“What?” Remy couldn’t help but stare at Mei Hua in shock. Luckily, she was too engrossed playing with her hatchlings to notice.
“To be fair”—Red shrugged—“Joachim is a dragon slayer, so it’s not like he couldn’t protect her.”
“That’s all we need.” Blond clenched his fists. “Humans taking the new Queens from us.”
“He can have that one. Bitch is crazy,” Brunet said.
Remy looked at the Order’s servant still waiting to escort Margery to her room. He held himself aloof, as if he wasn’t listening to every damn word they were saying. Maybe the Order had something about training everyone as a warrior or spy.
“Our Queen loves us, though. If we continue to please her, she’ll name us protectors,” Brunet said.
“Bare assed?” Remy couldn’t help himself.
Brunet rolled his eyes. “We’ll be replaced with another set of studs when she grows tired of us. Then we’ll be promoted to her protectors.”
Remy had his doubts that it worked that way. He was all for seniority benefits, but studs usually didn’t have a long lifespan once they went in service to a Queen. “How the hell did you wind up here?”
“The Order wanted to ask us for more information on Cassandra, and Queen Bella took a liking to us,” Blondie said.
“We didn’t have anywhere else to go,” Red added.
“Quiet,” Brunet interrupted. “They’re coming back.”
Remy wasn’t sure why they had to be quiet. They hadn’t been ordered to be silent. Well, he hadn’t, at least. Better safe than sorry.
“You’re going to like this life,” Bella said with a reassuring pat on Margery’s arm as they approached. “You can do anything you want now and no one can stop you. And if anyone tries, you can order them killed. That’s the first thing I did when I got my studs.”
Remy tensed, wondering if the Order’s goon was going to attack. But he didn’t even react.
“What?” Margery gasped.
“You remember my pimp, Eddie?”
“Unfortunately.” Margery shuddered.
Bella drew a line across her throat with her finger and made a screeching sound. “My stepfather was next. Followed by my uncles.” She blinked up at her. “You should think about it.”
“I will,” Margery said, and for the first time Remy was overwhelmed at the power she held.
“I bet there are enforcers who would line up to help you.”
He had to put a stop to this. “Should we be talking about murdering humans in the Order of the Dragon Slayers’ headquarters?” Remy asked.
“Oh”—Bella waved her hand—“the killings were sanctioned. The Dragon Slayers even offered to do it.”
“They offered to kill humans?”
Bella’s face wiped of emotion. “No, they offered to put down rabid beasts.”
Margery nodded, and in the uncomfortable silence the guard said, “This way to your room.”
Chapter Seventeen
Margery flopped down on the bed and allowed the exhaustion to wash over her. Remy paced around the room. She admired his long legs and his tight-fitting jeans.
“You’re making me tired just looking at you.” She threw her arm over her eyes.
“What was that all about with Bella?”
For a moment, she considered blowing off the question. But Bella had shocked her, and she needed to talk it out. “I needed her advice.”
“Oh, really?” Remy turned a chair around and sat straddling the seat then leaned his arms on the back of it.
“Bella and I connected a long time ago because we’ve got a lot in common.”
Remy grunted. “I don’t see that at all.”
“Aside from the fact that we were both sky dragons that couldn’t shift—not that we knew that at the time—we came from similar backgrounds. We both had a mother who was an addict. Hers was a drunk. Mine was a druggie.”
“I didn’t know,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“How could you have known? It’s not something I talk about.” She sat up and leaned against the large, fluffy pillows on the headboard. There was a pot of tea on the bedside table, and she poured herself a mug. Sniffing appreciatively, Margery recognized a delicate coconut scent. Taking a sip, she smiled. It was one of the finest white teas she’d ever tasted. Being a Queen definitely had its advantages. “What was your mom like?” she asked, to give herself a little more time to enjoy the tea before she talked about the unpleasant stuff.
He grinned. “She was a typical mom.”
