Joely Sue Burkhart - Queen Takes Jaguars

I only ever saw her in dreams.

If she told me her name, I never remembered it later. The dreams were so real. She smelled like night-blooming jasmine and vanilla, and her black hair was thick, heavy silk that hung down to her waist. Her eyes were a dark, endless blue like a midnight sky. And her power

I had never felt a queen like her before, waking or asleep. In her presence, I forgot to breathe.

She had to be real. Even if I couldnt remember her name.

I am real, she assured me, drifting through my sleepy mind like a ghostly haze. However, Ill be leaving this life soon. My years are numbered.

My heart shattered. She was my mentor and friend, as sad as that might be, considering that I didnt even know who she was. We had talked endlessly through many nights. She had taught me so many things that helped me better understand my power, especially how to grow that power to protect my family.

House Zaniyah was small compared to the other Aima clans. We were secluded, exactly as we liked it. The powerful Triune houses couldnt care less about our small Mexican nest, even though I was one of the few queens to be born in the past two hundred years. My mysterious friend had admitted that my birth was why she had sought me out. Young queens were few and far between, and even at my age, I was considered young. The only other queen younger than me had been the New York City queens daughter.

Even here in Mexico, the rumors had still reached us from Keisha Skyes court, including the news of her daughters death. Making me the last living queen born in recent centuries.

I dont know how much help Id actually been to my dream friend. I had no idea who my father was, and my mother had died at my birth. If Grandmama knew, she had refused to tell me.

Why are you dying? I asked.

A plan I set in motion before you were born comes to fruition soon. I will invest all my power and love into this spell, so that my daughter may live free, untouched by the political games so rampant in our courts.

My throat ached. Was that why my mother had died? To have me?

I wanted a daughter more than anything to carry on our Zaniyah power, but if I had to die I had so much to do yet. I couldnt leave an infant daughter unprotected.

Like Mama had left me.

My goddess calls me to make this sacrifice, and I do so gladly. Ive lived many lifetimes already. Citla Zaniyah proved that a queen can be born, even if you dont know how you came to be. Your goddess has other plans for your house, and I dont believe your sacrifice will be required, unless you will it so.

But how can I have a child when I never breed?

Ironically, Aima queens fed on blood, but over the millennia, wed lost the ability to menstruate. We had so few queens left, which meant fewer strongholds where Aima could live under a queens protection. Only a queen could breed another queen, but we couldnt have children at all. Let alone ensure the continuation of our long lineages with a daughter.

Your mother accomplished much to have you, and she rejuvenated your familys bloodline in you, but my guess is youll need a gods power to conceive.

A god

Whos my father? I whispered. A god?

She sighed softly, swirling around me, her hair a black silken cloud. I believe so. An ancient god of great power. But how or who she might have found, only you can discover.

Mama never had Blood of her own, protectors sworn to guard her as their queen. Shed never even formally been the Zaniyah queen. After a horrific attack when she was a young woman, Mama had barely spoken for days and weeks at a time. Shed only rarely gone anywhere outside our nest. Shed been too afraid.

Yet somehow, shed not only managed to conceive, but to also deliver a healthy baby girl blessed with our goddesss power. While powerful queens like my friend had tried every spell known to Aima courts and still failed to conceive a daughter.

Prepare your nest first. She wrapped her arms around me, flooding me with her sweet scent. I could feel her strength in her arms and the heat of her body. Yet I had no idea who she was. Call as many Blood as you can. Make your nest as secure as possible.

I clutched her, blinking back tears. Its too late. Keisha Skye has already cursed my nest. No queen will come to our aid. Do I dare have a child, when I cant ally myself with any queen other than her?

She pulled back and looked into my eyes, her beautiful face hardening. Her eyes glittered like shards of obsidian. Whatever you do, do not allow your nest to fall to House Skye. Keisha is tampering with dark magic to gain an heir. Shell want to claim your house so she can study your bloodline and try to duplicate whatever your mother did to conceive you. You must stay free and out of Skyes control.

Im stronger, thanks to your teachings, but nowhere near strong enough to stand against the queen of New York City.

You wont have to stand against her alone.

But

She gave me another hug, her smile transforming from fierce to secretive. You will have assistance when you need it.

I will? But who? If youre gone

She kissed my cheek and backed away, fading like a ghost, or a figment of my imagination. My daughter will come when you need her most. She will stand against even the Triune for those she loves.

* * *

I opened my eyes and touched my cheek. I could still feel the petal-soft touch of her lips on my skin and smell her scent of jasmine and vanilla. But her name

Squeezing my eyes shut, I concentrated fiercely. Who are you? What is your name? Who is your daughter? When will she come?

Wind swirled through the open windows, carrying the tinkling of chimes. A nightingale sang from the avocado tree that grew by the kitchens. I thought I heard soft laughter mixed in with the chimes, but it might have only been my imagination.

My queen? My alpha, Eztli, whispered beside me. Are you well?

His big palm was warm and soothing on my shoulder. I rolled to him and he pulled me tightly against his chest, his heartbeat loud and steady beneath my cheek. Im fine. It was just a dream.

The unknown queen again?

I nodded, rubbing my mouth against his skin. I wish I knew who she was.