The Queen's Protectors (A Throne of Blood Book 1)

by Scarlett Snow

  My cheeks heat at his words. That’s exactly how I felt the first moment Ronan and I kissed the night I tried to run away to New York. To here. I glance over at Kaleo, and my heart does that stupid little dance again. It’s exactly how I feel right now. Can this shifter really be one of my Protectors—a warrior sworn to defend me with his life?

  But how can I be the One True Queen of the Shadow World when I couldn’t even save my own mother? It doesn’t make any sense. And adding more confusion, vampires and shifters have separate thrones and royal families, and obviously different assassins. If I’m supposed to be their queen, does that mean I’ve got to unite them? I don’t know the first thing about ruling or bringing people together.

  I grab my bottom lip between my teeth and bite down, trying to clear my head.

  I do know how to avenge. I know how to fight. I know how to never give up, and if claiming back the throne means I find my mother’s killer, I’ll do whatever it takes.

  Indeed I wasn’t able to save my mother, but hell if I can’t avenge her.

  I look between the men and find them both staring intently at me, their expressions hopeful. Do they really see me as their queen? I always thought Ronan was joking when he called me Your Majesty. I never in a million years thought he was guarding me—as a Protector—because I was destined to unite the Shadow World.

  “Violet?” Ronan murmurs, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my hair.

  “Why did you never tell me?” I question, staring at the floor. “About all of this? Why wait until now?”

  “I was forbidden to, remember? Besides, if I had told you, you would never have stayed where you were safe, Violet. You were too restless.”

  “You make me sound like some kind of delinquent,” I say, a grin pulling at my lips. I direct my next question at Kaleo. “What do I do now?”

  He scratches his beard again, pondering how to respond. When he speaks, his voice comes out low and gravelly. “You have two options, Your Majesty. You can hide and use your protectors as your shields. Or, you can visit each of Mystique’s clubs, making your presence known and showing the royals you’re a force to be reckoned with. Then, you strike when they least expect and take back your throne. Slice all their throats if you want to. Whatever you decide, your Protectors will remain by your side. They will follow in your wake even if you decide to go to hell and back.”

  “Sounds dangerous.” I wink at him, trying to mask my trepidation. I see only one option, and it’s not the former. Hiding like a coward has never been my style.

  Kaleo grins. “It’s extremely dangerous. That’s why you need your Protectors first and foremost.”

  “But where do I find them? I mean, I doubt there’s a speed dating service for this kind of thing.” I pause, looking between them. “Oh, God. Please tell me there isn’t? That’s a bit too intense, if you ask me. Hey, I’m Joshua, your Protector, and today I’m going to die for you. Sheesh.”

  Kaleo chuckles. Ronan, however, tenses at my side.

  “Protectors will come to you,” Ronan explains, stroking my cheek with his thumb. “Now that your existence—your scent—is out in the open, they will flock to you, pledging their allegiance. It’s up to you to choose or disregard them. You’ll know which of them is meant to be.”

  I find my gaze drawn back to Kaleo. “Yes, I guess I would know.”

  “And on that note,” Kaleo says, standing from the sofa. He drops to his knees, his head bent into his massive chest. His harness gleams in the lights. “It would be my honor, Your Majesty, to protect our One True Queen after all this time…” He pauses, looks up to check my face, then at the floor down again. “If you’ll have me, of course.”

  The sincerity in his voice gives me goosebumps. It’s really quite something to have a person swear fealty to you—especially a specimen so easy on the eyes. Besides, my mother trusted him to run her business. I can’t see a reason why I shouldn’t trust him. Moreover, my insides have been on fire since the moment we touched.

  I push off my chair and prowl over to him, my eyes never leaving his face. I do what I’ve been craving to do the second I laid eyes on him. I lean forward, and I press my lips to his. A burst of electricity sears down my spine and into my fingertips and toes. I pull him up from the floor, lips still pressed to his mouth, and I force him back into his chair. I melt into his strong arms, which curl around me protectively, and harden our kiss. His hands lift me onto his lap, and I push my breasts into his pounding chest, my own heart accelerating with desire.

