BlackWolf Preserved

by Sydney Addae

  Lucian leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes. “Raven? Are you alright?”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Dressed in a cream colored, form-fitting designer gown with her hair pulled back in a flawless chignon, Queen Miriam of Lyrill entered the formal dining room to kick-off the celebration of her 15th anniversary as Monarch. Lights glittered around the room with an almost blinding quality as she strode toward her seat at the head of the table.

  “You look radiant in that dress. I told you it was the right one for tonight,” Zoe said after they sat.

  Miriam glanced at the beautiful young woman seated on her left with a smile. “Yes, you did. It’s tighter than I’d prefer but... it’ll do.”

  Zoe’s Mediterranean olive skin glowed as she returned the smile. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.” She winked at the Queen and snapped the linen napkin over her lap. Dressed in a form fitting, sleeveless black dress that hugged every curve on her tall, athletic form, Zoe ignored the attention from others at the table. After 14 years and the only wolf in attendance or in Lyrill, these people should be accustomed to her by now.

  “My number one fan,” Miriam said and nodded for the servants to begin.

  Zoe gave her another smile. Honey-gold colored eyes glowed from beneath long dark lashes as she leaned forward. “Gerry is here.”

  Miriam was aware who was in the room and more importantly who was not. She refused to rise to the bait and didn’t respond. She took a bite of the first dish. It tasted like sawdust. Her stomach clenched and released as she took another sip of water. The headaches were growing worse. Forcing a smile, she didn’t feel, she dug deep for courage and fortitude. She would celebrate tonight if it killed her. It just might. But not yet.

  Another wave of nausea rolled through her. The medication should’ve kicked in by now. Zoe looked at her with a slight frown. Her thick, inky black hair had been pulled back into a barely tamed ball on the nape of her neck.

  “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?” Zoe whispered looking at the appetizer.

  “It’s good.” She forced the next few bites into her mouth to allay the young woman’s suspicions. The last thing she wanted was Zoe suspecting she wasn’t at her best. Miriam pointed with her fork. “I like your hair like that. It shows off your facial features better.”

  “My big eyes you mean,” Zoe said beneath her breath. When Miriam found Zoe in the forest all those years ago, she had been at the point of death. Miriam had taken one look at the malnourished, fractured teen and brought her home. Zoe brought out Miriam’s maternal instincts, and she raised her as her own.

  “Yes, of course, that’s what I mean,” Miriam teased.

  Zoe’s eyes widened and then she laughed. “I walked into that one.”

  “You did. I told you to stop complaining. You’re perfect the way God made you.” Miriam’s gaze slowly drifted down and across the long table at her cousin, Helen who talked to several guests.

  “You look gorgeous,” Lord Gerry Byers, her current lover walked close and whispered in her ear.

  Miriam glanced at him with a practiced smile as she peered into bright green eyes that reminded her of a newly plucked Irish shamrock. Tall, muscular with shoulder length mahogany wavy hair and a handsome angular face. He really was quite handsome.

  “Thank you,” she whispered aware they were being watched as he sat in the chair next to her across from Zoe.

  “Everything okay?” he asked, his glance drifting from Zoe back to her. “You two look like you’re having fun.”

  Miriam’s gaze flit over Zoe who took a sip of wine. “Yes, we are. Nice turnout, more people came this year than last. Things are more settled.” The medicine kicked in and the pain receded. Good. She needed her wits about her to make sure everything went as planned.

  “It’s your 15th anniversary as our monarch and it’s only fitting to celebrate this honor with you.” He took a sip of wine while watching her.

  “Be right back,” Zoe said with a wide smile as she left the table. This year Zoe oversaw the anniversary celebration for the first time and so far everything had been flawlessly wonderful. Several pairs of eyes watched as she spoke to the head servant, no doubt giving more instructions for the evening. The girl was a natural when it came to organization and dealing with people.

  “You don’t look happy,” he said close to her ear.