Margery took a long swallow of tea for strength. “A typical mom for me shoots up in the kitchen, sticking the needle in her eye so it doesn’t leave track marks. Then she watches television all day until her boyfriend of the week comes home to bang her, and if it’s a good day, not smack her around.”
“Right.” He blew out a sigh. “My mother was the Loch Ness monster. She liked to play practical jokes. She taught me how to navigate the lakes and seas. We spent a few hundred years in the oceans just exploring.”
“She’s not still in Scotland?”
He shook his head. “If she’s been free all this time, she’s hidden herself in Atlantis or deep in the Mariana Trench. Although I’ve searched both places and didn’t find a single clue she was there.”
“Atlantis?” Margery asked. Another story she could break. She liked this dragon stuff.
“I’ll take you there once you learn to swim.”
“How am I going to breathe underwater?” She shuddered.
“I’ll help you breathe, chérie. It’ll require a lot of mouth to mouth.” He winked at her.
“That doesn’t sound so bad.” It actually sounded pretty good. She poured him a cup and brought it over to him. “Why is your mom hiding?”
“I think the curse scared her, and she went somewhere safe.” He took the cup from her and ran a possessive hand down her leg. “Is that what you and Bella were talking about? Your families?”
She shook her head and felt the heat rise in her face. “No, I was asking her about the sky dance.”
Remy’s hand froze on her ass. “Oh.”
She eased away from him and poured herself another cup before climbing back into bed. “Casimiro had it right. We can only mate in the sky. As in create a baby. Of course, Bella already had a baby from the drug. But for me and you, I can only conceive in flight.”
He swallowed hard. “Then what we did…” He waved his hand around. “On the plane. Could you have…I mean, is it possible…?”
“It’s possible.”
Remy slapped his hand over his face. “I didn’t know. I didn’t think.”
“It’s okay.” Margery let out a deep breath. “All of this is new. If it happens, we’ll deal with it. The learning curve on this Queen thing is a bit steep.”
“Right,” he whispered. “I don’t want you to feel trapped in a relationship with me.”
“I don’t feel trapped. I feel happy. Are you happy being with me?”
He gave a short laugh. “Happy’s not the word. I’m afraid of losing myself in you.”
“That doesn’t sound so good.” She went back to her tea, trying not to feel hurt.
Remy groaned. “It is good. It’s more than good. I want you all to myself so we can explore the consort bond better, but I don’t want to be a selfish bastard about it.”
“The airplane ride and being with you healed me. I can fly. I can never thank you enough for that.” She held out her hand to stop his glare. “I can say thank you in private, damn it.”
He chuckled. “I guess the appropriate response is ‘as my Queen commands.’”
“I told you to knock that shit right off.” But he made her smile. “I’m not going to be a Queen like Bella.”
“You better not. Did she know why you kept passing out when we weren’t in the sky?”
Margery shook her head. “She had no clue. My guess is that I just needed time to recover. And I think Casimiro flying with me to Quebec kick
-started my healing. I started feeling stronger as I escaped from the hotel. I sensed you. Is that a consort thing?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been a consort before. But I sensed you, too.”
Margery blew out a shaky breath. “This is pretty freaky.”
“You’re a dragon. A creature of magic. It’s only going to get crazier. We should talk about building you a castle like this one.”
She snorted. “With what money?”
Remy’s jaw clenched. “With tributes from studs and visiting Queens. I am also not without resources.”
His formal voice was cold and remote.
“I messed up again, didn’t I?” Am I ever going to get this Queen thing down pat?
“Impossible. Queens don’t make mistakes.” But there was a softening in his eyes that made her feel they were all right again. “What is the thing you need most in your castle?”
“A cell tower,” she said.
“I was thinking more along the lines of guardians.” He shook his head in exasperation. “You saw how Rathin infiltrated Reed’s compound, and Reed’s the most paranoid bastard I know. The only reason Mei Hua is safe is she’s ass-deep in Dragon Slayers in a fortress. But I still wouldn’t let down your guard. I don’t know. Something about this place gives me the creeps.”
