Shadow Queen (15 page)

              “Oh, I won’t miss,” Cord’s determined all-knowing voice purred.  His hair was messy again.  I made the mistake of saying I liked it and now he rarely spiked it. When I called it the "just woke up" look, his eyes glassed over and
he
called it something else.  Apparently, "bedroom hair" came from acts in the bedroom and not just sleep. He didn't quite phrase it that way.

              It was then that I realized I’d memorized Cord’s unique way of initiating a move.  The too smooth tone of his voice of sarcasm turned darker seconds before he would strike.

              Cord’s abilities with any long or short club-like weapon was worth the show it produced and he knew it well.  This particular moment, he held a Japanese Sai with the long pointed end and two extended handles for grip.  His fluidity of grace just didn’t match his gruff act.  He was smooth and forming like a snake charmer with his own basket of hypnotism.  And he was right, he never missed.

Calum called me last night before I settled completely into the Were court.  We talked about Cas’ return the next day and what to expect.  Not one of them would acknowledge that Cas was playing a game except Calum.  For that, I listened to his advice about not staying with Cord.  But he didn’t know my plan.  For now, only I would.

The next day came and went.  I heard nothing from Cas or Calum.  Cord didn’t leave my side, nor his two closest bodyguards.  I already knew them by name, so the day was not so bad.  I managed to ignore the phone…mostly.

Calum wouldn’t return my calls or texts.  Szar and Cord were playing dumb so I decided by nightfall to text Cas.  Thinking carefully how I should ask, I typed out the words I decided upon.

Calum missing.  Will U help?

I didn’t put the word
can
as to not seem too personal.  I didn’t ask if he knew where so he wouldn’t be able to say no.  If he answers me, he will give me a simple yes or no, but it will be a request for finding someone, nothing personal.

He finally answered at about ten o’clock, four hours after I sent my text.

NO

I was on my own.  I hid in my room and cried that night.  I’d hid it from the guys and even my friends.  If it was an act, is was being done well and I hated that he might be that good at it.  My plan to show Drac how easy it was to win anyway wasn't working.  I couldn't concentrate on winning over the factions if Cas wasn't safe.  He was part of this.

The whole of us was falling apart.

The next two days passed in a blur.  My brother called regularly and Cord was an ever present attachment.  I grew accustomed to his overly exerted points of interest.  I giggled once in the morning at his attempt to cheer me with making me breakfast.  He asked what it was for, but I never told him what I was really thinking.  Instead, I asked him a question in lieu of my line of thought.

“Have you ever had a steady girlfriend?”

He stopped scrambling eggs long enough to look at me, “What kind of question is that to ask a guy who is currently kissing your royal ass to cheer you up from your boyfriend breaking up with you.”

Instantly defensive I jumped from the cold, black bar stool I had lounged on for over half an hour in watch.  “That is a lie.”

Cord dropped the oven mitt and darted around the kitchen island.  The entire Were court kitchen was completely obsidian black with little spotlights in every nook and cranny.  It was too dark for most.   “I didn’t mean it that way.  I, uh, shit.  I am sorry, Stace.  No.”

Cord bumped his arm on the side of the island trying to get to me and now held his own elbow.  I know he didn’t mean it, but it hurt to hear.  It wasn’t the idea that Cas “broke up with me” but rather the idea that he was made too.  I just couldn’t believe he stopped having feelings for me.

“No what?” I asked.

“No, I have never had a girlfriend.  Many girls.  None worthy of more.”

I arched a brow.  “Why not?”

He tucked my hair behind my ear and cleared his throat.  After staring a moment longer, he walked back around to his burning eggs.  “Is that really something you want to know right now?”

“Now is as good a time as any.”

The eggs were removed and plated.  The toast popped up.  “Let’s eat first.”

We did.  I asked him to tell me when he was done eating. 

“I was told years ago you were mine without a choice on either of our parts. For a while, I refused.  And then I started to watch you.  As old fashioned and human sounding as it was, I wanted you.  You were a goddess in my eyes, Stace.  Perfection.  I was the envy of every male in the Valkyire court.”

“How did I not know?”

“You were the only one.  I thought you knew.  They told me you were aware of the arranged marriage.”

