Sucking Bites (San Francisco Vampires Series #3) (24 page)

“Ahhh, well of course they did, love.” He points to the Queen’s henchmen. “As you can see, she is healing well. I put a gag on her because she was ruining Liam’s appetite.”

“I just got off the phone with the Queen,” Helena says as she strides into the kitchen. “Lily, she wants to meet you. She is disgusted with Celine and is debating what to do with her.”

Celine looks abashed, but I’m not sure I trust how she really feels.

“Zoe wants to hear about your transformation and how you kicked Celine’s ass, even though she is twice your age.” Helena laughs. “And one of her highly regarded warriors.” I don’t comment in front of Celine about my were-heightened strength and reflexes.

“We are to deposit Celine at the same time. The Queen said to leave her tied up until then. Aidan, she asked if you would take care of all the transportation so that we could go tonight.”

“Of course. I would love to get rid of this vermin,” he says as he “accidently” spins Celine’s chair until she is green.

“I would like to go too, if that is all right. I want to be there to keep an eye on the Queen and remind her that Lily is betrothed and not available to be kept at court,” Sebastian says.

“Do you think that is what she wants?” I ask. I am so not eager to meet this chick. I still remember how close I came to meeting the true death thanks to her.

“I think the Queen likes to collect the unusual and you are unique, my dear,” Julian says. “Don’t be surprised if she asks you to stay.”

“The last thing I want to do is be a member of court.”

I change into a Barbara Tfank Portrait Collar blue silk dress and some Christian Louboutin heels. Turning slowly in front of my closet mirror, I decide I look appropriate for court. I have to redo my makeup and hair. It doesn’t take long though. Sebastian joins me wearing a Canali suit. He looks devastating. I know he stays away from his Armani because Aidan always wears Armani. No matter, the view is always very fine, in clothes or out.

We meet the rest of our group in the foyer. Hannah is pouting because she is staying behind with Julian and Diel. She wants to go, but even she can’t find any plausible reason to give for her uninvited presence at court. And there is the small detail of a vampire mating with a demon without the Queen’s knowledge or permission. Helena, Sebastian, Aidan, Celine and I will be the only ones going. We will all form a circle around Celine to transmanifest. We offer our goodbyes. Julian, Hannah, Andrew and Liam wave us off to shouts of hurry back and be careful.

We pop into the courtyard of the Queen’s mansion, scaring her guards. They know we are coming but are startled by our group appearing out of thin air. Aidan laughs richly. He loves to surprise people. He devises a little dolly to transport Celine on and we are asked to sit in the parlor while we are announced.

A young human girl approaches us. I can’t see any bite marks on her. From what Helena says, all the humans here are also dinner from time to time. She is followed by a curvaceous brunette. She is beautiful in an exotic way. She sashays her way straight to Sebastian, and places her hand on his arm, moving it up his back, maintaining eye contact with him, but she talks to us.

“I’m Gabrielle. Her Majesty will see you now,” she says. “Please follow me.”

We follow gyrating hips through lavishly decorated hallways into a large garden. The Queen will meet us outside. The yard is lush with Louisiana vegetation. Flowers perfume the heavy air and trees weep with moss. Candles float in the dark, suspended by invisible wires, lighting up the night. The Queen lazes in a big chair on a small dais. Gabrielle or Gag-me-elle, as I think of her, gives Sebastian one last flirty look over her shoulder before leaving us with the Queen. Sebastian gives her an appraising look. The one he stopped using when he started dating me. That gets my attention. But he takes my elbow offering his support.

The Queen is smaller than I thought she would be. A blonde, petite woman who emanates power and fear. Her heavy-lidded eyes hide a calculating beauty. We form a semi-circle in front of her, bowing before her. Aidan unceremoniously dumps Celine to the ground and makes the dolly disappear. He removes her gag.

“Your, Majesty,” Aidan says with a bow.

“Thank you, Aidan,” she gives him a big smile.

