The Queen's Protectors (A Throne of Blood Book 1)

by Scarlett Snow

  “Wow, she’s hungry.” Elliot grins, and with a nod from Ronan, he bites into his other wrist for more blood. He presents the blood to our queen, who devours him with ravenous thirst.

  Indeed, she’s hungry, but what the fuck happened to her?

  I keep hold of her while she drinks from Elliot. A couple of minutes go by and a thin sheen of sweat covers his upper lip and forehead. Ronan claps him on the shoulder, his own wrists bared and bleeding, and they exchange places. Once Violet finishes drinking from Ronan, she releases him and sinks deeper into my arms. I listen to her breathing. Her heart rate has finally slowed, and her temperature isn’t as severe. It’s such a relief to not see her thrashing like a blind maniac.

  “Kaleo?” she whispers, stirring in my arms. She glances around her bedroom, her eyes glassy and dazed. “Ronan. Elliot. You’re still here? How long was I out?”

  “About an hour,” Ronan explains, rubbing his wrist. Our wounds have all healed. “You were completely unresponsive.”

  “We were worried something happened to you,” Elliot whispers, sitting beside her. “What did happen, Your Majesty?”

  Violet carefully sits up, and I relax my hold on her. It’s an effort to release her, but I force myself to let go as she straightens. I just want to keep her in my arms until I’m sure she’s all right.

  “I saw my mother,” Violet replies, dragging a hand through her blonde hair. She scrunches her face up at the dampness from her fever. “She was in her study, looking over old maps. I think she was gathering information on the last case she worked on before she was killed. I think it’s why she was killed.”

  Ronan grabs a pitcher from the bedside table and pours water into a glass.

  “Thanks,” Violet says with a smile, her white teeth still tinged with red from drinking our blood. Taking a long sip, she thinks for a moment. “What is Castello di Sanguine?”

  “Castle of Blood. It’s a fortress in Vatican City that belongs to the vampire royals,” I say before Ronan can answer. I shrug my shoulder. “I’ve been working on a case too. Senator John—”

  “Wilkinson,” Violet interrupts. “My mother suspected both he and Daemon are the ones behind the recent vampire abductions. I think she’d just cracked the case when… he arrived.”

  “When who arrived, Your Majesty?” Elliot reaches out and takes her hand. “Is that what caused you to start convulsing?”

  Violet glances down and then back up again. “I’m not sure. Whoever the shadow was, he didn’t want my mother exposing him for what he was.” She swallows hard. “He called her Eloise Ayris and then my mother attacked him—as a white tiger. I had no idea she could do that.”

  “She must have been super powerful,” Elliot says to Violet, his expression somewhat impressed. “I heard that only ancient vampires can shapeshift like that.”

  Ronan paces the floor beside us. His hands clasped behind his back, he turns his eyes toward the ceiling and then back down to Violet. “Few creatures would refer to your mother as Ayris. Not many knew of her mating with the king, Dracul Ayris, but those who did despised her for it.”

  “Which means he was definitely a vampire,” I note out loud. “Our kind didn’t think Eloise was a traitor since she wasn’t one of us. But to the vampires, her mating with Dracul was betraying their species.” I pause, my own eyes meeting Violet. “It was punishable by death. The fact that he was a dragon just made things worse. Vampires hate dragons the most.”

  Violet widens her eyes. “So I’m part dragon?”

  I nod once. “It seems so, Your Majesty.”

  “And the vampire royals killed my mother?”

  I dip my head again. “They had more reason than the shifter royals to want her dead.”

  “Where do they live?” Violet asks, biting her bottom lip.

  The three of us answer at the same time. “Vatican City.”

  Elliot snorts. “I know. It’s such a cliché.”

  I watch Violet grab her mother’s journal and flick through the pages. From where I’m sitting, I can see most of the pages are blank. She’ll need to use more of her blood as ink to uncover the magic.

  “When she was writing about the case, she mentioned those two people, Daemon and Wilkinson. Who are they?”

  “The New York senator was reported missing a few weeks ago,” I explain, recalling the case Remi has been working on. “Bear shifter. My team, unfortunately, has been tasked with locating him.”