“You’re a dragon. You’re surrounded by Dragon Slayers. I can understand the paranoia.”
“Smythe can fly. He can drop a bomb over this village and wing away before it hits the ground.”
Margery snorted. “I saw the antiaircraft guns on the roof. Good luck to any hotshot that wants to go up against that.”
“They’re not firing depleted-uranium rounds. It’s a bluff. Any fast-flying stud would heal the damage before it dropped him out of the sky.”
That didn’t sound good. “So we’re sitting ducks?”
“I didn’t say that.” Remy sighed. “The Order of the Dragon Slayers didn’t survive this long without having a few tricks up their sleeves. I just don’t trust them.”
“We’ll leave right after dinner.” Margery wasn’t keen on staying here, anyway. Too many rules and too much court politics.
Remy nodded. “That’s a good idea, my Queen. The sooner you’re back in my territory, the better I can prepare for Smythe’s next attack.”
“Do you think there will be one?”
“Bet on it.”
“Maybe we should take the fight to him?” Margery didn’t like just sitting around waiting for things to happen.
“And fight a stud on his own turf?” Remy shook his head. “Suicide. The best offense is a good defense. We’ll get you guards. But you’re right. A cell tower would be nice for surveillance…and streaming in American football. You’ve got to get it past the conservation clubs, but I think you can charm your way through.”
“It’s all just temporary,” Margery said.
“What do you mean?” he snapped out.
And there she was back in hot water again.
“I mean, we’re all going to get reassigned a territory next year at the Queens’ conclave. I don’t want to put down roots if I just have to move again. Been there, done that since I was fifteen.”
“You’re a Queen, and Vermont is my territory. If you want to stay, you will stay.”
“It’s not worth you fighting and getting hurt over.”
“What makes you think I’m the one who’ll get hurt?” He got up and stalked over to the bed. “I’m useless as tits on a bull in an aerial battle. But protecting what’s mine on my turf? Nothing will survive the attempt. Get me?”
Margery shivered at his intensity. He could give Reed a run for his money right now. “I get you.”
“So you have roots.”
“I guess I do.” She wiped away the happy tears before they could leak out of the corners of her eyes. “I’ve never had anyone take care of me before. Not even my mother, if you can believe that.”
“Why?” he asked.
“She wanted drugs more than she wanted a family. But eventually, she found a guy willing to marry her. He knocked her up and taught her how to steal. No one searches a pregnant lady. Then my sister came along and followed in her footsteps.”
“What about these uncles that Bella was talking about? Did you have one of those?”
Margery tucked her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, hugging herself. “Her husband had a brother who’d just turned twenty-one. I was fifteen. My sister was eight. He would babysit us.” This was harder than she’d thought. “He wasn’t a good person.” She looked up at Remy to see if he wanted her to go on.
His jaw was clenched. “Is he still alive?”
Margery nodded. “He’s in prison, last time I bothered to check. Grand theft auto instead of diddling little girls. It was too late for my sister. Just like it was too late for Bella and her uncles.” She rested her cheek on her knee. “I told my mom. What would your mom have done in the same situation?”
“Killed the guy.”
Margery gave a half laugh. “Mine beat the shit out of me. And then let her husband kick me around, too.”
“Are they still alive?”
She smiled without humor at his bloodlust. “She’s also in prison. For selling drugs. I don’t know where the hell he is. My sister is the only one I can stand. She should have finished school, but she was in and out of juvie so many times I don’t think she ever did. Larceny and stuff like that.”
“What did you do?”
“Emancipated myself. Her husband threw me out, and I never looked back.”
“You’re looking back now,” Remy said. “Do you want to start issuing death certificates like Bella?”
“No.” Margery shook her head. “I think living their lives is punishment enough. As long as my mother and Joe are out of mine, I don’t care what happens to them. Do you think that’s weak?”
He sat down and hugged her. “No. But I will end them if I ever see them. It’s my job.”
