by Jaymin Eve
At first my burst of mecca went wild, saturating the ground and the air. With a shout I focused further, praying to whomever was listening that I could figure this out.
Arianna.
I heard the voice again, and this time the energy shot straight and true, knocking the fae backward and into the bear king’s open jaws. Just like with the fae body we had thrown into the vortex, my strong shot of mecca shattered whatever shield this dark fae might have had, and he was not prepared for the strength of Kade, who was a giant even among the massive bears. The king sank his huge jaws into the fae’s ribcage and bit down so hard I heard the bones crunch.
Violet appeared at my side looking feral. A wave of dizziness washed over me but I managed to remain standing. I had channeled a lot of mecca tonight, and it was taking its toll on my body. Violet stalked toward the fae with her arms raised and I followed close by, swaying once or twice.
Up close I could see the fae was sweating with pain but hadn’t yet cried out. Even with his body stuck in a bear’s mouth, he only grimaced. Those lights that had seemed to be embedded in his skin looked dull, his dark aura dimmed.
“Boil,” Violet said, flinging her magic at him, and that’s when he cried out with a whine-like curse. His skin dripped sweat as the bear king held him in place.
Calling forth the mecca once more, my body aching slightly as it funneled more of the power, I directed it through the sword in my hands and gasped in awe as the blade lit up with a purple hue.
“I avenge thee,” I murmured for Derek, my guards Damian and Marco, and the Red Queen, before stepping forward and swinging the sword down and across his neck, taking his head right off.
It was a clean and quick death. Not a death he deserved, but I had no time for torture.
The king let his body go, which was lucky because the moment his head was severed, Violet’s spell took full effect and his body melted like it was doused in acid, eating a hole into the green lawn.
I dropped the sword then, clutching at the sudden strike of pain to my head. Another wave of dizziness hit me. Violet was trying to talk to me but it sounded garbled. The mecca was still thrumming through my veins and I couldn’t stop it. The bear king began to shift, but before he made the full transition to human my vision blurred. I tried to take a step forward, and the last thing I remembered was being caught by a strong embrace.
Eventually, as my shifter healing kicked in, some of my awareness returned. Hovering on the brink of waking, I let my senses soar out, an instinctive thing to determine if I was safe or not. A soft surface was beneath me; there was warmth above. A familiar rich scent surrounded me and I knew I was in Kade’s home.
Safe.
I opened my eyes, taking a few seconds to let my body adjust. I scanned around the room to see that I was alone. Despite my forced rest, I was still weary, my body hurting from an overload of mecca, and the realization that a war was coming. If we’d had that much trouble killing one fae, how would we handle an entire army of them? We weren’t prepared. We needed to get prepared. Which meant I needed to tell the council and our people. Today. It was time for them to know.
I rubbed at the ache in my chest, everything inside of me clenching in pain at the loss of Derek. He had been an old friend of mine and a brief lover. We’d been through a lot together, and even though I had decided he wasn’t a fit for a mate at this time, who knew what the future might have brought. Now that was all gone for him. He would join our ancestors in the sky, in the great realm of spirit, but he was not earthbound with me anymore. I needed to organize a ceremonial death for him. He was a warrior and should be sent off as such.
Having rested long enough, I let the soft throw which had been draped over me slide from my body. Another quick glance around the massive room and I had absolutely no doubt. I was in the king’s personal bedroom. Well, suite was more like it. The bed I rested upon was huge, fitting for the male it belonged to: strong frame, dark wood, cream and tan bedding, and the scent of Kade everywhere. There was a lounge area, an office of sorts, and a huge cinema-style entertainment zone.
My wolf wanted to curl up and snuggle back into the softness and sleep again. But we had things to do, responsibilities to our people. We could no longer indulge in fantasies of some world where maybe I could act on the attraction I had for Kade.
“You’re awake.”
I sucked in deeply as his growly voice washed over me. I hadn’t the strength to stop myself from turning to him, and I had to clench my jaw to prevent my mouth from dropping open.
He was standing in the entrance to his bedroom, shirtless and dirty, dressed in what looked like the exact same pants he had been wearing when he kissed me in his garden. Clearly he had been taking out his frustration on his plants. And … he actually looked calm. His garden must do that for him.
“You shouldn’t have brought me to your personal bedroom,” I said, the reprimand given without thought. “How will this look to our councils, to our people?”
I straightened, and there was a heaviness in his step as he closed the distance between us. “The king rules supreme here. My council is appointed by me, and they do as I say.”
I needed to take a leaf out of his ruling book. Our council had been acting independently of the queen for too long.
“And my people trust my actions. The fact that I trust you enough to let you into the inner chambers of my life tells them that they too can trust this new queen of the wolves. The previous Red Queen was never invited to this estate. We met only on neutral grounds, or in officiated circumstances. She I did not trust. Besides, I couldn’t convince my bear to place you anywhere other than my own bed.”
