by Leia Stone
Queen Mecca
NYC Mecca Series Book 4
By: Leia Stone and Jaymin Eve
Table of Contents
Chapter One - Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the fae-est of them all?
Chapter Two - One, two, three, four. Oh look, a hidden door.
Chapter Three - Yin and Yang. Dark and light.
Chapter Four - Spell breaker
Chapter Five - Deer me. When darkness calls, don't answer.
Chapter Six - Who ordered the two large servings of rebellion? extra betrayal on the side.
Chapter Seven - Dark can taint the strongest light.
Chapter Eight - Who you gonna call? Darkness Destroyer.
Chapter Nine - Only losers play the waiting game.
Chapter Ten - Who bears the tides of winter?
Chapter Eleven - An unexpected alliance.
Chapter Twelve - What hides in the darkness?
Chapter Thirteen - Arianna, the great winter.
Chapter Fourteen - Queen of the mecca.
Chapter Fifteen - You can't choose your parents. But you can choose where you stash them.
Epilogue - Happily Ever After.
Copyright © 2017 by Leia Stone and Jaymin Eve. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Stone, Leia
Eve, Jaymin
Queen Mecca
For information on reproducing sections of this book or sales of this book, go to www.leiastone.com or www.Jaymineve.com
[email protected]
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DEDICATION
To the Kings and Queens who rule our hearts.
Chapter One
Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the fae-est of them all?
A pair of startling turquoise eyes stared back at me, eyes that should have been familiar considering I had been seeing them in my reflection for twenty years. Except they weren’t. They had changed.
I had changed.
“You look even more beautiful, Ari. Don’t let this throw you.” Violet sat cross-legged on my right, Blaine on my left, the three of our knees touching, just like when we were kids, as we all stared into the huge and ornate mirror hanging in the foyer of Kade’s mansion.
The fae side of me unlocked when I was in the Otherworld. I had known that I was affected by this — senses much sharper, powers increased — but I hadn’t really had the time to focus on the physical change, to truly see myself as I was now.
“I just … I don’t look like me,” I finally murmured, leaning forward, observing the way my eyes were now shot through with gilded sparks. Around my iris was a thin circle of gold, and the green almost looked shimmery, if that was possible. The shape was also a little different, larger and more catlike.
On top of the altered eyes, there were my new fae ears, slightly pointed at the tip — not as much as a full highborn fae, but enough that if you were looking closely you would notice. My hair was still white-blond and long, waves giving it a slightly unruly look when it was let loose, but just like my eyes, it seemed more shimmery now. Same with my skin — still a golden color, but that gold was brighter. Shiny.
I’d thought my darker coloring, including eyebrows and lashes, was courtesy of my Polynesian father’s ancestry. But that father was completely made up, a lie. My true biological father was the evil fae prince of the Winter Court, a man whom had unfortunately passed on quite a few physical traits. And hopefully, no psychological ones.
Blaine stood, reached down and pulled me up and away from the mirror. Blaine and Violet had remained behind with me on Staten Island, on queen protection duty. Not that I really needed them anymore. I was powerful now. Extremely powerful. But it was a relief to have my two childhood best friends with me today. They had been with me through most of my big changes in life. So this felt right.
“Getting closer to the mirror won’t change your new look, Princess,” Blaine said.
I had to swallow hard as I tilted my head back to see his face. His eyes were generally a light green, darkening when he was angry. Thankfully, they were their normal calm color, which actually helped me push down some of my panic. “And Violet is right, you’re even more beautiful. Plus, as a double bonus, you now have the sort of power the rest of us could only dream of. You’re going to be the one to bring us together. To save us from the dark fae.”
No pressure there. The tightness in my chest increased to the point I could barely breathe, but a few calming meditative thoughts and I managed to relax myself again.
It had been two weeks since Dalia fell through the portal on the Island and died in my arms. Two weeks since she had declared that the Winter Court was coming for us all. At first, there had been a huge sense of urgency. Bear and wolf shifters from all around the East Coast had converged on the five boroughs, no one allowed to leave until the threat came to pass, or we were all safe. The weaker members, children, pregnant shifters, and elderly were being hidden away in the human world, in California, far from the mecca and boroughs. It had been a very hard decision for us to make, but we knew the fae wanted our mecca, so we hoped they would focus their attack on the boroughs and leave the outer world alone. Kade and I were staking a lot of lives on that, so I was praying we were right. The second wave of people, the young queen heirs, nonessential staff, and not-combat-ready shifters, were leaving for California tomorrow.
Speaking of children. “Excuse me, Your Highness…” The soft voice interrupted my heavy thoughts, and I turned to find Jane, one of the bear shifters who helped keep an eye on Winnie. I gave her a smile. Jane ran a nervous hand through her long strands of honey-brown hair. No matter how much time she spent in my presence, she remained nervous. But I liked her, for the soft way she spoke to the children, the caring little hugs she gave them when they were hurt. She was one of my sister’s favorite companions. Winnie seemed to love bears much more than wolves; she had really found her place here in Kade’s home.
