The Queen Is Dead (The Immortal Empire) (20 page)

“Perhaps not.” Maine offered the warrant to Vex. I reckon he thought neither the prince nor I could read. “But you signed an accord after the Great Insurrection to cooperate with the aristocrats in lawful matters, and this is a murder investigation. I think you’ll see it’s quite legal, my lord.” The last bit was addressed to Vex.

I wanted to rip his smug head right off his shoulders. Vex was not the authority here. I was. But then, I was barely hanging on to my control. Any second it could slip and I’d fang out and that would be the end of DI Maine. Judging from the size of those guns, it would be the end of me as well.

Vex offered me the warrant. “It’s official. They’re legally allowed to search the den.”

“For what?” I asked. My teeth caught at my tongue. They’d extended just enough to be a nuisance.

“Signs that Lord Churchill was murdered here,” came Maine’s easy reply.

I eyed him carefully, sniffed the air and caught his scent with startling ease. He wasn’t as calm as he appeared. I could
practically hear his heart beating against the ribs I longed to break. He reeked of bravado and smug pleasure. And fear.

He might be here to find evidence, but he’d been given that warrant to make a point–that Victoria could get to me. This was all a pretext to unsettle me, to make me give something away about what had happened to Church, or perhaps to goad me into doing something I’d pay dearly for–like killing a police officer. Victoria would love it if I did that.

“Does it say ‘expendable’ on your badge, Maine?” I asked sweetly, teeth back to normal size.

He frowned. “Come again?”

I shook my head. “Never mind. Go ahead, conduct your search. But mind your manners.”

“Or what?” Maine challenged with a smarmy grin. “You’ll eat us?”

“Not if we were starving,” Vex said softly. “But do keep in mind that I’m a witness to whatever happens here tonight.”

Maine shru s1">” gged, and Vex’s eyes flashed gold–just for a second.

I turned to the prince. “Let them have their look. They won’t find anything and then they’ll leave.”

That myopic gaze held mine for several seconds, measuring. This was the real test of his loyalty. He nodded. “Fine.”

We drew back with the prince and the rest of the plague members. I stood by the mother and child on the cot as Maine and his men searched. There was nothing left of Church to find. His bones had been repurposed, and his blood so scattered over the floor that it was contaminated by the countless pints of other blood spilled over the years. Unless Maine took the throne that had been built for me–and he looked as
though he’d rather not touch the thing–I had nothing to worry about.

His men postured and tried to disguise the fear that rolled off them in rank waves. Little boys hiding behind their big guns. The goblins were afraid too, and caught off guard. The difference between my goblins and these peelers, however, was that fear made goblins more dangerous, and they didn’t have heavy gear on that would slow them down.

Maine was respectful, however. He didn’t touch anything without asking. He was good at pretending to be relaxed, but his shoulders were so tight I could have used them as a straight edge.

When he came back around to us, the peeler stared at the female goblin on the cot. She stared back.

“What’s this?” Maine jerked his chin towards the pup.

“A baby,” I replied.

“A goblin pup?” His gaze narrowed. “What is it wrapped in? Give it to me.”

The mother made a sound that was a cross between a growl and a whimper. I stepped forward. “Don’t you touch her.”

His gaze locked with mine. “Are you going to interfere with my investigation, Your Majesty?”

That was it. I was going to eat his face. Investigation, my fat arse. I took another step, only to have the prince inject himself between us. Maine’s men stopped what they were doing and adopted defensive stances, weapons lifted. Fuck.

The prince spoke in a low voice, for Maine’s ears alone. Vex and I could hear–probably the rest of the gobs could too–but Maine’s men would have a more difficult time of it, especially since the rest of the den had taken their cue and begun to make low, guttural noises that drowned out all else.

“Touch that child you will not,” the prince warned Maine. “You will leave this place and not come back.”

Maine drew himself up. “It’s illegal for you to stand in my way. I could have you arrested–or shot.”

The prince drew himself up as well. He was a little bit shorter than Maine, but what he lacked in size he made up for in sheer power. “How many bullets have you? How many fired before each throat is ripped out? More of us than you.”

“I’m not afraid of you.” But Maine
was
afraid. He stank of it, just like his people. To be honest, I respected him a bit for it. Only a fool wouldn’t be afraid of William.

The prince smiled, and Maine’s scent soured a little. “I know you, Christopher Maine. Know your house. Your sister. Your nephew. Mother and father. ’Twixt my teeth bones will grind, and I will start with the youngest. If not me, then another.”

I’d never seen such horror on a man’s face before as that sefost. which dawned on Maine’s. He went white–completely white. For a moment I thought he might have a heart attack. I moved closer, knowing this situation could end very badly if either one of them made the wrong move.

“Why are you here, Maine?” I asked softly.

He swallowed, gaze still focused on William. “Orders from up high. I was to bring a squad and search the plague den. Refusal wasn’t an option.”

“There’s nothing here,” I said, keeping my voice low. “You know it as well as I. Don’t put yourself in the middle of whatever vendetta
she
has against me. Just go. Take your people and leave now, and all of this will be forgotten. Won’t it, my prince?” I intentionally used his title as a sign of respect, and reached down so that my fingers curved around his paw.

Maine had a difficult time tearing his attention away from William, but when he finally looked at me, I made bloody certain he saw sincerity in my face. I did not want this to end in a bloodbath. Too many might get hurt, and there was a baby in the room. This was a time of celebration, not killing.