  “I’ll have you,” I say between kisses, “if you stop calling me Your Majesty.” Another kiss. “I’m just Violet Sinclaire. No one of any real importance.”

  I feel his mouth spread into a grin against my own. We kiss again, harder, deeper, and this time our tongues entwine in each other’s mouth. When I pull away for air, his cheeks are flushed, his eyelids heavy, and I squirm against the thick cock tenting his pants.

  Smirking at him, I arch an eyebrow. “You weren’t just my mother’s secretary, were you?”

  Kaleo shakes his head, his eyes filled with lust. The golden tint in them has turned marginally auburn. They’re mesmerizing. “I’m not exactly the PA type,” he says, roaming his hands over my body.

  “That’s a relief,” I mutter, grazing his bottom lip with my teeth, “because I’m not exactly the queen type.”

  Kaleo slides a large hand down my back. “I’m here to make sure that comes with time, Your Majes—Violet Sinclaire, Miss No one of Real Importance.”

  I grin and pull away from him. I sit on the side of his chair again, my hand still on his thigh, just above his hardened cock. My touch is almost… possessive. If he’s going to be my Protector then his cock will be mine, too, as well as his heart.

  “I have a feeling my mother knew you were one of my Protectors the instant she hired you. Is this why you never let me come here, Ronan?”

  I train my gaze on Ronan, my tone playful, but Ronan’s expression has turned sour and his eyes steely as he watched our exchange. I should feel embarrassed, but I don’t. Touching Kaleo feels completely right. I knew from the moment he first held me when I stepped out of the car. Why is Ronan upset if he knew this day would come? Does he worry I’ll forget about him now that it has?

  Over my dead body.

  If I’m to have more than one Protector, I’ll make sure each receives an equal amount of attention. Besides, whoever I decide to accept—to give my blood and my body—they will need to submit to Ronan first. He’ll be their alpha. I can’t see anyone else filling that role, and, I’m willing to admit, I find the idea of him fucking them extremely erotic.

  I curl a finger at Ronan. He takes his time walking over, pausing with his hips in level with my face. I trace a finger up his navel, and he sucks in a sharp breath. With my other hand, I rub Kaleo’s hardened cock.

  “Mmm,” I purr, biting my bottom lip. “If this is what it feels like to have Protectors then sign me up for more.”

  My Protectors each chuckle beside me. I feel their warm hands stake claim on my body; Ronan slips his palms over my breasts to tweak my nipples, and Kaleo kisses me on the shoulder, his lips searing through my dress as he wraps a tattooed arm around my waist and pulls me in closer.

  My Protectors…

  I can definitely get used to this.

  My body sears with electricity as I snake my hands around Violet’s waist. I extend my fangs and run them along her shoulder. Her ivory skin feels like silk between my lips. She braids her fingers through my short hair and throws back her head, exposing her throat to both me and the vampire. Fucking hell, she’s amazing.

  I growl, trailing my fangs over the plains of her pulsating neck. This is what I’ve waited for my entire life: to serve and protect my true queen at all costs. Eloise prepared me for this since the day she found me cage fighting in downtown New York. She sensed the Protector bond within me even before I did and offered me a position to work directly for her as her secretary.

 
; Since I was starving and fighting my way through the underground cages, where shifters rip each other into shreds for the elite’s enjoyment, I willingly pledged my allegiance to this vampire, Eloise Sinclaire, despite my hatred for her kind. I was desperate—on the verge of dying after winning just enough fights to scrape by. My decision came easily, my choices to either accept her help or die in a cage trying to stay alive.

  My wavy mane and soft fur had been severely matted, my body on the verge of emaciation, but Eloise refused to give up on me. She clothed me, giving me a home and a healthy salary as her assistant at the Paranormal Protection Unit. All in preparation of the day I would be allowed to meet her daughter at long last—the future queen of our people.

  A queen who wouldn’t support the cage fights going on underground.

  A queen wouldn’t turn a blind eye to those of us suffering in the darkness.

  A queen who would reign for us and not above us.