  “And Lord Daemon is a vampire,” Ronan answers, a clear dislike for the vampire in question. “Little is known about him other than his love for prostitutes and his loyalty to the vampire king’s court. He and King Sylas are despicable creatures.”

  Violet reaches over for Ronan’s laptop, unlocks it, and types into a search engine. “I think I know where they both are.”

  Turning the laptop around, I scan an image on the screen showing an ancient fortress.

  “That’s the Blood Castle?” Elliot whispers, leaning into the screen. “Daaang. It’s pretty neat.”

  Violet smirks. “I think this is where the royal ball is being held on All Souls’ Day. That’s why my mother showed it to me. I also think the senator and Daemon have been trafficking innocent vampires there, or at least, my mother seemed to think so.”

  If Eloise was killed for threatening to expose Daemon and Wilkinson’s shady antics, why would the vampire royals involve themselves? Unless they’re the leaders of the cartel, which definitely makes me think the vampires are the ones to watch out for the most, especially knowing a king sits on the vampire throne and not a regent. I make a mental note to contact Remi and cease his search for the senator. That motherfucker wasn’t kidnapped. He abused his power to traffick innocent creatures.

  “All Souls’ Day is this weekend,” Elliot says, running a hand through his messy hair. “What exactly is the royal ball anyway? I thought vampires and shifters hated each other.”

  Ronan and I grunt under our breaths. We both smirk at each other and then Ronan says, “We do. I did some research and found out the Royal Shadow Ball is the annual event in which all royals come together. It’s an ancient tradition in which both species must put their differences aside to honor their fallen warriors. It seems only the royals and their assassins are aware of it, which is why we didn’t know.”

  “Well, if it’s this weekend, we better get ready to go,” Elliot says over a yawn. “Vatican City is in France, right?”

  Violet shuts the laptop and chuckles. “Italy. Perhaps my mother has a villa over there. A very big, private villa,” she adds, winking at us all. “But I’d like us to do one thing before we go.”

  Ronan crosses his arms. “What is it this time?”

  “Don’t be like that! I just want us to have a little fun together before we go.” Her expression turns somber for a moment. It pains me to see her frown like that. Elliot squeezes her hand, and she smiles again, her freckled cheeks slightly heating.

  “And by fun I don’t mean just in my playroom,” she adds, nodding toward the door at the other end of the room. My cock throbs at what I know lays in there, thanks to Ronan filling me in on our way to buy groceries. “I’m saving that for when we come back from Italy. Tomorrow, I want us to go somewhere fun. Together. Outside. And no buts.”

  “Oh, oh, oh!” Elliot jumps up on the bed, suddenly full of energy. “What about the beach? There’s tons of things to do there.”

  I instinctively growl at the prospect. I don’t like the thought of my queen being out in the open like that. Who knows how many assassins are out there waiting for the opportunity to kill her? But we also can’t keep her trapped in here forever. We’ll drive her mad, and Violet is not the kind to hide in fear.

  “No one will harm our queen so long as we’re beside her,” Elliot assures me while counting on his fingers. “Besides, there’s arcades, the Ferris wheel, the beach, and the most amazing waffles you’ll ever taste in your God dang life.”

  Violet lies flat on the bed, her arms ou
tstretched with a smile on her face. “You had me at waffles.”

  I know my Protectors aren’t pleased about the risks associated with going outside. Despite Elliot’s enthusiasm, as we wait for Ronan to bring the car around outside the manor, I notice how he keeps running a hand through his messy hair.

  I take one of his hands into my own. “What made you start making donuts for a living?”

  He pauses, worrying his lip. “Honestly? I just love eating them. Donuts are life.”

  “I guess that’s a good reason. Do you miss Dunk N’ Go?”

  I know my mother left enough money for each of my Protectors to live comfortably for the rest of their lives, but I worry that I’ve taken something from them.

  A part of their independence.

  Elliot must sense my unease. He gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Nothing in this world compares to being with you, Your Majesty. Absolutely nothing.”

  “Not even donuts?” I grin.

  He shakes his head. “Nope. Not even those.”

  “What about waffles?”

  “Hmm. Now that is a tough one.”

  I slap him playfully on the arm. “Watch it, little puppy.”