I think our Queen has a bit of a crush on our jinni.

“Your majesty, that abomination must be destroyed, she…” Celine shouts.

“Silence!” the Queen roars, her face turning red.

Celine has the intelligence to squirm. I would too, under the look the Queen gives her.

“You have terrorized these people after I gave you explicit orders. You disobeyed me. You attacked another vampire without provocation. You should be thankful she did not kill you. She had the right to do so.”

“Your majesty, she shouldn’t be allowed to live. And this Helena? She may be lying to us. I managed to track Lily while she was feeding and she was in her phase. I couldn’t get close enough to know if she was truly safe. This crowd kept her surrounded the entire time.”

“Helena has nothing to gain by lying, Celine. She is twice my age, wise and very powerful. She gives council to me. You would best remember that. Besides, all of those here were with Lily when she went through the moon phase and they are well, unmarked and still loyal,” she says as she flings a frustrated hand at our party. “I believe Helena and Julian explicitly.”

“But, your Majesty…”

“You have worn my last nerve, Celine. You will be reassigned. To begin with, you are to follow behind my dogs and clean up after them until I decide your punishment. Perhaps that will keep you out of trouble. If you say another word, you will be thrown immediately in jail for a year with only goats to keep you company. This is because of your insolence and the embarrassment you have brought the court.”

Celine nods. Her face sour. Finally, she has enough sense to know when to shut up and listen. She steals a look at me and glares. Sebastian sees her. So does the Queen but she pretends not to. Aidan sees and catches my eye. Our little Queenie is up to no good.

Zoe signals for Sebastian to approach her, a flare of pure lust in her eyes.

“Sebastian, it’s good to see you.” She runs her hands up and down his arm. “It has been ages since you were at court. Helena told me you bought a night club?”

“Yes, your Majesty. It amuses me.”

“It seems Miss Goodwill amuses you as well.” Her smile becomes thinner, forced. “You are to be married?”

“Yes, your Majesty. Lily is the reason for my being.”

“Ah, young love. So much fun to observe.” She dismisses him and turns to Helena. “Tell me, Helena, how is Julian?”

“He is exceptionally well. He sends his best, your Majesty.” The Queen barely acknowledges Helena’s response. Tapping her fingers, boredom writ large upon her face.

“And the best for last, Aidan, my little honeysuckle. How are you?”

“Very well, your Majesty. May I be so bold as to ask how you are?”

Now we get a very small giggle out of Zoe. I was right. She does like Aidan and he is working her.

“Oh, you know. Life at court is tedious and challenging at the same time,” she says pointedly, as she looks down at Celine. Celine cringes. “Now that the niceties are done, let us get down to the brass tacks, as they say. Miss Goodwill, tell me about your experience.” She is straight to business. I notice she doesn’t ask us to be seated.

“Yes, your Majesty. It started the night before the three day phase of the full moon. As Celine pointed out, I had a ravenous hunger. I had to feed off four different humans. I would have drained someone if I hadn’t had help with me.” I caught her eyes narrowing. Aidan coughed in warning. “I will have support when feeding in the future, during that time of the month.” I add thoughtfully. Julian thinks my hunger is intensified because of my body’s need to make the change.”

“There is no harm in needing to eat a little more often. I assume Sebastian can be with you during this time?”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

“What happened when you changed?”

“My pupils got larger and turned silver. I have thermal vision, I could see heat in color depending on the temperature. Very handy. I got incredibly strong. My joints were elastic and I could jump great distances without effort. In fact I held Helena and jumped with her across the room. I had an increased sexual appetite,” I couldn’t help glancing at Sebastian. The Queen’s hands tightened on the armrests of her throne. Her eyes widen then narrow. “I was more aggressive. But if my eyes hadn’t been so unusual looking, I could have gone out in public and gone about my normal activities.”

“Very interesting. Julian says you are not contagious.” the Queen states. She is noncommittal, not necessarily buying it.