She gave a watery giggle and sniffed back any tears that she had left in her, which wasn’t much. “Sorry for dumping all that on you.”
“The more I know, the better I can protect you.”
A knock on the door startled them. Remy bounced off the bed, fast and deadly. He was at the door just as it opened.
A maid squeaked a bit at the sight of him and curtsied. “The Queen has provided dress clothes for dinner tonight.”
“That was kind of her,” Margery said, getting up to stand next to Remy. “We could have just magicked up our own duds.”
Remy stepped aside, and the woman hung up a beautiful gown that looked like it was spun from sunbeams and diamonds.
“Wow.” She couldn’t stop herself from petting the fabric. The maid hung Remy’s dress jacket next to it, along with a belted kilt in the same colors he’d shown her in his truck.
“What time is dinner?” he asked, fingering the plaid.
“In three hours. Queen Mei Hua said there would be honored guests at the banquet that you will enjoy seeing. A servant will come for you and bring you down when it’s time.”
“Thank—” Margery broke off at Remy’s glare. Right. No thanking. Was she ever going to get used to this Queen stuff.
After the maid left, Margery said, “Who do you think she’s invited? Smythe?”
“I doubt it’s a dragon stud.” He fingered the fabric. “They got the plaid right. I’m impressed.”
“Well whoever the guest is, I hope they have some answers for us about the origins of the BabyDragon pill.” She went back to her laptop. “I don’t suppose you have the wireless password?”
Remy pulled out his phone. “I’ll turn on my hot spot.”
Once she was set up and connected, Margery spent the next hour answering email. Casimiro was all right. Although pissed about being left behind, he made plans to meet her back in Vermont. Reed was also not thrilled, having been called in to quell the dragonstruck fans at the hotel.
Her sister emailed back. The
subject line was “Dragons R Cool.”
“A-r-e,” Margery spelled out. “It’s only two more letters.”
“What?” Remy asked.
“Nothing.” She sighed. This time the email wasn’t so pleasant.
So I heard that pictures of dragons go for like a grand. Can I take a bunch of pictures when we get together? I can get a new car and maybe a lease on an apartment. And if you can come to my new job, I’ll be the shit. Everyone can’t believe I have a Queen for a sister. Say you will! Please! Can you come next week?
This was more like the Carla she remembered. Margery deleted it without answering.
There was another email, with only a video attached to it. When she played it, it showed a movie of someone walking through the inside of her old New York apartment.
“Yeah, like that’s not creepy,” she said. She blocked the email address and sent a copy to Reed, just in case it turned out to be something important.
“Huh?” Remy asked.
“Never mind.” No sense getting him all worked up and protective if it was just one of Reed’s goons doing inventory or something. Still, it didn’t feel like that. It felt sinister, and it made the hairs stand out on her neck. But Margery couldn’t pinpoint a reason why.
“Still no word from Rathin,” she said.
“That means no word about Lisa.” He pounded a fist on his knee. “Nidhogg damn it.”
“Reed’s started a file on her. She’s twenty-one and a nursing student. She’s in good health. Maybe she’ll be the exception to the rule.”
“What about Frieda?” Remy asked. He’d filled her in about his adventures on the plane during round two—or was it round three of their lovemaking?
“Can you rub my shoulders?” she asked, pulling her hair off her neck. She was getting a crick hunched over the laptop. And thinking about how they tore up the sheets on the plane made her anxious for his touch.
“I’ll rub anything you want,” he said.
Remy’s hands were strong and talented on her neck and shoulders.
“Mmm,” she sighed. “You have the magic touch.”
She enjoyed the rhythmic motions for a moment before remembering she was gathering research. “Your friend Frieda is carrying a dragon egg. They’re trying to obtain her permission for a C-section before it grows any bigger. She’s resisting, but once she realizes she can’t deliver it, she may change her mind. If they get the baby into an incubator and sew her up, they could both live.”
The Queen's Dance (Emerging Queens) Page 16