The Queen's Mystery

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  Bianca swallowed and felt desire stir that had nothing to do with being dragon-struck. She marveled at the feeling. “That’s pretty good.”

  “I’ve had some time to practice. But when this circle spell fails.” He trailed his finger above the ruins. “You won’t need seduction. We’ll be back to tearing each other’s clothes off like we were on the stair. I’d like you to at least like me before I make you mine.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t have to force beautiful women into my bed.”

  “It wouldn’t be by force, but necessity.” Bianca pointed out. “It’s not like I’m not getting something out of it.”

  “I’d prefer you to think of it as fun.”

  “Why?”

  “So you let me do it again.” He smiled. “We will, after all, be bonded until your death. I’d like to get laid at least once more in the next eighty years.”

  “Couldn’t we just have a one-night stand?”

  “I would be happy to oblige, but it wouldn’t solve your problem with having studs attracted to you. Only being my mate will do that.”

  Bianca shifted so she was seated on the floor and made herself comfortable. She was willing to hear him out. It was nice to talk with a dragon instead of being talked at. But she supposed she should get used to it when she became Smythe’s dragon ambassador. Providing she could be cured. “How long will this spell last?” She tapped at the circle with her foot. It was nice to not have her head clouded. She felt normal for the first time in a long while.

  “It depends on you. You’re strong willed, so I don’t think more than an hour or so.”

  “Then what?”

  “If I haven’t gained your approval to become my mate, I will pleasure you until you pass out and then we’ll try again tomorrow.”

  Bianca blinked at his matter-of-fact tone. “Why do you want me to pass out?”

  “The spell that’s blocking the pheromones between us won’t work twice in one day. So once I’ve exhausted you, you’ll sleep and I’ll recast the spell blocking the pheromones in the morning.”

  “So I’m a prisoner? I’m never leaving here unless I mate with you?” She struggled against the cuffs as panic flared.

  Byron raised his eyebrows. “You’re free to go at anytime. I can uncuff you now and you can leave.”

  “What about the Order of the Dragon Slayer book?”

  “You cannot leave with the book. I do not part with things that are mine. My father knows that.”

  “Let me have the book and see if I can find a cure.” She wouldn’t think about how Niall had betrayed her. She was not a possession to give to his son.

  “You want to waste all this ‘getting to know you’ time looking through a book written by a dragon slayer?”

  “Yes.”

  “The spell will fade. And you will be begging me to fuck you against that column. The pheromones you and I have entangled together is overpowering. It's all I can do not to cross the circle and indulge us both. But my father was right, I am stronger than other studs. You are not a Dragon Queen, but you are so close, it's putting the studs into heat.”

  "Then why do I feel like I'm the one in heat?"

  "You met a dragon that appealed to you." He spread his hands wide.

  Bianca closed her eyes and groaned. Studs were so conceited. Unfortunately in his case, he was also right. "So I can become your mate and be cured or I can take my chances on that book to save my sanity?"

  "Yes," he said.

  “Then why do I feel what I saw in there was true?" She pointed to the mirror. "Was a memory? Why do I remember making love to you?”

  Bryon's self-satisfied smile faded. "I do not know. I'm a powerful shaman. You might have just seen my longings and desires projected on that mirror."

  Bianca pulled on her handcuffs. “Let me out."

  Byron shrugged. “If I let you go, you'll go back to Niall with your pride intact, but still having the scent of a dragon Queen. Or I make you my mate. We can skip right to that, if you like.”

  “I'll take door number three. Get me the damn book.”

  “As you wish.” Bryon unfolded himself from the chair and walked towards the stacks of books.

  Chapter Three: Tis the time the heart should be unmoved

  Bianca sat and waited while Byron went up and down shelving units, muttering to himself as he looked for the book. Apparently, it wasn’t under “D” for Dragon Slayers. She rotated her wrists, but there was no way to get out of the cuffs. She wished he didn’t trap her in the magical circle, but she could see his reasons.

