stop that. That’s still my head. And I don’t like Justice,” Viola said to her.
Anger pooled and the skies shuddered.
“Maybe you should reconsider,” Sergei said, glancing up at the black storm clouds.
“All right. All right. No tongue kissing.”
“Ours is beyond a physical relationship,” Justice said.
“Well, thank Nidhogg for small favors,” Sergei muttered.
Cassandra’s flanks heaved as she seethed.
“Three dragons against one. Five if you count Kira and Amaranthe,” Viola said. Seven if you count the babies. Viola hovered far above the ground and faced off against the evil bitch that tortured Sergei. And she was winning. Cassandra was going down.
“Hatchlings,” Amaranthe grunted.
“Quiet,” Sergei hissed.
But Cassandra took no notice. “My chemist, your wretched father, has disappeared. He is mine to command.” Cassandra zoomed around. “When I find him, I will rip his limbs off.”
“Actually, he’s with the Order of Dragon Slayers. I’m pretty sure they’ll have something to say if you mess with him.” Viola didn’t even turn her head.
“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?” Cassandra screeched.
“I’m getting there.” Viola reached out to hold Sergei’s hand. “Begone witch, you have no power here. Take your flying monkey over here and fuck off.”
“Stays,” Amaranthe said.
“Seriously?” Viola looked over in disgust.
“You’d be untouchable with him as a Protector,” Sergei said.
“Until he decides to chop our heads off.”
“I would not risk my Queen,” Justice said.
But Cassandra wasn’t done ranting. “You turned the new Queens against me. They think I’m a monster.”
Viola sighed. “You are a monster. The young Queens aren’t dumb.”
“I demand retribution.”
“What do you want from me? I have an alpaca farm and some sheep.” That and Sergei were all she wanted.
As if Cassandra could read her mind she said, “I want Sergei dead.”
“Get in line,” he said.
Kira nodded the white horse head. “He killed a Queen. It is our law. He dies.”
Cassandra smirked.
“You ordered him to do it. You die,” Viola shouted.
Kira nodded again. “Either would be acceptable.”
“Prove it. Who’s going to take his word over four Queens?” Cassandra snarled triumphantly.
“That’s for the Conclave to decide,” Viola said. “You can have your say next year when we all meet. And I bet the two hundred other Queens will outvote you four crones.”
“Hmmm,” Cassandra said, and the reasonable sound chilled Viola more that her ranting. “Justice, you will come with me now.”
Amaranthe growled and the sky crackled with lightning. “Stays.”
“I cannot leave unattended. If you keep Justice, I keep Sergei.”
“Like that’s going to happen. You can fly with us to the farm and call some studs to pick you up,” Viola said.
“It doesn’t quite work that way. Justice is a very valuable resource. I’ll allow you to keep him.”
Amaranth snorted.
“But I request an equal trade.”
“You can’t have Sergei,” Viola said.
“All right,” Cassandra said, again in that reasonable tone. “Then I will claim one of his eggs.”
Sergei held Viola back from lunging at her.
“It is in her right. You owe her a stud. If you don’t have one, she is in her right to request an egg,” Justice said.
Amaranthe and Kira were in agreement.
“No.” Viola shook her head.
“I’ll go,” Sergei said.
“No. I’ll fight you. I’ll get studs. By the time they’re born, I’ll have a bunch of studs.”
“Then Justice comes with me now,” Cassandra said.
“No,” Amaranthe said.
Viola knew she couldn’t force Amaranthe. “I’ll call the embassy. Reed will back me.”
Cassandra shook her head.
“Justice?” Viola glanced over at him for confirmation.
“Reed would side with Cassandra. Give her an egg. You’ll have more.”
She would have gone for Justice then, but Amaranthe held her immobile.
“Look at me,” Sergei said.
Viola could barely see through the sheen of tears, but Amaranthe let her move.
“I love you.” He nuzzled her center head. The goat and the horse heads moved as far away as possible.
“Who cares?” Cassandra laughed.
“She hasn’t won,” he told her.
“Don’t go, please,” Viola cried. “We’ll figure something out.”
The Queen's Flight: The Emerging Queens Book 2 Page 23