Violet and Blaine moved on either side of me as the three of us stepped forward. The young bear shifter continued in a rush: “Your cub is demanding to speak with you. She’s refusing to leave.”
Winnie, my baby sister, or truthfully more like my daughter, was supposed to be leaving now in the last of the first wave, heading to stay in the home of a Californian alpha wolf that I trusted.
“Thank you, I’ll go find her now,” I said, striding past Jane and toward the back door of Kade’s house. Even though I was queen again, the ceremony having taken place last week, I had refused to return permanently to live in the Manhattan royal estate. Too many bad memories there. Too much history. I remained with Kade, my bonded mate, on Staten Island. Once this war was over, we would figure out a compromise with ruling together.
Stepping through the back door, I crossed the porch and went down the stairs. My sister would be in the garden. She basically lived out there. A love of nature was something she shared with Kade. I had spent many hours in the last two weeks watching those two play, and garden, and bond. It was pretty much the most perfect thing I had ever seen, and I would not let the Tuatha take it away from me. Now that I had a taste, I was hooked.
“How many shifters did you send to protect the children?” Blaine asked me as we started to cross through Kade’s stunning landscaped yard. “Are you sure they will be safe?”
We were all ex
tra-protective of Winnie — all the children really. It was so hard letting them go, not being there in person to ensure they were safe.
“I sent a dozen of my best fighters. Kade also sent a dozen of his. On top of that, there are a few hundred elders and pregnant women. I’m also sending Seamus and Jesabele, since we have Nikoli and Violet. The children will be well cared for, but nothing is definite.”
It was a hard decision to send away two of our magic born. There weren’t many in the pack, and I would no doubt need all the firepower I could get. But if we perished in this war, I needed to know someone with magic remained behind to protect the rest of our people. I would not let shifters fall to extinction.
“I wish there was another option, but there are no neutral or safe places for them here. The winter fae will come to the mecca, we know that. They will try and destroy us all.”
Not to mention they would no doubt try to use the children to take me down, like the winter queen had in the Otherworld.
Violet’s voice was hard: “Why do you think they haven’t attacked yet? I mean, it’s been almost two weeks. What the hell is that Winter bitch up to?”
She had been tortured and almost killed in the Otherworld, and it had changed her. Unlike my changes, hers were all internal. She was harder now, more ruthless. And with a bloodthirsty need to cut the fae down. She wanted the Winter Court annihilated and Queen Isalinda’s head on a stick. Considering I was part winter fae, I didn’t know how I felt about that, but I did know that I would not hesitate to stop any and all fae who tried to attack my people. The winter queen’s head on a stick … completely acceptable … but the people … I would not take out an entire court just because they were ruled by evil.
“I have no idea, but whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not good,” I replied.
“Maybe it’s the timing,” Blaine interrupted. “We know time moves different between Earth and the Otherworld. So possibly, they are still on their way, it’s just going to take longer for them to send the army across.”
This was all true, but something in my gut told me there was more to it. I was worried. “I wish there was a way to speak with Prince Caspien. Violet, are you still working with the flowers?” I asked, veering off the garden path to follow a child’s shriek. Winnie was in the “pirate’s grove.” I should have known.
Violet nodded. “Yes, but I’m not receiving a reply. I’ve started working on that water spell. I think I’ve nearly got it perfected.”
I nodded, pushing my impatience down. After Dalia fell through the portal, I had tried to contact the fae, to no avail. I wanted to offer my condolences for the loss of Dalia, and also get specifics on this war. We had to assume they were either busy fighting themselves or had lost the flower we’d given them so long ago. Violet thought she could make some type of water two-way mirror, but it was a complicated spell, so I was trying not to push her.
“Have you had any more trouble with the council?” Violet asked, changing the subject, her voice flat. She had hated the wolf council as much as I did. I don’t think any of us were sad to see them go.
“Nope, they have all up and disappeared.” I had no time to bother with tracking them down. Nor did I want to. Traitors had better stay away unless they wanted to lose their lives. “At least it looks like they didn’t get back to the royal estate before fleeing. All of the spell books and Red Queen’s possessions are intact and well guarded.”
I would have to search through the Red Queen’s things again when I got a chance. For more clues. “I’m heading over there this afternoon,” Violet added, doing that thing where she seemed to read my thoughts. “You should join me.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Our conversation came to a halt when a tiny firecracker of a shifter burst out of bushes to my left, ambushing us, holding a long, thick piece of wood in her hands.
“Stop or ye shall walk the plank,” she growled, letting the wolf spirit inside of her free. “This be my treasure trove!”
The three of us immediately surrendered, arms up in the air, faces screwed up in exaggerated fear. Winnie’s red fox familiar, Rhett, was circling us slowly, trying to keep his bushy tail from wagging.
“You wanted to see me, Pirate Winnie?” I said, trying not to grin.
