Shadow Queen Read online

  “Anastacia, you can let go,” he said rather calmly.

  “Stace. Stop it now,” Calum yelled. I heard others yelling at me with the same, but I didn’t care.

  “NO, he killed Cord. He dies now.”

  Somewhere in the back of my mind I heard Cord calling me. It scared me to think I could hear him or something perhaps—internally.

  “Stace...Anastacia, dammit. I’m here. It wasn’t me.” Someone forced my cheek sideways. My feet twisted solid around Ted Borgon’s chest, I felt him gasp for air. Arms made their way around my waist and began wrenching. I knew they were not Cas’. Cas was in front of me.

  Kissa. He’s not dead. Cord is alive. Turn you heard.

  I turned my head into the hands that held my face. Cord’s blue as the ocean eyes pleaded matching the voice. It wasn’t in my head. “Let go, Anastacia. He’s not worth it. We need him alive.”

  We do?

  Like that, I fell back into Cord's arms and watched the man I nearly choked to death crumble forward. He didn’t get back up. Did I kill him?

  Scrambling out of Cord’s arms, I dropped to my knees and to Borgon. I felt his mouth, watched his chest from the side where he crumbled. Hot air hit my fingers. Then again. He was alive.

  I turned to the Were who lie there dead still in animal form. I thought they changed back when they died.

  They do.

  I turned my head to Cas like it was a conversation. “Then why is he not? Who is it, Cord?”

  Cas’ pulled me up and wrapped his arms around me. My head against his chest, I watched Cord rub his hand across the top of the Weres head like you’d pet a dog, but never actually touch. Like some kind of magic, the beast transformed into the body of a man. Naked and dirty, I knew who it was.

  “I’m so sorry, Cord. It’s Jarod. The guy from the porch. Your second. I’m so sorry.”

  Cord’s eyes were sad, but they weren’t what I’d term as hidden in remorse. He glanced up at Cas’ who let me go only to hand me off to Cord. I felt like a girl but I felt like I’d caused it. Jarod’s death happened because of me. I looked around the cabin knowing I should have done this already. Nara was still lying there. Elves were dead everywhere, but I saw a few others lying still whom I knew to not be Elves. They were all dead to save me.

  “They are all dying because of me.”

  Cord pulled me close, closer than he’d ever been to me. “No, they are not. We will protect you, Stace. But it’s not all about you.”

  If that didn’t wake me from the blubbering, his next statement would.

  “They fight because it’s the right thing to do. They are destroying everything around our lives and we stand behind you because you’re strong and have no fear.”

  I cocked my head, “What do you call this then?”

  “Admiring. Caring. Loyalty. You don’t see us as just pawns.” His hands were gripping my hips too tight. “I don’t know what to say to your strangling the man because you thought he killed me. I didn’t think you cared quite that much.”

  I took a step back searching for Cas. I needed him near. He stepped up like he was answering the request. His hands didn’t touch me, just his shoulder. The tip of his boot caught in my peripheral.

  “I care.”

  Cord's icy blue irises turned down to me. His hands fisted open and closed. “I know that...now. I’m sorry if I didn’t before. You just never—

  “How dare you accuse me of not caring, Cord Ryan. I never gave any indication of anything else.”

  Yelling pointedly and leaning over, “And you never once said any of us were worth saving other than your precious Thorn here.”

  “How dare you—

  “You said that already, Princess. Try expanding your vocabulary.” He was all the way in my face now.

  Hands gripped my shoulders and led me away from the scene while I steamed.

  He is so...so—

  Kissa, cool off. This isn’t the time or place for this.

  But he is so...

  Kissa. Stop. You’re killing me here.

  The word “killing” got through. I jerked my head up to his and blew out a hot breath. He stood me on the porch beside traitorous Lee and walked away. “How dare he?” I said to no one.

  “Maybe you should dare to listen to them once in a while. They really do care about you too, Anastacia.”

  “Oh, like you do Lee? Fine advice coming from you. You may have warned me today, but don’t think my trust is there. You have an agenda and I aim to find it.”

  I didn’t realize my finger was in his chest or that I’d turned to face him. I yanked it back and saw what he held out. My knife, clean and being returned. With the same forlorn look in his eyes he always held, he shoved it in my hand and said, “Take it before they see.”

  “Forget you, Lee. Decide where your loyalties lie.”

  I stomped off the porch steps to help the others, but not before I heard Lee say quite clear enough, “Loyalty lies in its purpose. My purpose is clear. One day you’ll see it, Anastacia.”

  I did stop, but I didn’t turn around.

  Nara and Borgon were both tied up together against the porch column. The dead were dragged into piles. The only Were dead was carried to Angus’ truck, the red haired Were I knew well now. He was everywhere Cord was when we went to see the Weres that Jarod wasn't.

  One Vamp guard thought to be dead was staked through the chest with a sword, but revived when it was removed. He’d been pinned to the ground and couldn’t get up.

  The final count included forty-three dead elves and one Were. And one Vamp.