  “Hey, enough of this corny bullshit,” Kaleo says, slinging his arms around us both. “And give me some lovin’.”

  With an effortless heave, he lifts us off the ground and squishes our faces to his chest. I’m a little disappointed by his lack of harness. I imagine each of my Protectors wearing one of them attached to spiked leashes that I hold in my hands. Desire flares through me, and I chomp down on Kaleo’s nipple.

  “Easy there, tiger.” Kaleo loosens his grip on us, but he doesn’t let go completely. “Is my beautiful queen hungry? I’ve got some meat for you down here, if you want.”

  “Oh my fuck. Did you really just say that?” Elliot laughs and pushes Kaleo with surprising strength.

  Kaleo looks between us, his expression confused. “What? It’s true.”

  “It most definitely is true,” I purr at him, sliding my hand over his bulge. Bingo. He’s as hard as a rock. “Patience, Big Guy. I have a treat for you all once we get back.”

  I giggle at how Elliot’s face lights up like a puppy. He’s so easy to excite. He reminds me of how I used to be when I was a younger and life seemed much easier.

  A car beeps at us as Ronan drives into the courtyard. The afternoon sun bounces off the sleek SUV, making the paint appear deep plum instead of metallic blue. From the tinted windows to the pristine alloys, the car has been Ronan’s baby for the past two years. If I think the way he irons socks and underwear is over the top, it’s nothing compared to how clean he keeps his precious car.

  He rolls down a window and leans out. “What are you all standing there looking pretty for? Get in.”

  “Shotgun,” Elliot shouts, letting go of my hand and running toward the passenger seat. He knocks on the side of Ronan’s door. “I’m totally disappointed you didn’t say, ‘get in losers, we’re going shopping.’ That was the perfect moment, dude.”

  Ronan flips him off as Kaleo and I slide into the car, the two of us grinning at each other. I don’t know what Elliot meant, but it makes me laugh.

  The clouds darken the closer we get to the beach. I watch the sun dip behind them, and a heavy shadow drifts over the car. There’s something about the inexplicable beauty of going to the beach on a cold, rainy day, and my body fills with excitement. I can’t wait to have some fun with my guys. Just the four of us, away from the drama of the ball, the assassins, and my dead mother. I think we can all do with an escape for a while.

  Kaleo shifts beside me on the back seat, his golden eyes drawn out the window toward the darkening sky. “It’s gonna start pissing down. Why don’t we leave the beach for tomorrow?”

  I manage to silence him with just a sultry raise of my eyebrow.

  I know. I’m awful. I just can’t seem to help myself. But, to be honest, I really need the fresh air.

  We all do.

  As Ronan parks inside a private garage across the road, I step outside and take a deep breath of the sea air. Flags from the lifeguard tower flap in the cold wind, and the breeze drags my loose hair and navy woolen scarf over my shoulders. Waves roll inland and dissolve into foam on the pebbled beach. I lift my hand to shield my gaze from the glow of the sun peeking out from the clouds. I catch sailboats floating in the distance and a jet ski skimming over the surface.

  There aren’t many people on the beach except for the odd couple here and there. Two men sling fishing hooks off a nearby reef and dangle their feet over the edge. An Alaskan Malamute walks along the jetty behind its owner, its curled tail slinging water as it shakes from side to side. The beach might be empty but plenty of noise comes from the promenade towering over the miles of open water.

  Elliot points toward the pier. “There it is! What would you like to do first, Your Majesty? The arcades? Ferris wheel? What about the big roller coaster thingy that shoots us into the sky? Look, I can see it from here. How awesome is that? I bet that’s at least a hundred feet.”

  I remove my flats and pick them up into one hand. “How about a race to the pier? Last one there has to buy everyone waffles.”

  I take off before either of them can respond. Running across the beach, I jump over half-formed sand castles and discarded buckets and spades. I let my fingers drift through the cattails waving lazily in the wind, and I run toward the pier, not once looking back at my Protectors. A sense of freedom grips me, and I begin to laugh, overcome by joy and childlike playfulness. Then Kaleo runs past me, shooting me a smug grin, with Ronan not far behind.