  While I was under oath to never contact Violet until the right moment, I prayed every night for the day I could swear fealty to her. I just didn’t know Eloise would need to die for that moment to come. I guess that’s why she never told me since she knew I’d thought of her as my mother. She was the closest thing I had to family after a vampire coven slaughtered my own in my early youth.

  I became a homeless cub in a world where thievery and murder were a means to get by. It’s taken me years to accept that my past doesn’t define me. It’s who I am now, right here, as my queen’s chosen Protector that defines me.

  I watch Ronan dip into the valley of Violet’s throat. He runs his fangs over her fluttering veins and closes his eyes as though memorizing everything about her—her sharp intake of breath, her sweet scent, the way her eyes turn heavy with lust and her cheeks flush when he touches her.

  It was Eloise who repaired my perception of vampires. She taught me to see that not every creature is as they seem, nor are they alike, and that redemption can find even the darkest of monsters. It’s because of her that Ronan’s mere presence doesn’t makes me boil with rage or disgust.

  Ronan catches me staring, and his eyes darken into a swirling pool of blood. He sinks his fangs into Violet’s throat while his gaze keeps me rooted me to the spot. Violet moans and pushes her head against my pounding chest. My cock jumps in my pants as I hold her. I know exactly what Ronan hopes to accomplish. He’s reminding me that she chose him first and he’s the alpha.

  His gaze and possession of Violet’s throat serves as a test to see if I’ll challenge his authority. But I have no desire to become the alpha. I can see their bond gleaming like a fire in the night. I just want to be beside my queen, to serve, protect, and love her. I’ll do whatever she demands. I could crush Ronan in half if I wanted to, but my queen loves him, and for that reason I, too, must learn to love him. A Protector bond is unlike any other.

  I avert my eyes from the vampire. My submission is received favorably. Ronan grabs my wrists and places my hands on Violet’s beautiful tits. All the while, he feeds from our queen, and their energy consumes me like a madman as I wait for my turn, counting the seconds until I get to taste her blood.

  “That’s enough,” Violet commands, her voice somewhat breathy.

  Ronan retracts his fangs and stops feeding. He licks the puncture wound on her neck before stepping back. I watch the wound stitch itself and leave not a trace behind.

  My heart races with anticipation. I can’t believe I’m about to taste my queen—her blood, her scent, everything about her drives me crazy. I wet my lips and lean forward. Violet moves Ronan aside and pushes off the chair.

  “If we’re going to do this,” she says, smoothing her hands down her red dress, her cheeks tinged a slight pink, “we’ll do it right.” She turns to me. “I want you to come by our hotel at midnight. Ronan will send you the details.” She shoots me a cheeky wink.

  Another rush of pleasure surges to my cock. Despite my impatience, I have waited over half a century for this day. I can wait another couple of hours.

  I stand from the chair and nod once. “Yes, my queen.”

  Violet raises an eyebrow at the use of her title, but she doesn’t admonish me. My body warms at the grin crossing her beautiful lips. I can’t take my eyes off her. I want to hug and kiss her with such desperation I’m afraid I might crush her. I need to be careful of my strength. It was my only asset growing up, and at times I forget how strong I am. I’m like a bull in a china shop, at least according to Eloise.

  My pulse spikes as I escort them through the building again. I almost don’t want them to leave, but I can understand why. Bonding in a place where the smell of her mom lingers isn’t exactly erotic. And for us to bond, we need a helluva lot of blood and sex. Despite not making use of the shit load of rooms and equipment available for us here, I send up a silent prayer that we may someday.. That is if my queen wishes to have me sexually after our initiation. Not every Protector gains the privilege of sharing their queen’s blood, let alone her bed. I might be a shifter, but I’m also just a man; I’ll do absolutely anything to fulfill my queen’s desires.

  I see them to the front door. It’s started to rain outside, and Ronan wraps his suit coat around Violet’s shoulders. Jesus Christ, just when I think she can’t get any fucking sexier.

  “Until midnight, my queen,” I say, taking her hand and pressing a light kiss to her knuckles.

  She grins up at me. “I can hardly wait.”

  Ronan gives a tight nod. I can tell he’s still warming up to me. “Don’t be late,” he bites out, his voice carrying a blatant warning.

  “Like fucking hell will I be late.”