  Although Gerry had been her lover for the past year, they had known each other since they were children. His father had been an adviser to her father when he was Prime Minister. Through the years, Gerry dated numerous women and had a reputation of being a lady’s man. They loved and understood each other. Neither planned to ever marry. He owned a thriving marketing firm and enjoyed coming and going from Lyrill. She enjoyed his multi-faceted sexual abilities and conversations. They were lovers and friends.

  “Happy? Hmm, I don’t need to be happy. Content is decent,” she said and took another bite of lobster.

  Life had been good with a few exceptions. Her father’s death had been difficult to overcome, but she persevered and took the reins of leadership. There were a few malcontents who didn’t think a female could successfully lead the country. She had proven them wrong.

  On the eve of her father’s death, due to the lack of Kirlethanium crystals, Lyrill had been poised on the brink of extinction. Their citizens were sick and dying. Flowers no longer bloomed. The air smelled of decay and desperation. Those who left to relocate died within weeks of their departure. Since the White Wolf Pack refused to sell Kirlethanium to them, she had begged her father to send their scientists to other locations to search for more of the life-saving crystals. Afraid the world would know their secrets, her father preferred to take his knowledge to the grave and refused.

  Miriam hadn’t been ready to die.

  With the curse that killed the king or queen on their 18th birthday broken she had sent a trusted few to several locations in search of a new source of crystals. Within weeks, they found a large supply in Northwestern Russia. Elated, she negotiated a profitable deal with an oligarch. For years, Lyrill was locked down tight to foreigners as they rebuilt their economy, schools, and infrastructure. There were no more dilapidated areas with homes in states of disrepair. It was important to her that every section of Lyrill flourished better than before.

  But finding and caring for Zoe had breathed life into Miriam’s battered soul. The physical, mental, and emotional damage to Zoe had been severe. She had no memories of where she came from or her name or age, nothing. Miriam named her Zoe because for months the young woman fought to live. Miriam believed the day she saved Zoe’s life; she actually saved her own. Zoe loved and accepted Miriam without apology or reservation, something she never had before yet desperately needed.

  She searched the room for her daughter, the tightness in her chest eased as she saw Zoe talking to Marcus. The well-bred young man had been loitering around Zoe’s office for the past few weeks seeking her attention. Miriam wondered if Zoe was interested and let the thought slide. Her daughter’s standards were high. The man who finally won Zoe would be someone she respected and admired. Marcus wasn’t there yet.

  “Long live Queen Miriam, who’s just as gorgeous today as the day she took the throne,” Lady Matilda said with her raised fluted crystal.

  The others joined the toast.

  “Thank you, my friends. It’s an honor to serve Lyrill and aid in her recovery. No longer dependent on our neighbors for anything, our borders are once again closed to outsiders and visitors so that we may enjoy our prosperity in peace.” She took a sip.

  Her guests cheered and drank.

  Miriam eyed Helen who took a polite sip after offering a small smile. Zoe returned to the table and took up her glass to join the toast.

  “It’s more beautiful here now, than before. You’ve done a marvelous job. Thank you for saving us, our children and our way of life, my Queen,” Lord Garry Byers said.

  Miriam nodded her appreciation as she accepted prai
se from everyone at the table regarding her leadership skills. When the last person spoke, Miriam was ready to end the banquet but realized she couldn’t, not yet. The musicians struck a few notes as the servants opened the dining room doors which led into the ballroom. More guests would arrive soon and the party would continue for hours.

  She glanced at the clock and fought back an exasperated sigh as she smiled at Zoe before rising to lead the way for dancing. Gerry walked alongside as he escorted her onto the floor and held her close.

  “How are you feeling?” he whispered near her ear.

  “The same as during dinner. Don’t be tedious and ask me the same question every time we talk,” she snapped.

  One of the reasons they got along so well was he never took offense. “I’m concerned, that’s all.”

  “You don’t need to be. Everything will be fine. Just do your part.” She leaned back and looked into his darkening green eyes, similar to another pair of haunting eyes from long ago. She shut down the memory. “Do your part.”

