Her New Reign

by Larisa Long

  I jump about three miles, but Janx’s smile calms me back down. I have a thousand questions.

  “Why do I feel so comfortable around you?”

  “Why do I feel like I’ve known you forever?”

  “Why do I feel safe with you?”

  “Why do I feel like you’re part of me?”

  “Or am I part of you?”

  “Take a breath in between the questions, my Queen,” Blu yells. “If you do pass out, I call dibs on the mouth to mouth.”

  I don’t say my first snarky comeback to Blu. I just want to look at Janx.

  I remember seeing a couple in the park once who stared at each other. I thought they were planning a suicide pact. Now I get it.

  I don’t know how long we looked into each other’s eyes before I noticed Zash standing in front of us. Janx steps back.

  “Mera, can you tell me the name of that one goat? She’s being stingy with the details.”

  I glance at Janx.

  “I’m yours. I’m not going anywhere,” he says.

  I stumble when I turn around to walk to the barn with Zash.

  He holds onto my arm to prevent me from making a full on face plant.

  “Was this about the goat’s name or to get me away from the dragon?”

  Zash winces. “Maybe a bit of both. You’re moving faster with him than you did with us. Maybe I’m jealous, but I would like to know the goat’s name.”

  “You could hear my conversation and straight jacket of rambling thoughts when I was talking with Janx, couldn’t you?”

  Zash nods.

  I try to figure it out. “Blu just bursts with whatever comes to mind. I don’t think he has a filter.”

  Blu laughs again.

  “Why don’t you—”

  Zash’s grip on my arm tightens. “I will participate if you want, but I don’t want to intrude.”

  We walk over to the goats who are practicing their aerials. They jump up on the tallest bale of hay and lunge at the cows who pretend to flee before chasing them. “The one with the mark that looks like a flower?”

  Zash nods.

  “Joanne. My brother …” A pain jabs in my heart. “He named her. It was from a teacher he had a crush on.”

  Zash raises his eyebrow. “A teacher?”

  “He was six.”

  Zash nods and moves me further into the barn. He looks behind us, but we can’t see the others. “I’m sorry about your brother.”

  From Zash’s facial piercings and neck tattoos to his black smoky eyeliner and faux hawk to his open trench coat that shows the tattoos and marks covering every inch of his tempting skin, he wouldn’t be super approachable in my world. No matter how gorgeous he is.

  He backs me up until I hit the side of the barn. “Everyone avoids me in this world too.” He moves so close his lips are only inches from mine. “So why do you trust me?”

  I smile. “Your eyes. They are sad and kind and compassionate.”

  He blushes. “You’ve never been afraid of Blu or the dragon. You’ve never been afraid of me, have you?”

  My breathing intensifies as my heart races. “How can someone with a heart in cold storage be all gooey every time one of you looks in my direction?”

  Zash grins and presses his body closer to mine.

  “And why is it that I am completely into whichever one of you I’m with? And instantly… I mean like five seconds after we meet?”

  I try to concentrate as Zash’s hands wander. “In my world this would not be cool. I would be called various names.” I think about it. “At the very least it would be super skeevy.”

  “Skeevy?” Zash asks. “I’ve never heard that word. But that’s how it’s supposed to be here. That’s the only way it would work with one reign and several immortals. It’s very normal. Nothing to worry about.” He puts his hand out away from him. “No one else will hear us until I lower my hand. When you were having that moment with Janx, you thought of Blu?”

  I nod. “And you.”

  “Not Arc or Risq?”

  I think about that. “Arc is too close to Risq.” I glance down at the markings on his chest. “What is this language?”

  He looks down. “Which one?”

  I gently move my fingers over words and symbols on his chest.

  He closes his eyes. “It’s an old language of reapers. Some are poems.”

  I can feel his heart beat faster.

  “Some are the names of my family.” He blows out a slow breath. “Some are the names of the souls I released.”

  His breathing catches as I continue to move my fingers over his skin. “Some are the names of the souls I took.”

  I found my circular, maze like symbol. “And this one is mine?”

