As soon as he saw the queen, Kade gathered me up into his arms, slamming us both back against the wall. We’d have barreled right into them otherwise.
“There has been no security breach, Your Majesty. You have nothing to…” The lead guard trailed off as he finally noticed Kade and me standing there. I recognized him from our time together in the Summit. He’d stuck pretty close to Selene’s side and was a brutal fighter. He wore a spelled talisman that gave him mild magical powers and increased strength. Selene had always said she needed such a talisman to make up for the fact she had no personal magic born like me. Yeah, no bitterness there.
I should have known this initial infiltration had been way too easy. Of course we would run into the freaking queen and her most powerful wolf. The four of us faced off, and the redheaded wench stepped forward, dressed in a ball gown of all things, floor length with a mass of tulle and satin. Upon her head was a simple diadem, nothing like my crown of mecca, which was still in the possession of the council. Either they hadn’t had time to make her crown yet, or the special covenant that the council used to figure these things out had run out of ideas. It was literally a few pieces of gold twirled around some greenish hued gems. So simple. And I was pleased to see she was sans her slimy snake familiar, although I doubted he was far.
“How the hell did you get in here, Arianna? The guards have strict instructions to remove your head should you step foot in Manhattan. I have all the vortexes being triple guarded.”
Clearly not all of them.
When I didn’t answer immediately, her voice went into a shriek. “What are you doing here?” She slapped out at us with mecca, but Kade easily absorbed it, filtering it out into the world.
My wolf rose within me, both of us letting out low growls. “I am here to rescue Violet, and any more of our people who might have been taken by the Tuatha. I will not let them die in the Otherworld. I protect my people.”
My voice was low, each word resonating across the hall with a heavy and powerful tone. The mecca was so close here, it was filling up the gaps stolen by my dethroning. Almost like the power didn’t like our joining not being complete.
“A queen’s responsibility is to all of her people, not an individual few,” her lead guard said, shifting around slightly. They were maneuvering themselves to attack from both sides. I recognized the procedure, and found it amusing they thought I wouldn’t notice.
“Let us pass. I’m not here to fight you, Selene. But if you try and stop me I will be forced to retaliate.” That was my best attempt at being political in front of the fake queen.
Selene’s cackle ricocheted off the halls and I knew my attempt at peace was futile. She wanted my head.
Nix will be here in seconds, Kade said in my mind. She’ll attack them from behind. I can channel mecca through her, surround them with it.
I will join with Nix from behind, Finn added.
Okay, then, confirmation that Finn could hear the conversation too. We really needed to work this mental link thing out. Another time, when we weren’t about to jump into a shifter throwdown.
Let’s attack now, I said, hoping everyone would hear. They won’t have time to call in more guards, and I sense that Victor and the others are close.
Now! Three voices crossed the bond, and I had the first chance to hear the light, whispery tones of Nix.
Kade grabbed my hand, the two of us drawing in mecca energy. It was easy this close to the stone; there was so much it was literally seeping in from all directions. Our mated bond also helped. It was like the well of energy in my center was connected to Kade’s, and holy crap … his connection to the mecca was beyond anything I’d ever felt.
Selene shrieked before the skin on her hand and forearms shone purple. She blasted out again, running toward us. Of course she must have forgotten she was wearing a ridiculous gown. Her legs tangled in the hem, tripping her down flat onto the floor, and her shot went wide. Ignoring her, Kade and I advanced on the guard. The talisman around his neck glowed a purplish hue as he began to chant a spell that had the wind whipping up around us. Sabina must have made that talisman. No one else was powerful enough, save for Violet, and she never would have.
He’s calling the guards and magic born,” I said, loud enough to be heard over the whipping winds. “I felt the call go out.”
Kade pulled me closer, his chest rumbling against my arm. If I attack them, they could declare war on the bears. I can’t let that happen while I’m not here to defend them. What’s your plan?
I shook my head. They won’t declare war on the bears. They don’t have the manpower to fight both your people and the fae. Besides, their beef is with me alone. They’re going to try and take care of this in-house, and probably hope your people think you were taken by the fae.
I knew Selene. That was the devious path she’d take.
Kade grinned, his rumbles turning into chuckles. “In-house is perfect. That’s exactly what I hoped you’d say.”
He dropped my hand then and charged toward the guard, leaving me to deal with Selene, who was already back on her feet. I wasn’t worried about Kade. The guard was powerful, and he had a spelled talisman, but he wasn’t royal or magic born. He couldn’t manipulate mecca like we could, and he stood no chance against an almost seven-foot bear king. I watched long enough to see him slam into the giant guard, knocking him back into the wall, breaking his magical call for help. The guard quickly stood, pulling a blade from behind his back with a menacing look in his eye
Kade winked at me before diving into the fight; he looked to be enjoying it.
“Figures you’d end up slumming it with a bear,” Selene said, spitting blood out of her mouth as she advanced on me. “You always were scum. No idea who fathered you to even know if it was a decent lineage. All you had going for you was the Red Queen’s lineage, and look at what a whore she turned out to be. She let fae into our world. She caused all of this, and I think the red line should be wiped out now, forever. No longer are you fit to be heirs.”
Her dark brown eyes narrowed, her grin sinister, especially with some blood staining her teeth. Figures she would hurt herself so badly just from tripping over a stupid dress. Even though her shifter healing had kicked in, and the wound was closed over, the blood remained long after.
“Say goodbye, Arianna of the red line. You are a failed queen. A failed heir. And a true disgrace to all wolves.”