  The vision in the mirror haunted her. She remembered that day. She could taste that juicy apple. She could feel Byron inside her. What was wrong with her? Bianca didn't believe in reincarnation. People always thought they were famous people in past lives. No one was Madge the scullery maid. So not only did she believe she had been a Queen, she believed she was Mary Shelley. Bianca shook her head. It didn't ring true, but the only other explanation was it was Byron's dragon magic seducing her.

  "Byron?" she called, hearing her voice echo back to her in the library's vastness.

  "Yes, my love?"

  "I'm frightened," she said.

  "Has someone been telling you frightening stories of a monster seeking to destroy its creator?"

  His arms encircled her from behind. She immediately felt comforted and a bit silly.

  "This dread," she said. "I feel it stalking me, like a spectre."

  "I am your protector, now that Percy is dead."

  "It pains me we never found his murderer," she said.

  "He got careless. Had you been with him, you might have been taken by the rogue studs."

  "It makes no sense," she said, turning in his arms and clasping his face. "No one would hurt us. The humans love us too well."

  "I do not know the rogue stud mind."

  "I would have welcomed a few in my court," she said. "They didn't have to kill Percy."

  Bryon tossed her over his shoulder. "Tiring of me in your bed already?"

  She shrieked in laughter. "No my beloved, but we all have our duty. Come, do yours."

  He tossed her on the bed.

  "You called, my dear," Bryon approached the circle.

  Bianca shook her head. The vision still in her mind. "What happened to Percy?"

  "He was murdered. A pack of Queenless studs ambushed him and challenged him for his position as consort to Queen Mary. He lost. He managed to take a few of them out before he died. But at least one escaped."

  "Where were you?" she asked.

  "With the Queen. At the time I was her Protector."

  "You were also her lover."

  "I had that privilege. Why do you ask?"

  "Does it hurt to talk about her?"

  Byron looked away. "It used to. However, I find myself enjoying talking with you."

  "I feel that we've known each other forever," Bianca said.

  "That's the pheromones talking," Bryon checked the spell with a few incantations. "I should hurry and get that book."

  How was she going to read the book if her arms were restrained?

  The ceiling shook as a large WHOOMP sounded. Footsteps thundered above her and men’s voices echoed down.

  “What the hell is going on?” she screeched.

  Byron strode out from the stacks and skin flaked away. His form shimmered and expanded. The winged serpent emerged, vibrant purple with strong bat like wings that rattled the bookshelves. Coil after coil wrapped around her circle as he flew up towards the trap door. A beep sounded and then an explosion rained debris down the stairs. Byron flinched back and then drove his head into the stairs, crushing them to splinters. Two men fell to their deaths. They’re bodies exploded on impact and Bianca vomited at the sight. Two others rappelled down on ropes, as she was trying to get her heaving under control. She pulled on the pillar, but there was no way she could move it.

  Byron snapped at the ropes and whipped his head. The two men went flying j
ust as they were about to jump off the rope. They crashed into a bookshelf and then a pillar, before lying still.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, turning to her. His serpentine head filled her vision. His eyes were the same, though larger. She could see his concern. She tried to nod.

  “Byron, surrender or die,” a voice boomed down from the top of the store.

  “Who dares,” he hissed.

  “The Order of the Dragon Slayers. You have been accused of crimes against humanity.”

  “That is ridiculous.”

  “Says the dragon with the human chained in his lair.”

  “I can explain,” Bianca shouted. “I’m here willingly.” Of course, her argument might have held more weight if she hadn’t been restrained. “We’re doing a Fifty Shades thing,” she tried anyway.

  “We’ve come to save you. Now, are you going to come in peace for your trial, Byron, or do we burn this place down?”

  Byron thought about it, but he eased back to the basement floor and turned back into human. “You’ll have to come and get us. Your brutal attack on my establishment has taken out the stairs.”