  “For the record, reapers hearts rarely beat unless they have been claimed.” He kisses me. His tongue piercing explores my mouth. His kiss was just like it was in town. Mesmerizing. Time stopping. Stomach churning. Forget my own name type of kiss that makes every cell in my body waken.

  When I think my heart might explode or my lungs, he releases me. He rests his forehead against mine. “I am yours, Mera. You are my first and only and last love. I will always be yours. I will never let anyone harm you either. I will always choose you over anything else.”

  “What did you mean in town when you said that soon you’d never let me go?”

  His grin turns very dangerous. “Been thinking about that, have you?”

  I nod. “Hard not to think of wicked things when I’m around you. I just want to be with you and Blu and now Janx.” I shake my head. “Even though I just met him. I trust him.”

  He slowly smiles. “I want that too. I’ve never felt so sure of anything.” He lowers his arm and moves to kiss me again but stops.

  He sighs. “Arc is looking for you.” He steps back. “If we don’t go back, he’ll find us.”

  I nod. I’m glad I don’t have to use my voice because I can barely think.

  Zash grins and laces his hand in mine and walks me back. We get to Blu who is still tasting pies.

  “How many this time, Blu?” Zash asks.

  He waits until he swallows. “The twenty-fifth wasn’t apple. I do not know nor will I ever ask, but it was disturbing both mentally and emotionally. The thirtieth is my current favorite.”

  I sit down beside Blu at the picnic bench.

  Zash kisses my hand. “I’ll be back with the goats and cows. I still haven’t found all the cats or guinea hens which distresses me. I hope there is no connection.” He runs back towards the barn.

  He looks back and smiles at me every few feet.

  Blu grins. “I’ve known Zash forever, and you are the first who has ever captured his heart.” He studies me. “And the feeling is mutual, isn’t it?”

  I look at Blu. “I was wrong before.”

  Blu quickly looks at me with alarm.

  I gaze at his blond hair and his carved body of perfection and his sparkly skin. “You are perfect and glittery.”

  He looks down so proud of himself. “Right? Definitely built for lust.”

  I look at his flawless chest. “You don’t have Zash’s scars.”

  Blu shakes his head. “I’m more the coward.”

  I frown. “What does that mean?”

  “I don’t like pain. I did what anyone ordered me to do. No matter how much I didn’t.”

  I can’t imagine the life they’ve had. The pain and torture. The degradation. “I’m so sorry, Blu. I’m sorry my species can be so cruel.”

  He hands me a piece of pie. “Is this how you remember your grandmother’s pie?”

  I bite off a piece and nod. “Exactly.”

  “Then this will be my favorite.”

  I study his sister’s necklace. “I’m also sorry about your sister.”

  Blu nods. “They lied to us. They lied to all of us. The only reason I was here was to protect her. If I’d known she was taken as well …” His eyes wander towards the fields and trees and sky. “Mera, can yo
u leave me now? I … I mean I … I can’t … I don’t want you to see me like this.”

  I lean in closer because I can barely hear him. I wipe a tear away from him.

  He spreads his wings around us both. “This will give us privacy from prying ears much like Zash was able to do.”

  “You knew he did that?”

  Blu nods. “He didn’t block me. Only Arc and Risq, and I’m not blocking him either.” He looks into my eyes and moves my hair away from my face. “I love this color on you. Did you really mean what you said about wanting to be with me and Zash and the dragon forever?”

  I smile. “I would never say anything to you I didn’t mean.”

  “I’m more flirty than serious, but what Zash said at the barn …” He points to himself. “Thank you for never being afraid of me.”

  “I’ll leave you, but you don’t have to hide anything from me. It’ll only make me love you more.” I glide my fingers over his lips and kiss him gently.

  He swallows hard and then kisses me again. It’s like Zash’s kiss but softer without the urgency. Blu moves slower and gentler like he’s afraid of hurting me. With Zash I feel like I’m going to trip over myself because he makes me nervous in a very good way. With Blu, I’m completely at ease. Safe.