“Then why didn’t they tell me or let me see you?”

We cleaned up the remnants of breakfast as he told me, “Your father told me when I was sixteen that you were to stay pure.  If I were to know you personally, other things might be compromised.”

The blush on his cheeks was so cute.  For him, that wasn’t hard.

“Why was my virginity such a prize?”  It didn’t sound the same in my head when I thought it.  After it was out there, I realized I sounded lame.

Looking away he said to the kitchen wall of art that was far from what I would have picked off Cord but knew was most likely here before him. “It means everything to a man.”

That made me hot.  “Then why do men spend so much time taking it from others." 

Pale now from the weird conversation he said with a hardness in his tone, “Stace.  We’re creatures of procreation.  It isn’t saintamonious, but it is what it is.”

“What about the fact that each girl you defile has her gift taken away for her future husband?”

You could tell he couldn’t find how the conversation had moved to this.  He stared at the painting of a winter night with a couple walking hand in hand leaving only their footsteps behind.

“As I said.  We are not perfect.  I think guys in general, as I can’t say we sit around discussing this type of thing, don’t think with their brains till a certain age.  It isn’t until then that the sacredness of a woman’s body becomes important.”

Sexist beyond belief, but true honesty.  I couldn’t fault him for it and I sure wouldn’t make him feel bad for sharing it. 

“Alright.  I can accept it.  I am thankful for still having the one thing that keeps me who I am.  All other innocence seems to fly away with the sun.”

He sighed and looked at me for the first time since the uncomfortable conversation started.  “I am too.  And for the record…so is Thorn.”  Cord took both my hands in his.  “Don’t give up on him, Anastacia.  He is having a hard time of it right now too.”

The divulged information was a way to tell me he knew something I don’t.  I deeply wanted to ask, but could tell Cord’s eyes were begging me not too.  Instead, I hugged him.  He pulled away at first, but then settled lower in the sofa we’d sat on to talk.  His private rooms were lush and lavish so comfort was not a concern.  We’d neglected to share any space together until now.  I felt certain for the first time that Cord Ryan was my friend. 

“Stace.  Please let me go before I do something I shouldn’t.  You touching me does not make me think straight.”

Almost my friend.

Another day passed and Calum returned...hardened.  Like an injured soldier focused only on the battle and ignoring any happiness that he could savor due to his animosities, he kept a solid stoic gaze like an unwavering soldier attempting to hide his true feelings. 

                He came to the Were court dressed in all black fatigues and every weapon available.  I asked him for answers and got none.  After several manly exchanges between the two men, I blew.

              “If you don’t tell me right now Calum Green what I want to know, I’m going straight over to Cas and ask him myself?”  My screaming fit got results.

              Four hands gently pulled me down to the same sofa that Cord spilled his guts on the day before.  They held me down long enough for Cord to basically sit on me.  Lodged into a prison of man thighs, I pushed and shoved to free myself to no avail. 

              “You will listen until I am done Stace or sit like this till you do,” Calum decreed.

              Cord squeaked out when I punched up in the only area I could reach with my one free hand.  “Not funny, man.  She has sterilizing powers.  If you want her still, you sit on her.  If you can handle it.”

              Calum’s eyes glossed over for a brief second before returning.  “Not that you star in her dreams either Wolf boy, but I would gladly exchange positions.  I know she trusts me more than you.”

              That hurt Cord enough he looked at me for confirmation.  I felt the conversation silly, but answered to satisfy the male bantering of wills.  “I happen to trust you both equally with my body and my life.  I have it on good word that men find their morals at a ripe age and find it morally wrong to take what isn’t given freely.  As far as my safety, I tend to be stupid in that department since I often rely on the four of you more than I should.  If it is a fault, I take full responsibility.  However, you two are arguing over something that has nothing to do with the answers I need and are therefore avoiding the subject.  So get the HELL OFF ME and tell me what I want before I knock both of you into the prettified wall art and get it anyway.”

              And they knew I could.

Calum drew in an unsteady breath.  Cord lifted off me.  Both moved to opposite seats in the room making the winter painting centered between them.  I thought of Cas and the night we picnicked in the woods.  It wasn’t snowing, but he’d held my hand that night.

“Borgon has the Godslayer back and he is threatening to go after you.  Nara holds no alliance to him, but holds to not harm you yet so giving it to that slime makes it forfeit.  I went to Lee hoping for a sliver of something to help.  He only promised what he always does.”
              “What is that?” I asked eager for anything positive.

“That whatever he does, keeps you safe.”

Me?  Lee always insisted it was all about me. The light bulb of  truth went off in my head.  I knew in my heart the next statement was untrue.  “He is lying.”

“That’s just it.  He’s not, Stace.  If you trace everything the snake has done, you see the trail.  He averts at the right moment with the perfect means to have neither side see whom intercepted.  He is that good at what he’s doing and I have a feeling I knew the reason for all of it.”

His steely gaze still on me, I left the details of the painting to see what Calum’s eyes would affirm.  He felt Lee makes every move for me.  If he was, it was in vain.  If Cas didn’t want me, I didn’t want anyone EVER again.  I was done with men. 

“Thorn can’t shake Quinn no matter what he does.  Quinn went through your entire room and piled your things into a box.  He took over his security detail.  Drac makes regular visits once a day.  And...” Calum broke off and watched his knees.

“Just say it already.”

“Nara is in your room.” 

I went ballistic.  Calum apparently had been ready.  I locked myself in my room and covered myself in weapons.  I didn’t have time to think about clothes, so jeans would have to do.  With them screaming for me to open the door, I started for the bathroom where a floor to ceiling window was in place just for occasions like this.  I snapped the locks and pulled back the glass paned door.  Looking down off the second floor to the ground to measure the distance perception wise, I found the worst.  Below me were the two bodyguards, Angus and Zane.  I hate being easy to read.

I doubled back, slammed the door open to the two breathing dragons I called friends not half an hour ago, and railroaded through them. 

“I’m not going to just sit here and be made a fool.”

“Anastacia Hathown.  Stop right now and listen to me.”

“No, Calum.  Not this time.”

“If you don’t, she will have him.”

I hate statements like that.  When someone knows you so well they can predict your moves and say things to stop you dead in your tracks, it’s time to reevaluate your own powers that be. 

“What does that mean?”

Holding me against the doorframe with his fist screwing up my sleeve he said, “Drac placed her there to keep an eye on him, not seduce him.  She is under strict orders to stay away from him unless you show up.  Thorn wants nothing to do with her and you know it.  If you screw it up, Drac and Nara will pounce.  And Quinn will see it all.  This isn’t just about Thorn anymore.  The ultimate goal is just you, Stace.  Just you.”

Cord placed a calming hand on my shoulder, “Which is why we do this right.  You said you have a plan and so do we.  You’ve had your few days to mope
and
Thorn has had his few days to regroup.  Now it is time to kick some villain butt.”

My plan revealed, it resembled theirs remarkably.  After all of us had every detail on the table, literally, we formed the following plan A. 

Calum and Szar would text Cas with a coming to hang buddies day.  Cord would stay with me.  Once the night was going and alcohol was included, Cord and I would investigate the place Borgon is said to be holed up in.  If the Godslayer was for me, I wanted it back. 

I did worry a little about where Nara would be in all of this, but Szar showed up halfway through the organization on the plan to tell me Cas’ whereabouts for the night.  When he mentioned Nara had a scheduled event with Drac and the other Vamps who were the meat eaters of the Vampire world, I rested my shoulders.  She wouldn’t be there.

Szar read me like a book.  He felt the need to reassure me with a lecture on how faithful Thorn was to me in all the years before I even knew him, so why would I doubt him now.  I reminded him that it wasn’t him I worried about.  It was her.

Once we knew where the Godslayer was, we could plot against Drac.  It seems he is playing Borgon and Borgon is playing him.  It also seems Drac simply just wants ownership of the sword itself.  Who knows why?  Power.  Greed.  Control.  All of it combined.

I knew one thing.  I wanted Cas back.  With it, I wanted the Godslayer hidden below the depths of the Earth or destroyed one, and Borgon and Drac with it.  I learned from my mother in a newer dream that she couldn't touch it physically. It was lethal for a god to touch pure silver.  Who knew?  They were orchestrating its whereabouts for that stupid fact. They could have the dang sword.  I wanted my life back.