The Queen's Dance: Book 3 of The Emerging Queens Series

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  “He’ll be coming after me anyway,” Margery said. “Once he finds out that a Queen was in his cargo hold, he’s going to wonder what I know.”

  “Maybe I should pay him an unofficial visit?” Casimiro said, cracking his knuckles.

  Margery shook her head. “That won’t work. I don’t want to tip our hands just yet. I need to speak to his clients and his associates. Find out what makes him tick. Then maybe we’ll sneak into his headquarters and confront him.”

  “I cannot condone breaking and entering,” Reed said.

  “Noted,” Margery said. So that was his official stance. Unofficially, she didn’t think he’d try and stop them.

  “I can put you in touch with his former administrative assistant, who worked on the Smooshie promotion,” Carolyn said.

  “Today?” Margery asked eagerly.

  “Let me text her.” She put her hand out for Casimiro’s phone. “She’s been a little busy lately.”

  “Is it necessary to stick your tongue out like that when you text?” Reed asked as they all watched her.

  “I’m a professional. Don’t try this at home. There.” The phone buzzed. Carolyn read the message. “Crap ass! Viola’s in the Keys with Sergei. But they said they’ll come back tomorrow to talk to us.”

  “You didn’t text anything about Smythe and the Smooshie, did you? It’s an unsecured cell phone,” Reed asked.

  “I hinted that we had some dirt to dig on her former boss. She could be our insider on this.”

  Reed nodded, drawing her to him in a swift hug. “Good job.”

  “Well, we’re going to stay at their farm. You guys are welcome, too. It’s huge,” Carolyn said. “Only you can’t eat the sheep. Viola keeps them for their wool.”

  “I’ll be staying here,” Remy said.

  “Of course you are.” Casimiro rolled his eyes and held out his arm. “Let’s take to the sky, my love, and shake off the dust from our wings.”

  “I can’t shift,” Margery said in a small voice.

  Casimiro pulled her close and buried his face in her hair.

  “That’s enough,” Remy said, grabbing his arm and wrenching it away from Margery.

  Casimiro pivoted and flung Remy fifty yards into the forest. Then Casimiro turned back to her. “You smell like a Queen. Why can’t you fly?”

  “I was badly injured, and I’m still recovering. It’s very hard for me to shift,” Margery said, nerves claiming her. “Maybe I’m broken. Maybe I’ll never fly again.”

  “I’m sure this is only temporary, my heart. I’ll carry you in my jaws. You will be as safe as a babe. I will treat you like a delicate eggshell.”

  “No,” she said.

  Remy stormed out of the forest.

  “Casimiro was just leaving,” Margery said to Remy before he could launch himself at Casimiro.

  “I will not go far,” Casimiro vowed and leaned in to kiss her.

  Margery turned her head, and he got her cheek.

  “Until tomorrow, my Queen.”

  Chapter Six

  Remy watched the embassy team fly away, glad to see the back of them. Margery’s eyes lingered a little too long on that asshole Casimiro. He didn’t want to be jealous of the singer. It wasn’t as if Remy had ever wanted the spotlight, but maybe if he had he could offer Margery an entourage to protect her.

  “I think you need another night out under the stars.”

  Margery shook her head. “I couldn’t sleep, even if there are embassy commandos stalking around the woods.”

  “You think my door is going to keep out anything that really wanted to come in?” He pointed.

  “It’s a comforting illusion.”

  “I prefer reality.” This time nothing was getting near her. He wasn’t cut out to be a court protector or anything like that. He wasn’t a diplomat and never cared to be. But he took his responsibilities seriously. And since she’d rebuffed the Chinese dragon, Margery was his problem. Although she didn’t look like a problem. She looked like a beautiful woman he’d like to spend some time with.

  “You’re going to make me go on the lake again, aren’t you?” She rolled her head on her neck to get the kinks out of it.

  “I can’t make you do anything. You’re a Queen—I’m just another stud born to serve.”

  “Stop that. I don’t see you that way.”

