Joely Sue Burkhart - Queen Takes More

Special thanks to Cheyenne Boatman for the

perfect tribute song

(Set after Queen Takes Triune)

DAIRE

E vidently, you dont trust me at all.

Her words made me flinch. My purr died in my chest. I risked a quick glance at my queens face, and yeah, she was pissed.

But worse

She was fucking hurt.

Her eyes gleamed with tears, and her bond weighed heavy inside me like cold, hard lead.

She hadnt been quite right since the Dauphine sent her mothers zombie to the nest. Goddess, who wouldnt have been shaken by that? Shed had to deal with the body and release Selenas spirit. It must have been like losing and burying her all over again, though she hadnt been able to attend her mothers funeral. Shed fled Kansas City after her mothers murder and never looked back.

Wed barely been back from Rome a few hours. She hadnt even gone upstairs to sleep yet, too wired after the encounter with Marne Ceresa.

I pressed harder against Sharas knees, but I couldnt purr. It was stuck deep in my chest, trapped like a wild thing that hammered inside me.

Any other time, she would have dropped her hand to my head and played with my hair. She would have smiled at my antics and jokes. I could have winked at her, flashed my dimples, and all would be forgiven. Forgive me

I dont want to hear it, she broke in.

Of course she knew that it wasnt a sincere apology. How could it be, when I had no idea what Id done?

Ive done everything for you. Ive bled. Ive risked my life over and over. I walked into Heliopolis and let the sun god lay his creepy hands on me, so I could get close enough to him to use the red serpent. I drained Keisha Skye in her own court, simply because I had to protect you and Rik. Id never let her claim one of you.

With each sentence, her words came faster, pouring out of her in a flood, as if shed been holding back for too long.

Worse, I had to go to Rome and endure Marnes polite-as-fuck insults. I stood in the midst of her power, completely helpless. I couldnt touch my own power. I couldnt call down fire to punish her. I couldnt do anything. Because the last thing Id ever do is risk you. If another arrow or spear was shot into one of you I would have lost everything, because I would have razed Rome to save you. Any one of you. And then Marne would have had us all legally executed and no one would have been able to lift a finger to stop her.

She paused a moment, taking a deep breath. Dont you fucking think I wanted to kill her? It certainly would have been easier. She hurt Rik, and I wanted her dead. It was all I could do not to call on my power and strike her down. Even if Id killed her, we would have lost, because our goddesses dont want any of Their Triune queens to die. They need all three Triunes whole and strong, even if that means Marne and the Dauphine still live. I didnt know why. I still dont. I just know it was important and it had to be done. No matter the cost to my pride. Id sit there and drink an ocean of tea and green snot in a bowl, if that meant I could save you and please the Great One at the same time.

I writhed helplessly against her knees, unable to bear the lash of her words.

So for you to doubt me like this

Her voice broke and tears burned my eyes. I clutched her knees, leaning hard against her. Trying to soothe her with my body. I dont doubt you, my queen. Id never

You do, she retorted. You doubt me. Me. Or you would have come to me with this issue long before.

I couldnt bear her disappointment. It was horrible. I would rather she tell Rik to drag me outside by my hair and let his rock troll pound me into the ground than let her down.

I looked up at my alpha, but his face was devoid of even one iota of sympathy. Mouth tight and harsh, he didnt have to yell at me. His silence said it all.

The rest of her Blood were equally silent, their bonds ranging from grim acceptance to outright glee. Fucking Mehen was thinking really hard about popping a bag of popcorn.

I scowled at him and opened my mouth, but Shara cut me off, holding up her index finger. You nearly made inappropriate jokes in front of a Triune queen, when youre supposed to be my gifted diplomat.

I winced, shame darkening my face. That had been especially stupid. Marne was already determined to find any reason at all to punish my queen, and Id nearly put us at a disadvantage. And for what? A joke?

She lifted another finger. You ridiculed a fellow Bloods need, when not one of us have ever ridiculed anyone because of a kink or desire. Another finger. You interfered in a private moment with Nevarre when I didnt invite you to join us. Shall I go on?

Miserable, I hung my head, fully contrite. No, my queen. Im ashamed of my behavior.

Yet you still dont know why you behaved like a spoiled brat, do you?

Her tone indicated it wasnt an actual question, but I shook my head anyway.

In all the months Id served her, Id only felt so awful one other time. When Id considered hurting the cobra queen to save Rik. Id paid dearly for that mistake and I thought Id learned my lesson.

Look at me, Daire.

My warcat rolled and wrestled inside me. Claws shredded my liver and his tail lashed my ribcage. It took me several tries to finally lift my head and meet her gaze.

Braced for anger, or worse, disappointment, the hint of wicked amusement in her eyes made my heart skip a beat.

If you wanted me to punish you, all you had to do was ask.

SHARA

D aires mouth fell open, his beautiful eyes heating like molten chocolate. And yeah, I was tempted to bend down and snag that delectable full lip between my teeth.

I knew he was into pain and punishment. That was one reason he loved to have one of my guys fuck him. They were bigger and meaner and stronger than I could ever be, at least in the physical department.

Id never actually punished him before. Id never deliberately hurt him just because he wanted it. Because