  Their gazes locked. “Yes, Miriam. I’ve never been able to resist you when you look at me like that. I don’t agree—”

  Aware Zoe could hear any conversation from any spot in the room, she shut him down from saying more. “Spare me the moral dribble. I’ve heard it before.”

  His lips lifted at the corner. “Yes, my Queen.”

  Pleased by his wit, she chuckled. “You only say that when you want to change the subject. Fine. The flower exports have tripled in revenue while cutting fewer blooms. Well done. Excellent marketing strategy to make them exclusive and difficult to purchase.”

  He nodded and twirled her around fast, making her head spin. She laughed to cover the momentary discomfort. The other dancers looked at them with either genuine smiles or envious gazes. Miriam didn’t care. From the time she could walk, her father groomed her on the intrigues of court and how to maintain control. She had a great relationship with the servants who always kept her apprised of most things going on. Zoe had picked up that same skill from her, making Miriam proud.

  “Supply and demand, my Queen. Works every time,” Gerry said.

  “Have you other ideas... commerce ideas for me to consider?” she asked when his gaze narrowed on her breasts.

  “I’m working on something I’ll present to you when you’re not as distracted with your current project. I promise you’ll be pleased,” he said with a wide grin.

  Miriam didn’t like secrets or surprises and almost demanded he share the information with her now. But he was right. Her current project was the culmination of years of research and planning. She was close to reaching her goal. “Alright. But the delay had better make me swoon with excitement.”

  “Swoon?” His eyes crinkled at the corners as he bit back a laugh. “When was the last time I heard that?”

  “Two nights ago,” she whispered, remembering their time in bed together. Indeed, the wicked man made her pass out from overwhelming passion.

  Gerry’s gaze softened as his laughter sobered. “You’re absolutely right, it’s exactly what I experienced.”

  Her heart seized at the sincerity in his gaze and she cupped his cheek. “Thank you for being you,” she said near his ear and stepped back. The musicians would continue playing the same song until she stopped dancing, and the lyrics annoyed her. “Come, let’s sit while the others dance.”

  He took her elbow and escorted her from the floor. Miriam appreciated the admiring glances they received and nodded to a few who caught her gaze.

  “Long live, Queen Miriam.” Zoe led the crowd in the cheer, repeating the refrain until Miriam stood in front of her chair.

  Smiling, she looked at the bright faces in the room, flushed with drink and good spirits. She raised her glass in acceptance of the tribute and nodded as the band played another song. Her gaze landed on the willowy figure of her cousin as she talked with one of the guests. Unlike most of the women who wore their hair pinned in elegant styles, Helen wore her waist length, wavy, reddish-brown hair loose. It acted as a curtain, hiding the low vee of the back of her rust colored gown. She smiled up at someone and moved toward the dance floor. Her sherry colored eyes gleamed with an inner light as the dimple in her left cheek winked merrily at her partner. Helen danced with one of the guests.

  Miriam tried to place a name with the face and couldn’t. “My cousin is glowing,” she said in a low voice to Gerry.

  He looked toward the dance floor. “Indeed, she is.”

  “Why do you think that is?” she asked him.

  “Perhaps she is happy.”

  Miriam thought about it for a few moments as her gaze landed on Zoe standing across the room with Marcus again. “Perhaps but not likely.”

  He took her hand and squeezed it. “This is your night, 15 years ago you took a dying kingdom and turned it into one of the most profitable, sought after, places in the world. You gave us paradise and breathed life into us once again. Our borders are secure, stronger than ever and our needs are met. That’s why we’re happy and celebrating another year with you as our monarch.” He smiled at her. “Won’t you celebrate with us?”

  Miriam stared at him for several moments, weighing his words against other things she needed to do. “You’re right. This day will never be repeated and I’ve worked hard.” Leaning forward she kissed his cheek. “Thank you for being a good friend.”

  “You’re the best thing to happen to Lyrill and me for a long time and should be celebrated.” He plucked two glasses of champagne from a tray, handed her one and offered a silent toast.

  She fought the urge to glance at the wall clock and bit back her annoyance. Time crawled when you wanted it to fly and flew when you wanted it to crawl.