  Blu lets me go and smiles. “You’re comfortable with me which makes me giddy, and Zash is ecstatic knowing he makes you nervous in a very good way.”

  I touch my lips and taste sugar. “I’m glad I was awake for that one.”

  He grins and lets his wings down.

  Chapter 10

  I walk over to where Janx waits. His smile widens the closer I get. “I see you prefer the reaper and faerie to the other two.”

  I nod quickly.

  Janx glances at Arc and Risq like he understands. “It must be strange to have your entire world upended.”

  I flinch. “I wasn’t given a choice.”

  Janx shifts his head to try to figure things out. “You mean they just took you? From your life? From your world?”

  I nod.

  Arc walks over to us and glances suspiciously at Janx. He holds out his hand. “Shall we continue our talk?”

  “I thought we were done.”

  He frowns. “Mera, you have more questions for me. I know you do.” He continues to hold his hand out. “I would rather you get answers from me than the dragon.”

  I still don’t take his hand.

  Arc’s smile slowly disappears. “I must insist.”

  Janx moves close to me with his hands behind his back. “You have your answer.”

  Arc glares at Janx. “I didn’t ask you. And we’ve all pledged loyalty to her.”

  Janx moves even closer. “Then you should understand the meaning of your own words.”

  Arc’s jaw tightens. “This doesn’t concern you, dragon.”

  Janx nods. “If it concerns Mera, then it concerns me, witch.”

  Zash is in front of Arc before I know it. “Arc, dragons are extremely loyal. If he feels you are threatening her—”

  “I’m not threatening her. I wouldn’t hurt her.” Arc’s eyes narrow at Janx.

  Janx laughs and shakes his head. “I would not try a spell on me. I might not be able to shift into a dragon, but I am much stronger than you.”

  Blu is at my side quickly. He drops the pie he’s eating. “I can feel Mera’s fear. What is happening? Why are you scaring her?”

  Arc glares at me. “Just what did the reaper and faerie say to you when they blocked me?”

  I step back from Arc. I’ve never seen him like this.

  Risq joins us.

  Janx growls, and I can feel the heat coming from him.

  “You two need to back off,” Zash says nervously. “He is a dragon. He will protect her with his life.”

  Arc trades a look with Risq. “We have no problem with that equation.”

  “Stop scaring her,” Zash says. “The dragon is warning you, and I’m warning you.”

  “And I’m warning you, Arc,” Blu says. “You think I’m this ridiculous sugar obsessed faerie, but I have powers and will protect Mera with my life.”

  “Why would you stand with a dragon?” Risq asks.

  “My sister trusted him. Mera trusts him. That means I trust him.”

  Risq snorts. “You hadn’t seen your sister in a century. What would you know about her?”

  Blu’s wings rustle. “Watch it, vampire.”

  Risq looks at me and back at Arc. Then the glare I first saw on him reappears.

  Zash sighs. “I am warning you, Risq.”

  In a blur, Risq grabs me and backs away from everyone. He wraps his fingers around my throat. “I’m sorry Zash. Sorry Blu, but we still have time to find another human.”

  Risq tightens his fingers so I can barely breath. “I told you it would end like this,” he whispers. His teeth graze my neck.

  Everything blurs. Zash yells. Blu throws some sweet dust. The ground shakes as Janx roars.

  Blood drips down my neck, and I’m slipping away. “Can I have my party now?”

  I’m falling. Someone catches me, and I open my eyes to see Zash holding me. He looks worried as he places his hand over my neck to stop the bleeding.

  Blu is instantly standing over me and blows something on me. I’m healed. I can hear. I can see. Zash helps me stand up.

  I touch my neck where blood hasn’t dried yet.

  Janx holds onto both Risq and Arc who struggle but can’t fight against the immense strength of the dragon.

  Blu blows something over them, and they are quickly unconscious.

  Janx growls and drops them at his feet.

  Blu lets out a long sigh. “That was dramatic.”

  Zash lets me go. “Are you hurt?” He examines my neck. “Cannot believe he bit you.” He looks into my eyes. “He took enough to kill you. You might be a little shaky. Just take it easy.”

