:I’m perfectly fine, my queen. Just a little dry. I’ll take a long soak in a tub tonight.:
Muscles flexed across Magnum’s cheek. “I vaguely remember moonlit meetings, but I can’t seem to remember any faces or names.”
Lew nodded. “She preferred to have nighttime meetings with the skylights open, letting the moonlight sparkle off the china.”
“Would you like the skylights uncovered, Your Majesty?”
“No, let’s keep them covered for now. I prefer the darkness.”
Magnum lifted her hand to her ear, touching an earpiece so small I hadn’t noticed it. “Queen Gwenhwyfar is arriving. I’ll return with your guests shortly, Your Majesty.”
“Thank you, Magnum.” I reached up and placed my hand over Rik’s on my shoulder. “You can sit down with me, you know. All of you are welcome to take a seat with us.”
“You know I much prefer to hover at your back so I can glower at anyone who upsets you,” Rik said lightly.
“It’s a losing argument with Blood,” Lew added. “We wouldn’t sit with her either.”
“Especially when you’re holding court,” Guillaume said.
“This isn’t court. It’s simply an early dinner among friends.”
“If you’re planning to talk Isador business, then you’re holding court,” Guillaume replied.
“I was actually planning to talk Triune business, which is why I asked you and Sekh to be close.”
Gina raised an eyebrow and Carys even set her book aside as if I’d finally said something interesting.
Sekh heaved out a disappointed sigh. “And here I thought we could expect some trouble from your guests. I was looking forward to some real hand-to-hand combat.”
Of course he had to get another dig into Mehen, even though the dragon was on the roof.
Guillaume flashed a genuine grin of anticipation. He’d traded his usual faded blue jeans for the same all-black look as Lew and Rik, though he’d buckled the Templar sword over his back. Even though we were dining with friends. “Wait until you see who this queen’s Blood are.”
“I don’t know the name Gwenhwyfar but it’s not difficult to put two and two together,” Sekh replied dryly. “I know full well our queen’s sibling at the Tower is the White Enchantress of Camelot. I Saw the red and white dragons battling on Glastonbury Tor when Guinevere was freed at last from the curse her king put upon her royal line.”
“Then you’ve seen her alpha fight,” Guillaume said. “They say Sir Lancelot du Lac can’t be defeated with a sword.”
Which only made my knight’s fingers itch to try his hand at defeating the famous knight of the Round Table.
“I have indeed.” Sekh nodded. “I’ve Seen you fight as well, Sir Guillaume.”
“And?”
The general’s lips quirked. “Let’s just say the two of you are too valuable for our queen to lose either of you.”
I hadn’t really thought of Gwen’s Blood that way. They were hers, not mine. But when I’d needed to dump power as Sekh’s blood raged through me, her knights had eagerly soaked in everything they could hold. They were my reserves as well as hers. I could tap on Sir Lancelot and?—
The hell horse trumpeted a fierce neigh in our bond, though Guillaume didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to.
:I will never send him anywhere when I have the headless knight at my disposal.:
Mollified, the hell horse’s muzzle brushed my cheek.
Magnum tapped on the door, and Gina immediately stood beside me. Though as soon as I laid my hands on the table to also stand, Rik tightened his grip on my shoulders, keeping me in the chair. :You’re the highest queen.:
:But she’s my friend.:
Guillaume added, :It’s your right and our privilege to see you honored by your sibling as appropriate to reflect your power.: