Joely Sue Burkhart - Queen Takes Triune

For my Beloved Sis.

Thank you to my comma warriors and beta readers:

Sherri Meyer, Stephanie Cunningham,

Kaila Duff, Karmen Vele,

Lydia Simone, Bibiane Lybk,

Jennifer Swan, and Brittany VanLanen

Special thanks to Robyn Renee Rudock for Sharas court gown design.

I held Guillaume while he vomited.

On his knees alongside the highway, he threw up so hard that I seriously worried about him. The last Templar knight heaved beneath my hands so hard I could hear things popping deep inside him. His bond crackled with tearing, searing pain.

Blood boiled up out of his stomach and sizzled on the ground. Some of the dried grass charred, but everything was frozen enough that it didnt actually catch on fire.

Vivians blood was burning him from the inside out.

To gain access to Heliopolis, Guillaume, Mehen, and Rik had drunk from my fiery phoenix. As Ras own daughter, she could access any of the portals throughout Cairo. Shed made that sacrifice willingly for me, despite a horrible past that made sharing blood with men difficult.

Id never thought about what her blood would do to my headless knightwho had told me from the beginning that he could only drink queens blood.

:Im fine, my queen.: Even in his bond, his voice sounded strained and raw, his vocal chords blasted by flames. :As soon as I get all of her blood out of me, Ill start to heal.:

Its kind of like eating a greasy chili dog, Daire said. I looked up at him, not sure what that had to do with anything. My warcat winked with an adorable dimple in his cheek. It burns coming out, just like it burned going down.

Guillaume groaned out a laugh and wiped his lips with the back of his hand. Terrible, but true.

I cupped his cheeks and dipped my bond through him. His esophagus and stomach were a ruined mess, like hed chugged a couple of vats of acid. Tears burned my eyes. Why didnt you remind me that you cant drink any blood but mine?

He smiled and shook his head gently beneath my hands. I can drink other blood, its just not going to stay down and does nothing for my strength. I did what was necessary. The price was worth it.

Already his voice sounded better, though I could feel the pain radiating in his bond. My stoic knight had endured years of torture in a medieval prison. Theyd even

Guilt bubbled up in my stomach. I almost had to whirl away so I could throw up beside him.

Theyd even chopped off his head.

So had I.

The horror of what Id done to my beloved knight twisted my stomach. I buried my face against his throat and squeezed my arms around him. Hed gladly and willingly allowed me to kill him, even if that meant he couldnt come back.

Lying in my arms as I drained his blood and then reached for the guards sword, G had fucking smiled at me.

Dying. If that was what it took for me to succeed in our plan.

Always, he whispered, wrapping his arms around me.

My rat wriggled slightly against my midsection, a small reminder that I shouldnt squash her. Her favorite place to ride around with me was tucked inside my coat. A constant, warm little body. Id already grown attached to her. She wasnt a pet exactly, nor a Blood, but holding her made me feel better. Usually.

I didnt know what to say to Guillaume. I could still feel the weight of that sword in my hand as it cut through his tendons and spine to cleanly decapitate him. Id done it, even if that meant I killed him forever. I had no choice.

Not if I wanted to kill Ra.

Maybe a better queen would have allowed herself to be defeated to spare her Blood. It would have been the less selfish thing to do.

G seized my chin and jerked my face up to his. His eyes glittered dangerously in the moonlight. You are the best and most honorable queen I have ever seen in all my centuries. If you had allowed yourself to be taken by Ra, then we all would have died. Hundreds of lives would have been at stake just between our Aima houses. Theres no telling how many more Aima queens would have fallen to Ra with your power at his control, or what hed do to the humans if he achieved his goal. He would have brought Heliopolis to our earthly plane and it would have been worse than hell on earth. You stopped that, as only you could.

It always surprised me where my Bloods lines were. Usually, none of them would touch me unless invited. Guillaume wouldnt even ask me to feed him, even though my blood would heal the internal burns quicker than he could heal himself. Yet now he squeezed my chin so hard that my face throbbed, because I had less than stellar thoughts about myself.

Your life is all. Rik laid his palm on my shoulder, his grip just as firm as Guillaumes. Whatever you need to do to stay alive is the right choice. Every single time.

But I dont want to cross the line. Whats to stop me from becoming another Marne Ceresa?

Guillaume spat another mouthful of blood on the ground. You could never be like her. Or Desideria for that matter. Love drives your actions, not ambition or greed for power. Thats your strength, and why we love you so much, but its also your weakness. Your only failing is the softness of your heart. A queen will at times need to act coldly and without compassion to protect her nest.

I killed you, I whispered softly, shivering at the memory. I wasnt cold, but he tucked me closer to him and Rik dropped down behind me to press against my back.

Normally being sandwiched between two of my Blood was more than enough to turn my thoughts from worry or fear to something more carnal. But this time, my stomach still bubbled with guilt, my teeth chattered, and I felt

Ashamed. And worse, afraid that I would let them down. That I would let myself down.

Never, Rik retorted against my ear. I have no doubt or fear in that regard, Shara.