  “How do you see me, chérie?” He stepped in closer to her, wanting her to see only him, not a vision of the singer flying off into the sunset. Could they just be Remy and Margery for a bit instead of protector and Queen?

  “You’re a kind man.” She reached down and surprised him by holding his hand. “I trust you.”

  Pride filled his lungs, and he couldn’t breathe for a moment. A thousand things came to mind to refute her about how he wasn’t worthy—Casimiro, for all his snide comments, actually had a point. But for once in his life he kept his damned mouth shut and let her think he was who she wanted him to be.

  “And I know you won’t let anything harm me. If we’re going to Quebec, I’m going to have to get over my fear of the lake. Especially if we have to track the shipment by water. I’m not up for swimming lessons. But I think if you’re with me, I could spend the night on your boat.”

  Remy closed his eyes in relief. The grin that stretched across his face hurt in its intensity. “You will never be safer.” Then he switched to a cheesy Spanish accent. “You will be like an eggshell in my hands.”

  “Stop.” She swatted him.

  He kept hold of her hand as he walked with her down the dock. She was as soft to touch as he imagined, and he ran a thumb over her knuckles. Margery turned a sweet shade of pink that made the dusting of freckles on her cheeks stand out. He was enchanted.

  “Why do you even have a boat?” she asked.

  “I imagine the same reason Casimiro probably has a plane. It makes it easier to carry stuff.”

  “Is there a mile-high club thing for boats?”

  Remy tripped over his feet. “Why do you ask?”

  She turned an interesting shade of red. “I think that’s the reason Casimiro has a plane.”

  “I thought he sky danced?”

  “Not with me he didn’t.” Margery shrugged. “He was talking about sex in the air, right? Not some mating ritual dance on the ground.”

  “I’m pretty sure sky dragons have sex midflight. Or in free fall.”

  “Damn, and I thought doing a reverse cowgirl was daring.”

  He almost stumbled again at that image. He pictured her pretty red hair bouncing up and down in time with her hips. On him.

  Damn.

  He swallowed hard and forced his mind back to the reason they were out here.

  “Do you have to have sex in the water?” she asked.

  And back his mind went.

  “I don’t have to, no.”

  I would take you on my bed, put your legs on my shoulders, and...

  “Is it better?”

  “Uh...I’ve never had sex with a female river or lake dragon, so I can’t really say.” He was sweating. Honestly, she got under his skin, and if they continued on with this conversation, Remy wasn’t going to make it to his boat or the bed. He’d have her on the ground right here.

  “Are you a virgin?”

  Remy was sure he was blushing like one. “I’ve never been with a Queen. But I’m not a virgin. How about you?” Let’s see how she liked fielding those questions.

  “I’ve slept with both dragons and humans.”

  Funny. That didn’t make him feel any better.

  “Well, just one dragon. Casimiro.”

  Why had he brought this up again?

  “But I liked being with human guys better.”

  “Why?” He was genuinely curious. All the women that came after him made it seem like they thought dragon was the way to go.

  “Maybe I just hadn’t met the right dragon. Yet.” She smiled at him, and he lost his breath.

  Remy wasn’t sure what to say to that, bu
t since she was still holding his hand, his heart was knocking like a teenager’s. The dock wobbled a bit under their weight, and Margery tightened her grip on him.

  “You know that even if you do go in the water, there’s no way you’re going to drown.”

  She pointed to her temple. “I know that here.”

  “Let me get in the boat first, and then I’ll help you aboard. Or I can carry you.”

  “No,” she cried. “I need both feet on the dock.”

  “All right, chérie, no worries.” He stepped into the boat and held out his hand. “Step on the side of the boat and then step down.”

  “What if the boat drifts from the dock when I have one foot on the boat and one foot on the dock?”

  “Well, then we make a wish.”

  “Remy.” She laughed.

  “In the time we spent talking about it, you could have been in the damn boat already.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “I’ve got your hand. If you’re about to lose balance, lean forward and I’ll tug you in.”