I tried to ignore his final statement, despite the fact my stomach was filled with butterflies and my wolf was jumping around like a pup inside. Instead I forced myself to focus on the Red Queen. Kade had not trusted her, and apparently neither had the dark fae. What had she been up to? What had she hidden from the fae?
I wasn’t sure anyone else had heard the dark fae’s words; Kade in bear form might not have even been processing words. I would have to speak to him about it later, once I’d done more investigating into it myself.
“So where do we go from here?” I asked, reluctantly pulling myself from the most comfortable bed I’d ever lay upon. “What is the next step to ensure the fae do not destroy us all?”
He was close to me now, and I found myself trapped in the force of his energy. “First thing to do is warn our people. Next thing is for you to learn to control the mecca. It almost killed you today. You expelled too much of your own energy, and then burned out on all the power. You have to learn, and fast. I’m the best one to teach you, and considering it is in all of our peoples’ best interest that you master your power, we need to start straight away.”
Great. That was going to be a pleasant conversation with the council. Old prejudiced bastards.
“You’re right,” I said with reluctance. “I’ll not be a weak queen. No more shall die on the front line while I am relegated to the back.”
Kade was blocking out everything else in the room. He was close enough now that if I reached out I would be touching him. When we were alone together like this, it was hard for me to remember that he was forbidden to me. I couldn’t stop myself from placing my flat palms against his warm chest. His skin was so many shades darker than mine, the contrast startling between the two of us.
Kade closed his eyes, just briefly, long lashes hiding the swirling depths.
“You need to go, Ari. Go now before I put you right back into that bed.”
Something hot expanded within me, starting in my gut and trickling across my limbs, leaving me aching. I forced myself to focus, closing my eyes, wrenching myself from the bear king and storming out of the room. It secretly annoyed me that he was the strong one this time. I should be able to control my body, my hormones, but when it came to Kade I was weak. I couldn’t be weak like that any longer.
I was almost out of the room when he c
alled out to me: “First lesson will start in three days, Arianna. I’ll send word to Finn via Nix with a location.”
The way my full name rolled off his tongue was really hot … damn him. I spun back to see him again. He was wearing his confident, kingly expression. But I could see beneath that to the rigidness of his stance and the dark shadows on his ruggedly handsome features, both of which revealed his own loss of control when it came to our attraction.
For some reason that made me happy. I gave him a single head nod and then I was gone, out the door and out of the king’s home. I knew my people would be waiting for me downstairs. Then it was time for me to convince the council that war was coming, and that the bear king might be our best chance for survival.
Torine’s face held almost no expression, but I could feel the simmering of anger within. I had just told them everything. Well, almost everything. They knew of the fae, the warnings, the threats and deaths. I left out my budding desire for the bear king. That was not of any importance, and would only muddle the very real threats out there.
The body of the dead fae that we threw onto the vortex lay on the ground between us, and I knew without it no one would have believed a word I said.
“And there is one more thing…” I held my head high. Kade’s words about how he ran his council, gave me confidence in dealing with mine. “The bear king will be training me on how to control the mecca.”
The words barely left my lips before half the council stood up in anger. “Absolutely not!”
“The bear is the enemy.”
“You would disgrace us as wolves.”
Their angry words washed over me, and I knew I needed to pull them into line now.
I set my face in its hard, queen wolf expression. “I am your queen and I do not ask permission. I am merely informing you of my plans. King Kade has an affinity for handling the mecca, which you all saw at my coronation. The mecca has been unstable ever since the Red Queen’s death, and if you want to survive the upcoming fae war you will do as I say and not conspire against me!”
My anger got away from me and I took a calming breath. Every single council member looked aghast, slack-jawed and silent.
There was nothing more to say. “You’re dismissed,” I said with a wave of my hand.
After a few more moments of shocked silence, the council stood and gathered their things. They gave me a slight head bow before leaving. Torine approached me and bowed deeply.
“Let it be known that I strongly advise against trusting the bears. A fae war is all they would need to take over all five boroughs of the mecca and completely wipe out our entire race.”
Torine hadn’t been there. He didn’t see that one fae toss around ten guards, two magic born, and two royals like it was child’s play. “Advice noted,” I said, my tone leaving no room for rebuke. Torine’s jaw clenched a little before he left.
Now was the time when loyalty would come into question. I would have to only trust my most inner circle of friends and confidants. I might not be the most popular queen among the council, but I would not let my legacy be tarnished because I did not properly prepare us for the upcoming war with the fae.
There was a knock at the door.
“Come in!” My voice carried across the great meeting room hall.
Calista entered clutching her tablet in her arms. She didn’t speak until she was close to me, and even then she whispered: “Just thought you should know that the rumor mill has started. Already the wolves speak that you’re having an affair with the bear king and that he has sided with the fae to bring down the wolves.”
I groaned, putting my head in my hands. I was going to be accused of having an affair and not even get the perks?
“Do we know who started the rumor?” Wolves loved to gossip. Rumors spread like wildfire, and if I could cut that person out right now it would send a lesson to the others.
Calista’s face went deadly, and I almost took a step back. “Can’t prove it yet, but I’m working on it. All evidence points to Selene.”
I whispered out a barrage of curses. The one person I couldn’t cut out so easily was another heir, and not just any heir. She was the spare if anything happened to me.
“Your advice?” I asked, because I was at a loss.
Calista chewed the inside of her cheek. “You won’t like it.”
I sat up a little straighter. Hire an assassin to kill Selene? Cut off her royal funds? I waited with bated breath. It must be good if Calista looked so nervous.
“What is it?”
Calista’s next breath was loud and labored. “Take a mate.”
She cringed back a little, and I knew my previous arguments on this had been loud and defiant. She expected a retaliation. I paused, assessing her words. Certainly taking a wolf mate would shut everyone up, but … I wasn’t prepared to do that just yet. My heart couldn’t do that yet.
I might be queen of the wolf shifters, and I would sacrifice a lot for my people – everything really – but unless it was life and death I would not sacrifice my heart.
A queen with no heart would lead only in darkness. I would be the one to lead with light. I would trust my heart on this, and I would move forward with our plan. The next time the fae came for us, I’d be strong.
I’d be a true queen of the mecca.
Available for Pre-Order Now
Queen Alpha – NYC Mecca
Series #2
Arianna might have won the Summit and taken the crown of wolf shifters, but there is no time for her to settle into the royal life. Something is off with the mecca and if she doesn’t fix it the fae might just make another earth side appearance.
Now she must work with the king of the bears to save both of their people. Which is easier said than done when he tempts her in every way and a relationship between them is forbidden.
One slip up could cost her everything and in the NYC mecca someone is always watching.
Acknowledgements from Leia: This book started as all of our books starts together. I email Jaymin with an idea and she took it and ran and I ran with her. We are so so proud of this book. Arianna is so different than our other characters and this story is so developed, we really poured our heart and soul into it and we hope you love it. Thank you to Lee and Patti for your eagle eyed editing. Thank you to the Enforcers for being down to read all books Jaymin and Leia. A huge thank you to my husband and kids for dealing with me running off and writing in the closet because this story just poured out of us. Jaymin, I never imagined a world in which I would write books with another person so seamlessly that it sounds like my own inner voice at times. Thanks for being my author twin. <3 To all our readers, we do this for you! Much love.
Acknowledgements from Jaymin: We’re back!! Leia and I have so much fun writing together, that there is no way we could stop after Hive trilogy. This new series is one we both love. A lot. And we hope you all do too.
My biggest thanks is to my family. Thank you so much for all your support and love. I couldn’t do what I do without you, and I never forget that. I love you more than words.
To my bestie Leia Stone. I love you, girl! Authoring would be a much lonelier place without such a wonderful friend to share it with. <3 BAFFs always. Big thanks also to my great friend Donna Augustine for keeping me sane, and offering countless advice on cover and many other things.
Next thanks to my betas, who have shown so much love and enthusiasm for Queen Heir. You guys rock!! Couldn’t do this without you.
Thanks as always to my release teams, the Nerd Herd, and Enforcers group. All of you are amazing, and I am so grateful to have found so many friends to share these worlds with.
Thank you to Lee and Patti for your wonderful and detailed editing. And to Tamara, our cover artist. You’re awesome! We love every single thing you do for us, you bring our worlds to life.
To our fans. We love you. All of our books are for you. xxx.
Books from Leia Stone
Matefinder Trilogy (Optioned for film)
Matefinder: Book 1
Devi: Book 2
Balance: Book 3
Matefinder Next Generation
Keeper: Book 1
Hive Trilogy
Ash: Book 1
Anarchy: Book 2
Annihilate: Book 3
Stay in touch with Leia: www.facebook.com/leia.stone/
Mailing list: http://goo.gl/0EX98P
Books from Jaymin Eve
A Walker Saga - YA Paranormal Romance series (complete)
First World - #1
Spurn - #2
Crais - #3
Regali - #4
Nephilius - #5
Dronish - #6
Earth - #7
Supernatural Prison Trilogy - NA Urban Fantasy series (complete)
Dragon Marked - #1
Dragon Mystics - #2
Dragon Mated - #3
Supernatural Prison Stories
Broken Compass - #1
Sinclair Stories
Songbird - Standalone Contemporary Romance
Hive Trilogy (complete)
Ash - #1
Anarchy - #2
Annihilate: #3
NYC Mecca Series
Queen Heir
Queen Alpha (released early 2017)
Stay in touch with Jaymin: www.facebook.com/JayminEve.Author
Website: www.jaymineve.com
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