  “Always knew something was up with Arc,” Zash says.

  “Right?” Blu says downing a hot cocoa. “That escalated quickly, and I never trusted the vampire.”

  “Really? You all acted so chummy.”

  Blu and Zash shake their heads.

  Blu throws the empty cup of cocoa down and then devours a cupcake. “He’s a vampire. Cold blooded bloodsuckers. And the witch?” He shakes his head and hands me a milkshake. “Never trust anyone who doesn’t crave sugar. Except for Zash.” He glances at Janx. “Remind me what dragons eat.”

  Janx glances at all of us. “In this form, eggs I think.”

  Blu cringes.

  Janx clears his throat quickly. “Cake. I think I’d like cake.”

  Blu grabs his arm. “You’ve never had cake?”

  Janx shakes his head.

  Blu has tears in his eyes.“I’m so sorry. I’ll make you a cake in every flavor.”

  “What happens now?” I look down at Arc and Risq still unconscious at Janx’s feet.

  Zash looks around. “Janx, can you help bring them down to the dungeon?”

  Janx nods.

  “Dungeon?” I ask. “There’s a dungeon here?”

  Blu swallows hard and puts his hand over his heart. “As of the last few minutes, yes. I just created it.” He quickly sits down in a chair that wasn’t there two seconds ago. “What with the drama and the sugar spells and your resurrection and the dungeon creation, my sugar levels are horrifyingly low.”

  Blu snaps his fingers, and a table full of chocolate everything appears. He licks his lips as he eyes everything. “Queen gets first choice. Chocolate brownies or chocolate fudge or chocolate cookies or chocolate candies or chocolate sugar sticks or chocolate pudding or chocolate mousse?”

  Zash and Janx disappear into the house with Arc and Risq.

  “What happens now?”

  Blu motions towards the table. “We can’t do anything with our sugar so drastically drained. Brains can’t function without the proper amount of chocolate. And you lost a lot of blood to a vampire.” He cringes and shakes his win
gs out. “Disgusting creatures.”

  Blu takes a deep breath. “First we sugar up and get our chocolate on. Next, we nap. Together. I know how you love to lust over my body. If you need more sugar, just lick me. Finally, we let Zash figure things out. He’s good at that. And obviously Janx will make sure everything is secure.”

  Chapter 11

  I stretch and open my eyes. It’s totally dark. I’m not in my room. I have to stop thinking I’m ever going to wake up there again. I’m never going home. This is my home now.

  I hear movement.

  “Blu,” Zash says. “Your wings. Mera’s awake.”

  I’d fallen asleep on the couch, and Blu covered me with his wings.

  Zash leans over me. “You’re okay. Just fell asleep after all the sugar.”

  Janx watches me and then looks at Zash for an explanation.

  Zash shrugs. “Last time she slept was when we had to heal her after the vampire almost killed her.”

  Janx sighs. “And he was allowed to live?”

  Hearing about Risq sours my stomach. I can feel a panic arriving. “Are they still down in the …”

  “Dungeon.” Zash nods.

  “Don’t worry, Mera,” Janx leans over me and gently touches my face. “I will never let anyone even think of harming you again. Neither will Zash or Blu.”

  “How long have I been asleep?”

  “Ages,” Blu says.

  I hesitate to look at the faerie. I think I’ve eaten more chocolate than I could ever consume in three lifetimes. If Blu was eating again, I didn’t think I’d be able to handle it. I slowly look up at him.

  He grins at me but is hiding something behind his back.

  “It’s okay. I don’t think I could eat again.” I grab my stomach. “Ever.”

  He brings out the shake from behind him.

  I look between Zash and Janx. “How long have I really been asleep?”

  “About twenty minutes,” Zash says.

  “Like I said … ages.” Blu sucks the drink dry. “Why did I not make this an immortal shake? It was so good.”

  I grab my head. “Total chocolate headache.”

  Blu touches my head. “Look into my eyes, Mera.” He sprinkles something over my head.