  Taking a sip, she reconciled herself to a few more hours of this noise. Her gaze flicked to Zoe and Helen. Soon she would make things right. Soon.

  CHAPTER THREE

  THE WEEK FOLLOWING the anniversary celebration, Zoe was happy to leave Lyrill on another assignment for the Queen. This time to deliver a package to an associate in Colombia, South America and return home the same day. For short trips like this she never packed a bag and carried the envelope in her purse. Seriously, she didn’t understand why the Queen didn’t simply overnight it. The cost would be less, and it would arrive faster.

  However, one didn’t argue with Queen Miriam. Not even her adopted daughter. Zoe leaned back, closed her eyes and tried to relax as the driver pulled onto the highway from the airport.

  It was much hotter in South America than Lyrill even with the air condition on full blast. The driver glanced at her through the rear-view mirror.

  “First time?” he asked in broken English.

  “Yes. It’s a beautiful country.” Nowhere as beautiful as home but then again nowhere could compare to Lyrill’s gorgeous landscape. Homesick, she pulled out her phone to avoid further conversation and read messages from friends and associates. She grimaced at another message from Marcus, a good-looking guy who turned out to be a real jerk. He was getting on her nerves.

  “Very hot this year,” he said.

  “Yes it is.” She didn’t look up or say anything to encourage the conversation. She calculated the time difference and answered a few messages. Two years ago, Miriam placed Zoe in charge of their Public Affairs program. Big title that did very little considering the public consisted solely of Lyrill citizens and lived by traditions with slight variations. Still, she enjoyed stretching the boundaries of the box now and then. It had been her idea to market any product from Lyrill as a limited commodity to drive up prices and increase profits.

  Gerry had agreed and tested the idea using their flowers. That successful venture spawned several more which included a no-carbohydrate sweet syrup they used in most of their cooking. The plant grew wild in abundance all over Lyrill and was in the process of being tested before submission to the Queen for approval to export and market.

  That’s what she would be working on if she weren’t here. Make up your min
d, Zoe. Either you’re happy to be here or you’re not. Unable to deny the woman who saved her life anything, Zoe hopped on a flight to come halfway across the world to deliver a small envelope filled with who knew what, to someone she didn’t know.

  The car zipped through town and eventually sped through more rural areas. She ignored the driver’s frequent glances and adjusted her sunglasses to cover her unusual colored eyes. Sometimes, especially in close quarters like this, being stared at reminded her she didn’t fit in anywhere and bothered her.

  Zoe stood several feet above most of Lyrill’s natives. Twelve years ago, tall and lanky with long thick hair which curled in humidity that no one knew how to style or take care of made her feel like a freak. She hid in the shadows, rarely spoke to others and wished she could be dainty and petite like the other females. Embarrassment, shame, and low self-esteem were constant companions for years.

  Queen Miriam wouldn’t allow her to hide or pretend she wasn’t a wolf among lambs and forced her to accept her differences with pride. It had been a long road but Zoe now walked with her head high and back straight, secure in her title of Princess, daughter of the Queen.

  As they slowed, Zoe lifted her hair from her neck as she looked out the window. Taking a deep breath, she frowned. Full-bloods mingled in the area.

  Not again.

  Two of the last four meetings she handled for the Queen were with full-bloods. When Zoe questioned her about it, she wore a mulish expression and refused to discuss it. There was a time Zoe would’ve pushed but not now. Not with the scent of illness periodically wafting from her mom’s skin.

  It hurt that the woman she loved more than life was sick and possibly dying. The idea of a world without Miriam scared Zoe to the point she refused to think about it. Like an ostrich with its head in the sand she ignored the signs around her and pretended with the Queen that everything was okay.

  As the car slowed, Zoe pulled out her cosmetic bag to check her appearance. It wasn’t vanity to always look and be your best she thought, channeling Queen Miriam. Zoe smiled slightly as she recalled several training sessions over the years where hours were spent with the Queen teaching Zoe what she considered the basics or things every female should know. Starved for attention and affection, Zoe listened, learned and performed with excellence.