  “Thought we’d give you a head start,” Kaleo says, flashing me a wink.

  “Oh, really? What made you think I needed one?”

  Careful not to use my advanced speed in front of humans, I kick back my heels and run faster. Sand sticks to my denim jeans and dark grey, knee-length coat, but I don’t care. I burst onto the promenade barely out of breath, and my guys soon catch up. They probably let me outrun them, since I know for sure Ronan is faster than me, but I still give them both a smug grin. I wipe the sand from my feet and pull my shoes back on.

  “Wow,” Kaleo says, his eyes roaming over the Ferris wheel and roller coasters dotted along the wooden pier. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

  I don’t know why, but my heart leaps at those words. I don’t know Kaleo’s story yet, though something tells me, like Elliot, he hasn’t experienced much joy in his life.

  I rest my head against his shoulder and gaze at the twinkling lights. “I haven’t been here in years. Ronan forbade me from ever coming back.”

  Ronan stops beside us, wiping sand from his grey coat. “You did try to run away to New York, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  My heart swells at the memory. Oh, yes. “How could I forget that? It’s the night we first kissed.”

  Ronan’s cheeks flush a little. He folds his arms and looks away. “What now?”

  “Come on, Ronan. Have a little fun.” I notice Elliot isn’t beside us. “Um. Where’s our little puppy?”

  Ronan snorts and points over to one of the carnival booths. I turn and find Elliot hunched over in an attempt to hook a toy out of the duck pond. I’m not surprised to find vendors trolling the crowd behind him, trying to sell useless junk.

  I sneak up to the booth and wrap my arms around Elliot’s waist. “Gotcha!”

  “Aah!” Elliot’s hook misses the duck he had set his sights on. “Dang it. I was so close.”

  Digging into my pocket, I stuff a five-pound note into the hood of Elliot’s beige jacket. He cranes his neck to look at me, his amber scarf covering his cheek. “Would you like have a go, Your Majesty?”

  I cringe at him using my title in such an open and busy place. I’ve grown to tolerate them calling me Your Majesty for the most part, but the way the vendor gives me the once over, a strange glint in his skeptical eyes, sends a rush of unease into my gut.

  My cheeks hea
t up as I let go of Elliot’s hand.

  What on earth am I doing? I frown at myself. I shouldn’t feel ashamed about my heritage. It’s something I should wear like a badge of honor. I should do more than just tolerate my title—I should own it with pride.

  “I’m going to go on the Ferris wheel,” I say to Elliot, kissing him on the cheek.

  Kaleo, who I hadn’t even noticed was beside us, wraps a possessive arm around me and stares pointedly at the vendor. “I have a feeling you’ll win a duck this time, kid.”

  The flushing vendor looks away and busies himself with another customer. I have a feeling he’ll let Elliot win a toy this time even if he does miss. Kaleo can be quite intimidating when he wants to be. It’s a little funny because he’s really a big softie.

  I nod to the booth next to us. “Ronan told me he wants to have a go at the basketball game. Didn’t you, Ronan?”

  “I don’t recall saying such a—”

  “Splendid!” I drag Kaleo away from the booth, grinning over my shoulder at Ronan.

  He grins back at me before rolling his eyes. “Come on then, puppy.” He drags Elliot away by his fluffy hood.

  Kaleo is silent as we head toward the Ferris wheel. Snippets of conversation carry on the wind, mingled with the pop music playing in the background and rollercoasters creating havoc on their metal tracks. Kaleo’s warmth spreads through my body as he keeps his arm around me. His hold is possessive, and my insides tingle. I love that he’s so protective of me.

  At the Ferris wheel, I reach into my coat pocket for money, but Kaleo hands the vendor a note first. We’re led into one of the enclosed carriages. We sit on the small bench and pull the safety bar over our laps. I squeal when the wheel begins to move. When I glance at Kaleo sitting beside me, the muscles are hard at work on his face, and his knuckles are blanched white.

  “Are you all right?” I ask, placing a hand over his. I hate to see this kind of expression on his face. He’s too handsome to be scowling like a man about to kill someone.

  Kaleo blinks at my question, as though I’ve interrupted his train of thought. “Yes, Your Majesty. I was just thinking.”