  I press for the automatic doors and watch my queen step out into the rain. Now that I have met her, it’s painful to no longer be in her presence. It’s like a section of my being has left with her, leaving me empty and incomplete in her wake. At least it won’t be for long anymore.

  “Midnight, hurry the fuck up,” I grumble under my breath as I make my way back into the building.

  I’ve never been so desperate to finish work before. Waiting until midnight is an exercise in fucking torture. Unfortunately, I’m not able to finish until ten o’clock exactly. I’ve been acting as the CEO until Violet officially steps up, and with the recent disappearance of Senator Wilkinson, my hands have been full. I still don’t have much on the senator. I’ve had our top agents in New York, at my request, question his family and his personal assistant, all of whom are bear shifters like the senator. But nothing indicates a shifter or vampire abducted the senator, which means the unit can do little to intervene. However, the senator’s sister donated a large sum of money to the unit in order to have him found. Remi, my chief official agent, felt obligated to accept. It would look poorly on us if he didn’t.

  What I can’t seem to understand is why the hell they would abduct Wilkinson and not someone of bigger influence, like the mayor. I had the fucking misfortune of meeting Wilkinson at last year’s charity event. He’s an incredibly boorish old man with a keen eye for brainless chicks with large tits. As a well-known senator, he’s frequently in the public eye, arranging and hosting charity events to help boost New York’s community engagement.

  I can’t see why he’d be of use to someone, but I’ll find out. The Paranormal Protection Unit always does. I may have to contact my sources in Exotique. I don’t agree with the shit I know goes on in that club, but without concrete evidence, the unit remains unable to prosecute them. I have a strong hunch that Boris, the owner of Exotique, is somehow behind this. Anything shady or unusual that gets dumped on my desk normally points in his direction.

  I say goodbye to my team and the club guests in the foyer, then make my way into the parking lot. I practically hop into my sedan and drive to the destination Ronan emailed me. I’m still not certain the alpha has accepted me, but once Violet and I bond, I’m sure everything will fall into place. He knows exactly what it feels like to possess an unquenchable desire to serve our queen. It’s ingrained into
creatures like us from birth. He’ll know just how fucking anxious I am to sink my teeth into Violet’s neck.

  The hotel isn’t far from the club. I switch the engine off and pass my keys to the valet. I ask for Violet at the reception. The cute receptionist hits up her computer, types swiftly into a keyboard with razor-sharp nails, and then nods to herself. She pulls open a drawer and hands me a room key.

  “Have a pleasant night,” she tells me, a sultry smile on her lips.

  “I’m sure I fucking will,” I grin back at her.

  I turn on my heel and head for the elevator. I glance down at the plastic key. She’s in the VIP suite. Once the doors open, I step inside and press the button for the top floor. My stomach churns with a mixture of nerves and excitement. The ride seems to take forever, and in my impatience, I tap my shoe on the floor, willing the damn thing to hurry up. A young couple steps in on the twelfth floor. They quickly avert their gaze from me and focus on the gold doors, making me snort under my breath. I’m used to people fearing me.

  I run a hand over my tattooed arms. They’re covered in goosebumps. I decided to opt for a casual white t-shirt and a pair of black jeans. Nothing fancy, but I’ve never done this before. Maybe I should’ve chosen something a bit flashier? Shit. What if I should have worn a suit like Ronan?

  With a ping, the elevator doors slide open. I shake my head and step out of the lift. I sound like a fucking love-struck teenager going on their first date.

  Pull yourself together, Kaleo. Stop acting like a little bitch.

  Despite my internal pep talk, my hands still tremble when I reach her room. A soft moan carries through the door to my ears, but too quiet for any human to hear. I shove my key into the lock and pull down the handle. As I slip into the suite, my eyes take a moment to adjust to the dimness inside, and the door closes behind me with a quiet snick. I find Violet and Ronan on the floor surrounded in blankets, cushions, wine buckets, and an assortment of scented candles. Violet lies on her back, her legs spread open, with Ronan’s mouth hard at work on her pussy. Her moaning is punctuated by the sound of Ronan kissing and sucking on her sweet lips.