“That’s right, your Majesty.”

“And your werewolf friend? How did he do?” The queen’s eyes are hooded once again. She plays with her necklace. I’m afraid I’m doomed if I tell her the truth but will really be screwed if I try to make something up.

“Not as well, your Majesty. But he was willing to be kept in lockdown during the moon phase. He is anxious to be turned. He will be resting for a few days and then Helena or Julian will turn him.”

“Then we will have two were-vampires.”

The Queen sounds like she is considering possible ramifications. I had taken down one of her best warriors. I was surrounded by powerful vampires and a Djinn, it must be a concern that our little community would be adding another vamp with enhanced powers. She is quiet for a moment. She studies me the whole time. Her demeanor changes. A smile curves her thin mouth. A smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.

“Miss Goodwill, would you consider joining my retinue? Come live at court. Of course Sebastian would be welcome as well.” She drops her eyelids in a slow blink. “I wouldn’t want to keep two lovers apart.” Her voice is sugar sweet as she looks at Sebastian.

“You are very gracious your Majesty…”

“But…” She draws the word out, the smile gone.

“But, I have a job, friends who are like family and Sebastian has his club to run.”

“I’m not sure I am giving you a choice, Miss Goodwill. You will all stay the night and I will decide tomorrow.”

She claps her hands and Gabrielle returns.

“Find accommodations for my guests.” The two women exchange looks and then the Queen subtly nods her head. “Make sure they get something to eat and drink. Attend to whatever needs they have. Offer Sebastian some of that French model that just came in yesterday. I know he would appreciate her. We must show them what life here at court is like. Go friends, amuse yourselves in the city. See what a wonderful place New Orleans is.” We are being dismissed. “I will see you in the morning, or in Miss Goodwill’s case, in the afternoon.”

The audience is over. We follow Gabrielle and her hips through the old house and up the stairs to rooms set aside for guests. Sebastian and I are shown to a luxury room with French décor and en suite bath and Helena and Aidan are each assigned their own rooms. We all decline dinner as Helena, Sebastian and I have eaten very recently and Aidan doesn’t eat anything they can offer. But when the model is sent up for Sebastian, he is required to sample it. I can’t help but notice her dreamy look and apparent familiarity with the process. He stops as soon as he politely can and sends her on her way.

We choose to walk in the city so that we can talk. After we leave the big house, we meander a while. We decide, watching closely for trackers, Aidan investigating as a crow black as the shadows that we are finally alone. We all know we are observed in the Queen’s compound.

“We need Julian here. He will help plead our cause as well,” Helena says. “Aidan, could you fetch him?”

“I’ll be right back,” he says.

Aidan pops out and we huddle closer. We know it will be a few minutes while Aidan explains things on the other end. I’m close to panicking. The Queen wants a lapdog and I’m the wrong breed. Sebastian slips his arm around me.

“Lily, Cherie, don’t worry. Now that I have you and we have gotten past the werewolf bite and you are finally willing to become all mine, I
will not
lose you to the Queen.”

“What can we do if she orders it?” My voice is ragged with exhausted worry. Only a short hour ago I was fighting Celine, now I’m fighting for my freedom instead of my life.

“We will make sure she doesn’t order it, that’s what we’ll do,” Helena says with finality.

I feel a warm whoosh.

“Aidan.”

Aidan and Julian land next to us.

“Aidan assured me he could get me something appropriate to wear so I didn’t take time to change. I’m so sorry, Lily. Perhaps she figures while we can have Liam she will have you.”

“I hadn’t even thought that through yet, Julian,” Sebastian says. “She has always been a conniving bitch.”

“And stubborn. It will be hard to make her change her mind,” Julian says. “She weaves her plans either for battle or play. It does not matter which, she is lethal at both.”

“Maybe there is something I can offer her?” Aidan says. “This is, in its way, slavery. I can’t stand to think of Lilith being beholden to anyone. I will offer her anything she wants. I could give her great things.”