Page 57 of Wicked Queen

“Miss me already?”

“Get your ass over here.”

“Is that an official order or a friendly request?”

I heard David in the background and did my best to ignore the twinge of guilt. His husband had been schmoozing aristocrats all day and now I was taking him away again. “And bring David. Another voice of reason can’t hurt.”

“Do I want to know what’s going on?”

“It’s time to deal with your sister.”

Music poured from the ballroom, which was one of the better places to throw a party, I supposed. I’d filled Edward in on the details, but I didn’t wait around for him to arrive.

Brex caught me at the door, blocking me from entry. “I wouldn’t go in there.”

“Full-blown orgy,” I muttered under my breath.

“What?” His eyebrows shot up.

“Nothing,” I said. “Is my husband in there?”

“Yes.”

Then I was going in. I pushed past Brex, who didn’t try to stop me in the end. As soon as I was in the room, I realized why he’d tried to keep me out. It wasn’t an orgy, but it was damn close. I didn’t recognize a single person in the room. It looked like Sarah had gone to the nearest club and issued a blanket invitation to anyone who would follow her home.

Suddenly, I was thankful Georgia had done the security sweep.

I scanned the room, searching for my husband, but if he was in here, he’d blended into the crowd. Brex appeared at my side. There was no way we could hear each other over the noise, but the implication was clear: he wasn’t going to allow me to walk around here alone.

I wanted to ask him if Georgia had found him, but it didn’t seem like the place. Then, when he turned his head, I spotted the start of a bruise on his cheekbone. I couldn’t help but wonder if that was courtesy of her or my husband.

All around us, people in various states of undress were grinding against each other. I’d long been of the opinion that the monarchy needed to lighten up, but this was pushing things a bit far.

The first familiar face I found was the last one I wanted to see. Pepper hadn’t heeded Alexander’s decree for her to stay out of our house and she was surrounding by a group of old friends. It seemed the Royal Brat Pack had nothing better to do on a weekend than crash Buckingham.

Pepper’s full lips curled into a sneer when she spotted me and she leaned down to whisper in a redhead’s ear. For the life of me I couldn’t remember if it was Amelia or Priscilla, and I couldn’t care less. But as much as I loathed these leeches, they were part of Sarah’s inner circle before the accident. Most had pretended at friendships with Edward after, but only to get invited to the country and events. They were now on my personal black list, but they were here and they probably knew where Sarah was hiding—unless Alexander had dragged her out already. Steering Brex toward them, I reminded myself that I was the Queen.

“Your Majesty.” Priscilla dipped into a mocking curtsy.

The trouble was they were the ones who needed to remember I was the Queen.

“Where’s Sarah?” I demanded.

“Around.” Pepper laughed, obviously infected by whatever sudden-onset adolescence Sarah had brought back with her to London.

I was done.

Done with sniveling, condescending bitches. Done with people treating me like Alexander’s mistress instead of his wife. Done with strangers in my home.

Done.

And I was queen, which pretty much settled the matter.

Stalking up to Pepper, I grabbed her shoulder, leaning into her face. “Where is Sarah?”

She moved to shove me away, and Brex was next to me instantly.

“Don’t touch.” It was a succinct threat made all the more menacing by how he towered over her.