She growled again. “That be Captain Pirate Winnie to you barnacles.”
I couldn’t stop the smile then, or the laughter that burst out of me. “I think you’ve been spending too much time with Chase, Captain Pirate Winnie.”
Kade thought of Chase like a nephew, he was the son of his cousin and he’d known him since birth. Chase was a little older than Winnie, and very smart. He was teaching my sister a world of new words.
She dropped her weapon then, her tiny face crumbling. “I miss Chase,” she wailed. “Why did he have to go?”
I took two steps to her side, dropping to my knees and wrapping my arms tightly around her. “Winnie, sweetheart … I know a lot of stuff is happening that you don’t understand. And I’m sorry that everything is a mess again. We’re being attacked by some very bad people, so the children have to go away. To be safe. If you miss Chase so much, how come you don’t want to go be with him?”
She burrowed closer to me, tucking her little head into my neck as Rhett lay his face on her lap. “I would miss you more, so I had to make a hard decision.”
My heart hurt then, like someone had just wrapped their hand around it and squeezed tightly.
“I don’t want you to go either,” I murmured close to her, a few tears trailing down my cheeks. Queens weren’t supposed to cry, to show weakness, but I had decided to do things differently in my reign. I would not hide my emotions, I would not keep myself from my people. The rules were changing, and I was glad. “But I also can’t stand the thought of you being hurt. I need to know you’re safe, because if anything happened to you, Win. If you got hurt…” My voice broke. “I can’t let anything happen to you.”
I pulled back to see her face, and so she could see mine. “Do you understand? I don’t want you to go. I would do anything to make sure we never have to be apart again, but these bad people … they hurt kids. They would hurt you. So will you please reconsider staying with Chase, just for a few weeks?”
I was trying to make it seem like a question, but I would force her if I had to. I was praying it would all be over within the month, but without knowing the time of the fae attack, I was just guessing. She was quiet, staring at me, watery eyes locked on my face. Finally, she leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “I trust you to keep me safe. I will do as you ask and go to California.”
The tears in her eyes spilled over, which prompted fresh rivulets to track down my own cheeks. I wanted to sob, but I knew that would upset her more, so I just hugged her as tightly as I could.
I felt his presence moments before strong arms wrapped around both Winnie and I. Kade’s warmth encased us. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head, and I felt him do the same to Winnie.
“It will be okay.” His low growly voice was the most comforting thing in the world to me now. “The fae picked the wrong packs to mess with. We’ll take them down and then all go on a vacation.”
His declaration had Winnie’s little head poking up. She struggled back from our hug to see the bear king better. “Hawaii?” she practically shrieked, her tears drying up.
Kade laughed, the rich sound echoing across the garden. Ever since Winnie saw a brochure for Hawaii with pineapples, hula dancing, and the whole relaxed beachy vibe, she’d been begging to go. As he pulled back and I could see clearer, I noticed that Violet and Blaine were no longer close by. They had moved about fifty yards away and were talking to Gerald and Bianca, the Boston alpha. All four of them were part of the new combined bear-wolf council.
“Hawaii is a definite.” Kade brought my attention back to him and Winnie. “Wherever my girls want to go, then we will go.”
His girls. Two very simple words, but they meant so much. Not just to me, but Winnie also. Neith
er of us had parents anymore, all we had were each other. We were a family now. A true family like so many others I used to watch with envy.
“Yay! You’re the best, K. I love you,” Winnie was still shrieking as she turned to me. “I’m ready to go now.”
The heavy pressure in my chest increased then, and I found myself locking eyes with Kade.
I don’t want her to go, I sobbed through our bond, keeping the grief internal. What if we never see her again?
Her safety has to come first, Ari. I don’t want to send her away either. I want our family together in the same den. But until we deal with the fae…
He was right. We both knew it. But that didn’t make the decision any easier. It didn’t help the ache in my heart, which seemed to be increasing dramatically.
All I knew was that the fae had messed with our lives for too long. I was done. If they didn’t come to Earth soon, I was going to take my army to the Otherworld and take them out first.
That was a promise.
I stood and wiped my eyes, giving Winnie one last hug before she ran off to play pirates. “Can you watch her for me for a minute?” I asked Kade. “I’ll be right back.”
He brushed a hand across my cheek, before pressing his lips to my forehead. I closed my eyes briefly at the pure perfection of him, opening them again as he pulled back.
“We’ll be right here waiting for you,” he said, and he took off after a screaming Winnie.
Traipsing through the backyard to the mansion, I stepped inside to find my soon-to-be mother-in-law Annette in the living room, sitting in a chair at the window, holding her tea and looking out into the garden at Kade and Winnie.
She turned to me. “Hello, daughter.” She’d already accepted me as family and it was one more thing to bring tears to my eyes.
“I need a favor,” I told her. I knew she was more than capable of staying behind and fighting this war with us, but I had heaviness in my heart for the future of my kind and she could ease my burden if she agreed.