  Remy tried not to smile at her teetering from the dock to the boat. He knew she was scared, but she was damn cute, too. With a determined grunt, she made the leap of faith, and he steadied her on the deck. She clung to him, and he just enjoyed feeling her in his arms, soft and warm. She was so human, he almost forgot she was a Queen and kissed her.

  They swayed until she got her sea legs. He moved his hip so she wouldn’t feel his hard-on jutting against her. He couldn’t help it. She smelled like summer sunshine. Stroking her back with soothing circles, Remy enjoyed having her close. When Margery tightened her grip around him, common sense fled. And he wanted things he knew he couldn’t have, because she was a dragon of the sky and he was a dragon of the lake.

  Remy rested his chin on the top of her head and tried to be content in the moment. It was bittersweet. She moved away first, tugging down her shirt.

  “Thanks. Sorry about that,” she said.

  “One day, we’ll break you of that habit.”

  “Of gratitude? I hope not.”

  “Me, too,” he said. “But the other Queens and studs will think you’re weak.”

  “I really don’t give a shit,” she said and then grinned up at him.

  Damn, he was going to lose his heart to this one. He just knew it.

  “I’m going to haul the mattress from the cabin up here on the deck,” he said. He needed to get some distance between them before he did something stupid. “That way, you can get the healing benefits of the night sky, and the only thing you’ll be exposed to is the mosquitoes.”

  “What if the boat tips over?”

  Remy looked around and grinned. “This is a thirty-eight-foot cabin cruiser. The only thing that would cause a wake that big is me.”

  “What if someone jumped onboard?”

  “After the last ferry, I’m going to bring us out to the center of the lake.”

  “What if a dragon swoops down from the sky and grabs the boat?”

  “I’ll rip him to shreds.”

  “Well, okay, then,” she said.

  “Any more questions?” Remy was fascinated by the little dimple in her cheek. He wanted to kiss it.

  “I think you covered the bases.” Margery bounced on her heels and smiled up at him again.

  His guts twisted. He hoped he could earn the trust she gave him so easily. Didn’t she realize that he couldn’t fly or do anything useful unless he was in the water? If the Cult could take down Cassandra at the height of her power, what chance did he and a newbie Queen have?

  “Why don’t we take a short ride and do some fishing?” He hoped it would make her more comfortable on the water. And a moving target was harder to hit.

  “I’d like that.”

  Remy got her situated in the passenger seat and then went around untying the ropes connecting them to the dock. Margery had shifted her clothes into a bikini, and he almost fell into the water gaping. Her eyes were closed, her face tilted up to the sun. Casimiro was a complete idiot for ever letting her go. If she were his... Remy stopped that line of thinking.

  Sky dragon, water dragon. No future.

  Margery startled and clamped a hand on his arm when he started up the engines. He liked when she touched him, but he wished she wasn’t so frightened all the time.

  “It’s all right, chérie.”

  She blinked up at him with her pretty blue eyes, and it made his day. He was so easy.

  “Where are you going?” she asked in a sleepy voice.

  It was easy to imagine her tangled up in his sheets, her long red hair splayed over his chest.

  Remy forced the erotic thoughts out of his mind. “Queen’s choice.”

  “Can you take us up to Quebec?”

  “That’s a bit far for your first trip. I was thinking Isle La Motte to see the shrine of Saint Anne. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, Cedar Island. I’d recommend Cedar Island for its privacy. It would be a good place to build your castle. However, with me living on North Hero, I wouldn’t be too far away from La Motte, if you prefer something more intimate.”

  His mind played with a few intimate scenarios before he forced himself to focus.

  “I don’t need a castle,” she assured him.

  “You do need protection from the humans and the dragons. If not for you, then do it for your children.”

  Margery’s hand dipped to her stomach. “I’m not ready to even think about that yet.”

  Remy’s eyes followed the motion of her hand. It was tempting him to see if she would flinch from his touch. He’d like to put his hand over hers, step in closer so his legs brushed her smooth thighs. He swallowed hard. “You need to prepare for the future, chérie. You can’t keep living in denial.”

  “I wouldn’t mind a house out here,” she said. “It really is very beautiful.”

