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CHAPTER TWELVE - CARLOTTA
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Queen CHAPTER THIRTEEN - RASMUS
This ‘meeting’ was nonsense. Leda had barely stepped back in the country, let alone the castle and Carlotta was down her throat wondering why a cure hadn’t been found. I knew she wouldn’t be letting her live her life alongside this task. I tuned my cousin’s nasally voice out, puzzling over how I could get Leda out of their clutches. I’m sure her good will won’t last if this is how she’s treated. Torstein had said she and Brandt were close. I must have put it to the back of my mind because I hadn’t realised quite what he meant. I’d always considered myself a patient man but the way Leda smiles at him has me itching to lean across and rip his throat out, the pompous twat. I took a deep breath, steeling myself and looking away. I don’t know what’s gotten into me but seeing them together...I’m having a hard time keeping my human face on. I tuned back into this meeting, such as it was. It seemed more like General Magnus wanted a break from being the sole recipient of the Que
Queen CHAPTER FOURTEEN - LEDA
“Weeks!” Carlotta shouted across the table at me. She was right, I had been here for nearly 6 weeks and so far, I didn’t seem to be any closer to finding out how to stop this plague. I thought it was a little unfair to expect me to just know, but Carlotta evidently thought otherwise. I managed to resist rolling my eyes. I was back in the war room, as I found out the place, I’d first met the Vampire Queen, was called. I was here with Seb, Magnus, the Queen and Rasmus too. It was strange, but with Rasmus here, I found Seb less appealing. I shook my head, I’d consider that later, right now I had to focus on avoiding being stung by the Queen, who seemed to be feeling particularly waspish today. “I’m sorry Your Highness” I answered “I feel as though I’ve only just been made aware, and I am trying to find something which matches all the symptoms in each case” I explained “And I feel-” Carlotta sneered “That you have forgotten what you were told when you first arrived. You. Are. Not
Queen CHAPTER FIFTEEN - LEDA
“Are you sure no one noticed you?” Mathias whispering distracted me from the latest book I’d picked up. None of this made any real sense to me and I was beginning to wonder why anyone had ever thought I’d be able to help with this. I turned in my seat to see Mathias talking in hushed tones with a honey-blonde woman. He’d mentioned a family before, maybe this was his wife? That meant it wasn’t my business, so I turned back to the book, hoping something would jump out at me. “Miss Leda?” Mathias broke through again. “Leda, please Mathias.” “Leda, I’m Annalise.” The honey-blonde woman beamed at me. Hair tied back in a long braid, and pulled over her left shoulder. She had on a dark grey gown. It was a very pretty satin-like material but the colour reminded me of the guards’ uniforms. “Oh.” I looked questioningly at Mathias. “Hello, nice to meet you” I stood to meet her extended hand and shook it. How very formal; she had a firm handshake and I got the impression she was
Queen CHAPTER SIXTEEN – CARLOTTA
That lazy fucking bitch. I swirled my index finger round the rim of my glass. I wasn’t sure if it had blood or wine in it anymore. Whatever it was, it wasn’t enough. And Sebastien had killed my favourite toy. Bastard. It’s been almost three months now. Adelaide doesn’t seem to have found a single thing. Every update I get, I’m told what it isn’t. I can’t placate my people on negatives! She is so fucking inconsiderate. So much for a ‘Chosen One’. Maybe this is all a ruse? Perhaps it was put in place by Bragi? Some infinite double bluff to make me doubt myself? She’s the first person to go into that library in decades and she can’t find whatever it is that’s killing my people?! I looked up as a warrior entered the throne room. He stopped mid-way across the room, a few feet from the edge of the dais where I sat. Then he knelt on his left knee, right fist across his chest. “My Queen” he stated, looking down. “Speak” I answered him He removed his helmet, and I would recognise th
Queen CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – LEDA
“Hello?” I stopped in the entryway to the library. Mathias just about fit in behind me, but he didn’t seem bothered by the huge boulder of a man perched on the chair by my desk. Boulder-man looked up at me and grinned. Well, I assume he grinned; most of his face was covered in a huge flame-coloured beard. But his cheeks went up, along with his moustache; his beard inching up his barrelled chest. His eyes seemed to twinkle as they took me in. He stood to greet me, bowing his head and I saw his hair, tied back in a French braid, was just as long and orange as his beard. “Hello” His baritone voice blasted across the room, despite his evident attempt to whisper. “It is an honour to finally meet you, Miss Leda.” “This.” Announced Mathias, striding across the room to meet the stranger, “is Lars Grimmor” he finished, just an eye-blink before two hearty slaps on the back rung out across the still room as the two men greeted each other. I smiled, Lise spoke highly of this Lars, and Ma
Queen CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – LEDA
“The library is far more impressive.” Rasmus’ voice cracked through the heavy silence. I couldn’t help it – the sob ripped from my throat; Lars opened his arms and I flung myself into them. There was a pregnant pause, then, a perplexed Rasmus spoke once more “I’ll...give you two a moment.” My face was buried in Lars’ barrel chest; his beard tickling my face, but I didn’t care. I’d immediately felt at ease in his presence. Now that made sense. I couldn’t see Rasmus; he’d sounded confused, but still, no footsteps indicated that he had left. “She is... Leda is... my niece” Lars managed to choke out as he stroked my hair with his spade-like hands. There was a sharp intake of breath. Then, silence. After a few minutes, I managed to retrieve my face from its hirsute harbour. Pulling myself away, I gave Lars a watery smile. He wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Neither of us are alone.” he whispered, poking my cheek gently upwards in an attempt to make me smile. I glanced ove
Queen CHAPTER NINETEEN – RASMUS
Pie. She said she loves pie. None of this shy, retiring, daintiness. No watching what you eat or being afraid of what others think of you. I suppose that was the curse of women from my youth. Things are different now. But pie. Such a simple food. A woman after my own heart. I smiled to myself. I’d asked Lise to bring her back here. Ostensibly there were some new documents in the library but having flicked through them I doubted they’d be of any use. I was determined to ensure Lars had ample opportunity to get to know Leda and build a familial relationship with her. And that was my only motivation, so I would keep telling myself. I wasn’t interested in Leda. Her being with Brandt was unnatural. I definitely wasn’t looking to take his place, that wouldn’t make any sense. That wouldn’t change, no matter how many times Lars or Lise teased me. “Boss.” Torstein was at the door; it was open, and I waved him in. He entered and sat down opposite me. I shuffled the various maps and pape
Queen CHAPTER TWENTY – LEDA
“What?!” “Yeah, so, his mother and my mother look almost identical. I thought they were taking the piss” I’d paused to look at Seb, who looked...angry? I wasn’t sure. “Are you ok?” I asked. He shook his head, as if to clear it “Yes. I – uh. Sorry, this is just a bit...well, a bit of a shock. I suppose I don’t need to tell you.” I nodded and Seb cupped my cheek, rubbing my scar softly with his thumb. Unlike when Rasmus did it, I wished he wouldn’t - every time Seb did, I remembered it was there. I’d had to tell my colleagues at the conference that I’d had an unfortunate run in with a rabid dog. I’m no good at lying, but I’d rationalised that one as not being too far from the truth. He’d smiled down at me and pecked me on the lips. He could be quite sweet. “Will you go to the library? I have some things I want to check out and then I will meet you there. I’m convinced you’re onto something, but I want to make sure before we make accusations of this magnitude.” I nodded, l
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