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“Send Guillaume to meet the new Blood,” I told Rik in between munching. “I heard a sword being drawn.”

“Already done, my queen.” Outwardly, Rik didn’t respond but I felt a smug smirk glimmer in his bond. “Warwick waits outside with Sekh and the sphinxes too.”

Because of course he was one step ahead of me. I wanted to leave for New York as soon as the new Blood arrived, and I didn’t want the sphinxes running willy-nilly all over Paris, even if they were feasting on criminals. I would certainly rather handle Warwick now, before the new Blood arrived, and if Warwick did put a dent in my reserves, at least the new Blood might be in a position to help.

I wiped my face and fingers, because a good taco was also greasy. Took a long drink of a crispy soda. And then gave Rik a nod.

The outer door opened for Warwick and Sekh to enter. Ini and Isesi bounded into the room, full of energy and high spirits after enjoying their hunts. Purring and rubbing against my legs, they allowed me to stroke their sleek fur. Isesi even lay on her stomach, playfully batting at my knee with her giant paw. Claws carefully sheathed.

I flicked a quick glance up at Sekh first, checking in with him before daring a more “intimate” touch on the sphinx. I’d seen what she did to his arm earlier. I wasn’t the stone general who stands guard for all time, and I hadn’t donned the protective jewelry today. Eyes narrowed, shining golden like the sun, he gave me a slow nod, his will focused on the sphinx.

Bending lower, I gave her a quick belly rub, enjoying the softer, thicker fur. But I didn’t push my luck and straightened, turning my attention to Warwick.

He looked like he’d walked off a movie set for a medieval fantasy. His dark hair was damp as if he’d just showered, shoulder-length and shaggy, blending with his short beard on the sides. Giving him a vaguely unkempt, rough look not improved by the hollowed darkness in his eyes. Sturdy leather pants and simple boots. A thick belt cinched around his waist held a knife sheath with a loose blue-gray linen tunic beneath. A short leather vest with ties on the shoulders held metal arm plates against both arms, also buckled around his chest. A leather harness hung down his back, empty for now, but I suspected it would carry his sword.

Once Rik was assured he was fully trustworthy in my presence.

Warwick might not wear a full suit of armor, but he came to me fully locked down and shielded, even as he bowed low. “Your Majesty, how may I serve?”

“First, I wanted to thank you for feeding me despite your reservations. I assure you I won’t force you to do anything you aren’t comfortable with.”

He straightened slowly, as if he braced for a trap to be sprung upon him. “But?”

“There’s no but,” I said lightly. “I only take Blood that I love. I don’t yet know you enough to love you, but I trust in my magic to know I will. I certainly refuse to harm or compel anyone I love.”

His head cocked slightly, his eyes narrowing. “You love them all?”

“I do. Nox, Gerard, and Khalid are newer, so I’m still getting to know them, but they belonged to my mother before I was born.” I gestured to the chair across from me, in case he wished to sit. Naturally as an elder Aima, he shook his head slightly though bowed again. “Do you have any questions for me?”

He spent several long moments in silent contemplation. If he were any other Blood, he could have simply used our bond to know my heart, but he was too shut down. Still carrying his knight’s armor. “There were strange birds with the bodies. What are they to you?”

“They were also my mother’s former Blood, killed by the Dauphine before I could find them. The birds you see are their spirit birds, removed from their corpses when I freed them. They wished to remain with me until we cross to Isis’ embrace.”

I took another drink of my soda, giving him a moment to think or speak if he wished. Though he remained silent, simply watching me with those dark, haunted eyes. I wasn’t sure how much of my history to tell him. “My mother was Esetta Isador, though unless you’ve died, you won’t be able to hear or understand her name. She was wiped from all living memory to have me.”

“Why?”

“It was her punishment for killing Desideria.”

His eyes flared with interest before he caught himself. “Your mother had a hand in bringing down the Queen of Constantinople, and now her Executioner rides for you. How?”

“Queens of my line carry a cobra venom that’s strong enough to kill anyone, even the headless knight, though he always returns. Once he revived himself, his blood was poisoned, which killed Desideria. Guillaume was able to remain free until I Called him to my side nearly one hundred years later.”

“Then you killed the Dauphine. Was that the Executioner as well?”

I nodded. “With a catch. She wore the Eleusinian Mysteries, so no sword could harm her, even Guillaume’s. However, my blood was smeared on his sword, and it only took one drop of that same poison smeared on a scratch to her cheek to kill her.”

“So the Queen of Rome must be your next target.”

I arched a brow at him coolly. “Why would you say that?”

He shrugged. “I know the Game of Queens, Your Majesty. A powerful queen is always killing others to rise to the top, especially if a Triune seat is in question.”

“For one thing, I already have a seat at Triskeles. I couldn’t care less about Marne Ceresa’s seat at the Triune. I admit, I’m no stranger to killing other queens, but I only kill ones who intend harm against me or my family.”

I didn’t need his bond wide open to see the doubt etched on his brow. Which yeah was beginning to piss me off. Just a tad. I wasn’t used to having to defend myself. Especially to one of my Blood. “The Dauphine tortured my mother’s Blood and turned them into terrible thrall zombie creatures to hunt me down. She kept my sibling, Leonie, trapped beneath her own house and wounded her terribly, taking her hand and her tongue so she could pretend to be Leonie out in the world. We found numerous other trophies from other queens she’d tortured. She deserved to die, and I brought her to justice. But I didn’t kill her to expand my power base.”

He huffed out a short, humorless chuckle. “Of course not.”