  “We’re coming down. If you kill any more of us, we will torch every book one by one while you watch.”

  “I understand. There is no need to threaten me. Be aware that I will be seeking retribution from your order for the damage and inconvenience you have caused me.”

  “You killed four men. You can shove your inconvenience up your scaly ass.”

  “You stormed my lair. You are in violation of the Treaty of 1099. I was defending my turf and will be exonerated. There are ways to go about things and you have not realized what you have done.”

  “Don’t quote treaties to me. You have taken a virgin sacrifice.”

  “I am not a virgin!” Bianca screamed. And then in the uncomfortable silence said in a slightly lower tone of voice. “Not that it’s any of your business. And I do not need to be rescued.”

  “Ma’am, we have a report that you are dragon-struck. You’re not going to be allowed to testify for or against him because of that.”

  Byron looked lost in thought, but then turned in a dash and strode back into his stacks.

  “Who the hell reported that?” Bianca snapped.

  “We’re coming down now.” The man said, instead of answering.

  By the time the three men got their ropes secured and were rappelling down, Byron came back holding a leather diary. He tossed it in the circle and then sat on his Queen Anne’s chair to wait. The three men started towards him once their feet were on the ground. They were dressed like commandoes with armored clothing and Batman utility belts.

  “Take the woman first. It’s who you came for.” He held up a hand and gestured. They freed her from her handcuffs with a key. The first thing she did was dive for the book. She met Byron’s eyes as they walked her towards the ropes. The dragon lust nearly took her knees out from under her, and they steadied her so she stood upright.

  “Are you okay, Miss?”

  Bianca nodded. There were no words, only burning desire and tongues of regret. The desire she recognized, but she didn’t understand the regret. He gave her the book. She got what she wanted. Why did she feel cheated that she didn’t have more time with him? His eyes were on her and she couldn’t look away.

  “He’s innocent,” she said, as they helped her into a secured jacket that would allow them to hoist her up to the main floor.

  “I’m sorry Ma’am. He needs to go on trial. Only a Queen could stop his arrest.”

  Byron shook his head.

  “I came here at Niall’s request. He told me to come here.” Bianca tried to reason with them.

  “Did he tell Byron, here, to cuff you to a pole?”

  “It’s all right, Bianca,” Byron said.

  Her name on his lips undid her. Tears flowed out of her eyes. She wanted to be his mate, even if that was only the dragon-struck part of her talking. These men had no business making that choice for her.

  “I wasn't in any danger,” she said, quietly.

  “And how would you know that?” the commando said sarcastically, and checked the buckles by lifting the jacket up. When they held, he gave the thumbs up and she was pulled upwards.

  “Because you’d have been too late, if he wanted to hurt me.”

  She was on the main floor in moments. Two other men unbuckled the vest and helped her into her coat. She shivered inside it and took long breaths. Slipping the diary inside her coat pocket, she tried again to make them see that she didn’t need rescuing.

  “There is a scroll here that will tell you that Niall sent me. There must be some kind of mistake. Byron is helping me with a problem I’m having.”

  “Come with us, ma’am.”

  Bianca’s head unfogged by the time she was escorted into a blue SUV. A crowd had gathered from among the Christmas shoppers. A police line had been set up and there were a few people taking pictures from their camera phones. She ducked into the cowl of her coat and slid into the SUV. The sticky ache between her legs was bitter and she chafed against her dress. Byron should have taken her when he ripped her thong off. These bozos wouldn’t have dared try to separate a dragon from his mate.

  “Am I under arrest?” she snapped. The pounding in her head was deafening. She closed her eyes to the pain and gritty frustration that passed over her.

  “No ma’am, but we’re taking you to our headquarters for safekeeping. At least until the dragon is in protective custody.”

  “What if I don’t want to go?”

  “We have our orders to take you in. Joachim, he’s our commanding officer, would like to speak to you.”

  “Well, I don’t want to speak to him. So either you just let me off at the corner and I’ll find my own way home or I will start kicking and screaming and making your lives a general hell.”