  Granite was dead. Beheaded by Borgon himself after my knife to his heart and carefully lain on the ground before us, his body was treated with respect. Apparently all the Vampire faction were aware of his defection and the circumstances behind it. Threatening his family was Borgon’s way of gaining allies. It was done to him, so Borgon returned the unethical favor more than once now.

  I grieved with them.

  Sad enough, Cas had already shared with me Granite’s motive for turning against us. It was nothing to do with me. His sister was turned at the same time, younger and in her early teens. One night, behind a club, a girl was selling something Cas knew was not good. He stepped in like he always did when getting rid of rogue Vampires, and took her out. He didn’t know the girl was Granite’s sister. Granite became the head of his guard months after the incident and it wasn’t until recently that he made Cas aware of what he’d done. He tried to make amends, but Granite was already hardened by a hatred that stemmed long before anything done by Cas. Granite had begged the Vampire who changed him to leave his sister alone that night. When he didn't Granite owned a hatred that only grew at losing her to what he called, "her second death".

  When everything was picked up around the camp, we sat on the only picnic table that was still intact and decided what to do with the Borgon and Nara. Someone asked me where Lee went, but I knew when I turned away on the steps, he’d be gone. He always was. He had some kind of major ties if he was able to be involved with so many parties and not own up to any of the fortunate escapes he walks away from so easily.

  Borgon would be taken below the cabin into the dungeon like cell I learned was housed there evidently as all the Were cabin’s and main house's contained. The secrets we hold.

  Nara would be housed in a different cabin’s cell to avoid their ability to plan anything wicked. The whole plan was well thought out with one exception. What if they escaped before they were “housed” within the cells?

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Three things cannot be long hidden...

  The Were guards, some animal some not, would escort them down. Cas had the Godslayer. In our respective vehicles, I asked Cas to follow Cord back to his faction house, but he told me it wasn’t respectful for the two of us to be there when they said goodbye to the own. The Weres were very ceremonial and didn’t think kindly on outsiders seeing their secrets. I found it odd that I knew so much about Cord Rya
n, but really nothing at all.

  “What secret things happen in the Vampire house that I don’t know about? I mean, I know the Valkyries hide that females have a certain persuasive power over men and that our strength is somewhat stronger than them, but we all know not to broadcast it. It doesn’t mean the other factions don’t know. So what is there I don’t know?”

  He steadied his hand on the wheel and rubbed his chin with the other. “Well, you have to consider that I was born into the Valkyrie court for one.”

  I’d forgotten that all too often. I hoped my Val femaleness didn’t affect him too much. I’d hate to think he really only felt compelled to like me.

  “Hardly, Kissa. There was a short time that I felt quite the opposite for you.”

  “You hinted at that before.”

  “I didn’t like that you could make noise in my head and I didn’t like that someone was assuming I would just come to you one day. As a boy, it angered me.”

  “What changed your mind?” I inquired quite eagerly always liking to hear it again and again.

  “I was changed into Vampire.”

  “And that made you change your mind about me?” That was also when Naracrissa showed up too.

  “No. You did. I followed you one night not long after I was changed. You were crying about your friend Kassie refusing to help you in the sparring ring that day who left you alone. I saw bruises on your arms. I was so enraged that you’d been hurt I wanted to murder the ones who did it to you. Before I could break my promise to stay away from you, your bruises were gone. I vowed that day, as a young boy, to never let you be harmed in that manner again.”

  Wow. That was hard to take. “But you couldn’t have meant it completely. I mean, I did spar many, many times after that.”

  His smile lifted deviously, “No. My best friend made quick use of his own sovereign rights as a son of the Valkyrie court’s lord. He put the three punk asses in their place and made for damn sure they never did it again.”

  My brother. “You two really have known each other a long time.”

  His eyes glanced my way and back on the road. “Anyway, to answer your other question, each faction has their own predictabilities as well as hidden secrets held in high regard as rituals they hold sacred.”

  “And the Weres hide the way they take care of their dead?” I reiterated.

  “As well as how they first transform, the birth of their young, and various other...intimate happenings.”

  Intimate happenings? I didn’t want to know that stuff I think.

  He sighed like he was reluctant to say but went on anyway, “How we are turned is kept to the privacy of the one it belongs to. We don’t talk about it.”

  “But you told me?”

  “Would you have rather I hid it?” he snipped readily.

  “No,” I cast my eyes down. “I’m honored to know you trusted me.”

  His chest rose up and then down. “It isn’t something we share.”

  “Then I am truly honored, Cas,” I put my hand on his thigh. He looked down at it then back to the road. I left it there.

  “In our faction we hold it very sacred those with whom we find companionship with. We don’t favor disloyalty or infidelity. We do not mask our feelings when we find that person and we don’t participate in an organized marriage proposal and wedding practices. When you have the one you are with, you are just with them.”

  I crinkled my nose. Either the Valkyries were strange or the Vampires were that liberal. I knew long ago that many human customs had made their way to the supernaturals, but perhaps not so much to all of us.

  “What about the Weres? Surely if they are ceremonial on death they are ceremonial on marriage.”

  “They are,”Cas said exiting off the highway. “But it is their tale to tell or keep secret.”

  “But you know?”