  Remy felt a surge of pride.

  “How far up is the Richelieu River?” She peered over his shoulder to get a good look at the GPS. Her body was warm from the sun, and her hair tickled him. Her breasts grazed his arm, and he had to concentrate on the navigation or he was going to do something that was going to get him slapped at best and executed at worst.

  “Too far,” he bit out, very aware that if he turned his head he could steal a kiss from her plump lips.

  “Are you saying that because you don’t want to take me?”

  “Yes.” The punishment for lying to a Queen was usually taken out on your hide. But even though Margery didn’t have a lash, he wasn’t going to get into the habit.

  “I just want to go back to the scene of the crime.”

  “They’ve probably cleaned everything out already. I’m sure the news ran their story with me ripping that boat you were imprisoned on into confetti. Where were you when the smugglers captured you?”

  “I was in a warehouse near Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.”

  He liked how she spoke French. It made him want to take her in his arms like Gomez Addams. “If that’s the case, the yacht could have had to pass through the locks at Chambly Canal to get here. Maybe someone there will recognize the craft.”

  “Are there still pieces of it floating around? Maybe there’s a VIN number or something.”

  “I would imagine Reed’s men got to it first.”

  “Do I have to file a Freedom of Information Act request to get it from him?” Margery grumbled, crossing her arms. The gesture uplifted and emphasized her breasts. Remy’s fingers itched from the need to tear off that tiny black bikini top and free them. He wondered if her nipples were the same coral as her lips.

  “I keep telling you, chérie, you’re a Queen. Stop asking nicely and start ordering.”

  Start with, “Fuck me, Remy.”

  “You get more flies with honey than with vinegar,” she said, wagging her finger at him.

  Great. Now he was thinking of pouring honey all over her body. It took all the strength he had not to nip at her finger. “We’re dragons. You won’t get anything w
ithout a show of strength and the means to back it up.”

  “I don’t have anything to back it up.”

  Remy turned away so she wouldn’t see how much the remark cut. He could tell himself that she didn’t realize the insult she gave. But even if it wasn’t intended, it was remarkably close to the truth. He couldn’t strong-arm Reed into helping her. He’d lose in the battle with the bigger dragon. Of course...Reed had his own Queen now, and if you couldn’t get something with brute strength, you might get it through manipulation.

  “You might have better luck getting Carolyn and Viola on your side. Reed and the rest of the studs are only interested in one thing.” Remy wondered if he could shift his hard-on without her noticing it; it was beginning to get uncomfortable.

  “Most men are.”

  “In this case, it’s not just sex. It’s a chance to mate and have a family. It’s much stronger than our sex drive. We can have sex with humans. We can only have sons and daughters with Queens.”

  “Do you think the other Queens will help me?”

  “I don’t know, but from what I remember, Queens stick together.” And the old ones hated that they were brood mares for an entire population. Esmeralda had refused to breed for a decade, and it nearly was the end of their race.

  “Thanks, Remy,” she said, putting her hand on his shoulder, probably to kiss his cheek again, but this time he turned so she got his lips. He tried to be good. But being good was overrated.

  The jolt of awareness surprised him. He reached for her hip to bring her closer just as she shied back. He sneaked in another kiss on her delectable mouth, brushing his tongue lightly across her lip. She tasted like succulent wild raspberries, both tart and sweet at the same time.

  They stared at each other. He was dimly aware of the boat cutting through the lake, and he could see out of his peripheral vision that there weren’t any pesky sailboats in the way. Still, he eased off the throttle, slowing the boat down.

  Her blue eyes had hints of sunlight in them. They dazzled him. Her hand clenched the fabric of his shirt as she leaned up for another kiss. Remy took her in his arms then, cutting off the motor with a sharp jab of his elbow. She felt like honeyed sunshine. He swooned, as adrift as they were on the lake, floating with the waves from the brisk wind. It was easy kissing her, a natural thing that his life had been missing. Now he understood why the studs put up with the Queens’ demands. There had only been five to make a dragon feel like this. Five to service a thousand studs. They’d just lost two.