  “I don’t want to restrain you ma’am.”

  “This is kidnapping. You’re no better than what you’re accusing Byron of.”

  They didn’t answer her.

  “Can Joachim read Latin?

  “You’ll have to ask him.”

  Bianca tried a few more times to get specifics but she was rebuffed, politely, but stonewalled all the same. Short of jumping out of a moving vehicle and probably getting tasered in the process, there was nothing she could do but sit back and wait. It was about an hour when they hit the Massachusetts border and headed into downtown Springfield. They drove to an office compound that looked like it had been an insurance headquarters in another life. She was helped out of the SUV and escorted inside. When she looked up, she saw men with assault cannons on the roof and razor wire on the fencing.

  Taking a deep breath in the lobby, she was relieved not to smell any dragons. It would have been unbearable to lose control again so soon. The elevator ride made her ears pop and the doors let out to a large penthouse suite. Fatigue crested over her and she longed to sag against the wall. But she was damned if she’d show these bozos any weakness.

  “Joachim is in the receiving area. Have a good afternoon, Ma’am.”

  Bianca stumbled out of the elevator and stared at the guards until the elevator doors closed on them. She didn’t even know what the heck a receiving area was, but she looked into the first room on the right and saw a large Hispanic man staring out into the sky.

  “Looking for dragons?” Bianca said.

  “Siempre,” he said, turning to look at her. He was scarred and tough looking. “I am Joachim. Commander of The Order of Dragon Slayers. I am at your service and offer my protection.” Unlike his commandoes, he was dressed casually.

  “What do I need protection from? I was doing just fine until someone blew a hole in the bookstore I was in.”

  “I’m sorry for your inconvenience.” He looked like someone her mother would have been thrilled if she brought him home for Sunday dinner. Mama liked them a little on the thug side.

  His eyes grew unfocused as he glanced at her up and down. Then he bl
inked and rubbed his temples, letting out a large sigh.

  “Inconvenience? Four men were killed,” she cried. “It was awful. What on earth would be worth those men’s deaths?”

  “You, Bianca. You are a Queen. We had to rescue you and bring you back here. Once you emerged, it would have been war on the streets of Connecticut over you.”

  Well, that shut her up. She had spent the entire ride over here coming up with scathing threats and logical arguments and if that hadn’t worked, she was going to beg.

  “Byron said I wasn’t.”

  “Bryon doesn’t know everything.”

  “And you do?”

  “You’re not the first Queen I’ve seen who was about to shift. Can I get you a drink?”

  “You sure as hell can,” she said and walked into the suite area. She moved towards the window to scan the sky.

  “Please,” Joachim said, coming up behind her. “Stay away from the glass.”

  “Are you expecting an attack?”

  “Siempre,” he said again, and handed her a glass of water. “I have something stronger, if you would like? Wine, rum? I’ll order us up some dinner. We have a lot to discuss.” He handed her a menu.

  She slapped it back at him. “How are you sure I’m a Queen?”

  “You have a blue aura. All Queens do. It’s a connection to the dragon weave.”

  “Niall said my aura was odd. He didn’t say anything else. Look, Niall sent me to Byron. Byron is innocent.”

  A muscle worked in Joachim’s jaw. “He held you there against your will.”

  “No, he didn’t.”

  “You were handcuffed to a pillar inside a magical circle.”

  “And you couldn’t possibly know that until you blew open the trap door. What would you have done if he had made me his mate?”

  “We needed to get you out of there before he did.”

  "What's going to happen to him?"

  Joachim reached into his pocket. "I must ask you a question. In Byron's lair did you see another Queen? A Chinese woman. Her name is Mei Hua." Joachim handed her a picture of a lovely, young woman with black pigtails and a seductive gleam in her eye.

  "No, there was just me."

  Joachim took with picture back with another labored sigh. "It was too much to hope." He slipped the picture back into his pocket.