  He nodded. He wasn’t saying and that made all kinds of red flags go off. Maybe I didn’t want to know how he knew. Maybe it was a girl.

  “No where close, love. I happened upon it one night by accident.”

  “Can I ask?”

  “Only that I took the current leader away, Cord’s Were father, to help with an ordeal.”

  “Oh.”

  He waited for a while and then said low, “And then there’s the sharing of certain things during intimacy.”

  Sharing...of things. We’ve been down this road. “You biting me?” He slid my hand off his thigh and placed it on my own, then kept a keen eye on the road like fog was clouding over by the bucketfuls.

  I didn’t want to talk about it, but I didn’t want him to hate me for it.

  “I don’t hate you for it Kissa, I love you.”

  “Then why won’t you look at me?”

  His head snapped to me. Oh! Oh! Oh! “Got it!”

  I slammed my feet to the floorboard and gripped the front of the seat with my fingernails. I refused to look his way but I knew he’d turn to the road again.

  “I can’t change who I am,” he half growled all gravely.

  “I didn’t say I want you to.” My swallow was late coming.

  “It is the way we are made. You’re blood, Anastacia, it calls to me. It’s how I know you’re mine. How I know you belong to only me.”

  I mishappenly sniffed the air like I might be able to smell myself.

  “I’ve tasted you, Anastacia. I’d be able to track you anywhere.”

  I disregarded what my belly did in reaction to his words and went with the other part. “I thought it was a five mile radius thing.”

  “Only the hearing part.”

  Oh! Lots of shockers today.

  13. My taste is imprinted on his lips with the ability to track me

  Pulling into the Vampire court, Liam stood waiting. He beat us there and then some. He’d already emptied the back of the truck that I know housed their previous friend and guard, Granite.

  “It is taken care of.”

  Cas nodded and patted his shoulder in a manly fashion. They both turned and looked at me.

  “I am honored to have taken the knife for her, Lord Cross.”

  “I know you are. She knows this.”

  My hand on my hip I said, “The she is standing right here. While I am very thankful you took a shot for me Liam, it wasn’t the wisest. You could have been killed.”

  Liam’s mouth fell open. Cas abruptly said, “That is all for now. You did exactly as I asked.”

  Oh, I see. Where I was docile and embarrassed by our conversations moments ago, I was riled up and angry at being treated like a fragile bird now. I chewed on my bottom lip for a moment while Liam gave a short bow and exited by driving the truck he drove to the garage to park. Cas’ eyes had returned to normal by now, but they’d darkened with my angry flare.

  Inside and up the stairs we went. The day had faded away and darkness was already enveloping the halls as we neared my room. I let him get fully in the door before I let it go.

  “You don’t trust me.”

  “It’s not that at all.”

  I whirled on him pinning his body to the door like he’d done so often. I might have even exerted a little Valkyrie/goddess strength to help me out added with some left over energy from Calum still flowing through me. “And what pray tell, does that mean.” I locked him into place, not with my hands like he did, but with my little distance I allowed. Touching him would make me lose concentration.

  “I can’t lose you.”

  “Yes. You’ve said that. And I know I fell apart when one of ours was killed, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t fuel the fire for taking them out. I have what it takes Lord Cross of the Vampires to stand up to any of you or anyone else. I wanted the man dead.”

  His eyes softened readily, “I know that. I’ve seen what you’re capable of. And your compassion is not a weakness. You’re head is.”

  “My head?” I leaned up on my tip toes to see him. It was dark in the room.

  “You’re pretty little head is full of perfect abilit
y to lead. You lead us well out there. But your fury leads you astray. One drop of anger and you go postal as evident by the fact that you couldn’t function when you thought your precious Ryan was dead. You were off task, off guard, and it practically killed me to see it. If you’re that upset over losing Ryan, I’d hate to see what you’d be like if it was someone you actually cared about. You’re a live weapon that has to be contained whether you like it or not. And I won’t let you destroy yourself.”

  His lips were close, but I needed to say something else. I knew he knew what he was talking about. If I was willing to admit that our in “syncness” was so clearly there, then I’d have to admit he was right on about this too. I just didn’t want to say it aloud.

  “You’re wrong, Cross.”

  He started to protest blinking at me with that same curiosity I felt when he purposefully called me by something different to catch me off guard. I could do the same. And so I put all of my body flat against his to stop him knowing it would. I was playing his game.

  “I know exactly what I’d do if they hurt you.” I smashed my lips with his the second he did the same. Tangled in a heated fury of not nearly being close enough and forcibly pawing to try to get clothes away we broke apart before any real kiss could be enjoyed. His shirt evaporated, mine was half open.

  That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy these little torturous argumentatively, possessive moments. They really did light the proverbial match on our evident passion we held for each other. There was never a doubt in my mind anymore that Lord Cassius Thorn Cross was my utter and most pursuant weakness when it came to the game we all played. And that he was one hundred percent only mine.

  “Marry me?” he asked with the rutilant glow in his eyes. His teeth were hidden but I knew what they were doing. His confession about Vampire marriage customs came to mine. He didn't want to wait any longer for the physical part of it.

  “You know we can’t yet. I want all this over first.”

  “And what if that’s years.”