"I'm so glad to meet you both." I took Tersa's small hands in mine. She was all delicate bones, like a little bird. "How are you doing?"
"I am well, milady. Healer Janelle attended to me." Tersa's voice was gentle and quiet, like herself. "I wish to thank you for your help."
"All of us thank you, milady," Rosemary, the Amazon, interjected feelingly. "May the Goddess bless you for coming to my daughter's rescue."
I squeezed and released Tersa's tiny hands. "I'm sorry I couldn't have done more." Sorry I hadn't been able to stop the rape. "I regret not killing the bastard. Was he punished?"
Jamie shook his head angrily, sending his russet curls flying. "His Queen, Mona Teresa, was given a small reprimand. She, of course, did not punish him." He straightened his shoulders, a boy shouldering the responsibilities of a man. "Milady, my mother, sister, and I would like to serve you if you will have us."
My eyes widened in surprise. "You all have good positions here at High Court. I… I don't even know what territory I will be getting."
"It doesn't matter where you go," Jamie said passionately. "We'll follow you anywhere."
"I'm one of the best cooks," Rosemary declared. Not bragging, just stating a fact. "Tersa is a good maid and Jamie will make you a fine footman."
"I have five guards now. I don't know if I can support more than that." I looked to Gryphon for guidance.
"You will have income from various businesses and property that come with your territory," Gryphon said.
I absorbed that quietly, then spoke plainly to Rosemary, stating the real reason for my hesitance. "Your children will only be more of a target if they are with me."
"Being here at High Court did not protect them," Rosemary rejoined, just as bluntly. "We'll take our chances with you. At least you'll try. No one else will do even that."
Three more lives I would be responsible for. Only they were weaker, unable to protect themselves, and far more vulnerable. Could I do it? How could I not? It was because of me that their lives had been thrown into turmoil. Tersa, a Mixed Blood like me, had been raped to draw me out. But if I, a Mixed Blood, didn't protect others of my type, who would?
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Yes!" they answered unanimously.
I prayed to God that I was strong enough for their trust. "Then I gladly welcome you into our family. I promise I will do my best to keep you safe and happy."
They knelt and kissed my hand. I pulled them up and squeezed Jamie and Tersa's hands. "I've always wanted a brother and sister."
I told them, smiling.
Chapter Eighteen
Prince Halcyon was waiting for me in the front parlor when we returned. Chami and Tomas studied the Demon Prince warily while Rosemary and her children nodded to Halcyon respectfully. Amber and Gryphon remained with me while the others went upstairs to settle in.
I seated myself in a tailored leather wing chair across from where Halcyon lounged with casual grace on a plump leather sofa.
"We have finished questioning Mona Louisa and her men," Halcyon announced. "Miles has already been executed."
"By you?" I queried.
A brief hesitation. An acknowledging nod.
"Good," I said coldly.
"Bloodthirsty, aren't you?" Halcyon's tone was one of approval.
"Yes."
"How wonderful. I shall ensure that Miles views some of our more unusual landscapes personally," the High Prince of Hell promised.
"The other men?" I asked.
"They are to be punished. But they will live."
"And Mona Louisa?"
"She will lose her territory for her complicity and will be moved to a smaller, less important territory."
"Complicity?" I arched an arrogant brow. "She masterminded it. She should have been executed along with Miles."
"Ah, but she is a Queen, much more precious to the Council. We never execute our Queens. You are the bloodlines and matriarchs of our world," Halcyon said pragmatically. "More good news is that the Council has amended the law so that it is now forbidden to take the lives of Mixed Blood Queens."
"You and Lord Thorane must have pushed hard to pass that through," Gryphon observed acerbically.
"The Queens were the only ones opposing it," Halcyon said.
"Surprise, surprise," I said, crossing my legs. Halcyon's eyes followed the gesture, making me suddenly conscious of my body. I felt almost an invisible caress against my skin beneath my skirt that caused me to draw in a quick breath. He lifted his eyes back to mine with a small smile.
"They managed, however, to include in the condition that other Queens may take a Mixed Blood Queen's life, like any other Queen, if she threatened them personally. I would watch myself with the other Ladies. They will no doubt try to draw you to challenge them."
"Are they powerful enough to defeat me?" I asked curiously.
"Some Queens have great powers. Others have even greater treachery," Halcyon said gravely. "Do not underestimate them. They are very dangerous."
"I won't. And the law that Mixed Bloods cannot kill any Moonies?"
Halcyon's lips quirked at my quaint term for them. "An exception was made for you. Try not to kill too many of them."
I blinked my eyes lazily. "Only those who deserve it."
Halcyon threw back his head and laughed with rich appreciation.
I loved hearing him laugh so. Smiling, I went to Halcyon, bent down and kissed him lightly on the cheek. He stood, bringing his body so close to mine that we were almost in an embrace. I felt Amber and Gryphon tense behind me and ignored them.
"What was that for?" Halcyon asked softly.
"For your concern and for your help. You're a good friend."
Halcyon turned my right palm faceup and traced my pearly mole with one sharp nail. My hands remained trustingly relaxed in his grip. "Friend," he said with a half smile. "For now." He slanted a glance at Gryphon. "As I said, I can wait."
I shook my head in amused exasperation and stepped back. "You need to find yourself a nice sassy demon lady, Halcyon."
His teeth flashed startling white against the gold of his skin. "I've already found my hell-cat. None are as sassy as you. Nor as pretty."
I laughed, enjoying his flattery. "How very sweet you are."
"Sweet." Halcyon nearly strangled on the word, a pained expression on his face.
"If I can help you at any time, please come to me," I said softly.
Halcyon's smile made Gryphon shift nervously behind me. "Oh, I will. I most definitely will. That is a promise."
Chapter Nineteen
My men's disapproval filled the parlor like a heavy dark cloud after Halcyon left. I sprawled in the comfortable sofa where Halcyon had sat, letting my body relax. Amber sat in the great chair across from me. Gryphon stood propped against the wall, a dark glowering presence.
"Go ahead," I said, after the silence had spun out long enough. "You can yell at me."
"Many things have occurred since I departed, it seems," Gryphon said in a carefully contained voice.
Amber snorted, unamused. "If you are referring to Halcyon, yes, he has made his attraction and intentions toward our Queen quite public." He did not look any more pleased about it than Gryphon.
"He does seem to care for her, in his manner," Amber reluctantly added. "It was he who caught her when she fainted after punishing the man who abused Tersa, and carried her to her room. I must confess, I have never seen the Demon Prince handle a woman so gently before."
Something twisted oddly in my heart. I had not known that.