“He won’t kill my family?” Maine rasped.

I shook my head. “He will not. No one will.” William bowed his head in acquiescence, giving his word not only to Maine, but to me.

“We’re done here,” Maine shouted to his men. “Return cobbleside, now!”

The officers looked confused, but they didn’t argue. I reckoned most of them were pretty relieved. They backed out of the great hall, Maine bringing up the rear. It wasn’t until they were out of sight that I heard them turn and run.

“Well,” I said with a grin. “That went well.”

The prince–William–whirled on me, so quickly that I actually jumped. “It did
not
,” he informed me hotly. “Our home invaded. Children threatened.”

I sobered. “You are right. I didn’t mean to make light of it. I brought this upon you and I am sorry.”

He chuffed. “You are queen. Willingly we follow.”

Yes, they did. The first time I came here, he told me how to find Dede. He sent for me when Simon’s body was tossed underside. He, and the entire goblin population, had offered me nothing but assistance and respect. They’d killed for me. Named a child after me. And in return I called them monsters, feared them and forsook them. It was me who had brought Maine into their home.

I ought to be heartily ashamed of myself. I was.

I nodded. “You’re right. I am your queen.” I felt Vex’s
fingers close over those of my other hand, and squeeze. I looked at the baby goblin, cradled against her mother’s chest. For the first time I paid attention to what she was wrapped in–a man’s shirt with a monogrammed collar–
WC
.

It was Churchill’s shirt.

If William hadn’t threatened him, Maine could have taken that shirt as evidence. He would have had me–or at least could have cast the right amount of suspicion.

“I am your queen,” I repeated, voice stronger this time, carrying through the hall. “It’s time I started acting like it.”

We stayed with the goblins a little while–long enough to make sure everyone was calm, that no one was going to brave the lights of cobbleside and follow Maine home to eviscerate him. I held little Alexandra again before I left.

The prince walked us to the stairs leading out of the den. “Xandra lady?” I turned to him. “What was said about you being queen, was it truth?”

I nodded. I was pretty certain it would be a decision I’d regret some day, but not as much as I’d regret doing nothing. “It was.”

“Your plague can plan a coronation?”

“Yes.” I smiled. “Nothing too fancy, though.”

He waved a furry hand. “Worry not.”

I glanced up the stairs to the hole in the wall. Trouble seemed to follow me as of late–just how understated that thought was didn’t escape me–and I didn’t like that it had
followed me down here. “I want you to put a door or gate in. I don’t like that Maine and his wankers were able to waltz in.”

“Nor do I.” There was a low, dangerous growl to his voice that sent a cold shiver down my spine.

“Please do not retaliate. Let me deal with Maine.” If the plague made a move, it might bring even more humans and halvies down here–armed to the teeth and ready to kill. It would be a bloodbath for all sides.

He bowed his head. “As you command.”

“Cheeky,” I muttered. I thought he smiled at that, but it was fleeting. I sobered as well. “Take care of that baby.”

He promised he would–as if I could ever doubt it–then shook Vex’s hand and kissed mine.

A train sped by as Vex and I climbed to track level, vibrating the ground under my feet. As we entered the tunnel Vex said, “You know I’ve never seen a goblin infant before. Cute wee mite.”

“She is. I have a hard time reconciling how good they’ve been to me with the fact that they are still monsters. That cute wee mite is a monster.”

He turned his head towards me as we walked, giving me that assessing stare he often wore when I said something he found particularly interesting. It was at times like this that I was painfully aware of the difference in our ages.

“She’s your monster. They all are.”

“I know. Makes me want to toss my pot.”

He chuckled. “You’ll get used to it–once you deserve their devotion.”

That was the rub, though, wasn’t it? Would I ever deserve it? It seemed like all I did was bring more trouble down on
those I cared for. I reckoned I was going to have to work on that.

When we exited into Down Street, we found an RG standing beside the Butler, talking into a rotary. “Wait, they’re here.” He disconnected.

“Bennington,” I said by way of greeting. I knew him, of course.

“Lady Xandra.” Ohhh, my formal title–well aside from “Queen”. So cool and detached–like we’d never gone to school together, or swapped stories over coffee. It hurt more than I cared to admit. “What are you doing with my motor-rad?”

“Someone saw it parked outside the entrance to the den and reported it.”

I frowned. “And the problem is?”

He cleared his throat. “You’re not authorised to be here, ma’am.”

“Not authorised?” Vex spoke before I could. “She’s with me. She’s also the goblin matriarch, or did you just crawl out from underneath a fucking rock?”

Obviously my banishment from Mayfair was a sore spot with my wolf.

Bennington swallowed. “I was just following orders, sir.” Then, to me, “Is it true, then? You’re their queen.” He jerked his head toward the entrance to the station.

“Yeah, I am.” Mentally, I dared him to have a problem with that.

He smiled a little. “Then I reckon we’ll be seeing more of you round these parts. The two of you have a good night.” He turned and walked away, returning to his foot patrol of the streets.

“That was surreal,” I remarked.

Vex only grunted in response. He was still pissed off.

I watched Bennington walk away. “I don’t think anyone reported anything. He was waiting here to ask me if I was really the goblin queen. I bet you ten quid he’s got the
Sun
or
Good Day
on rapid dial on his rotary.”

“He’s a tosser. Let’s go.”

Vex drove home. We barely stopped at the gate on the way out–the kid controlling it almost didn’t get it open in time–and Vex gave no indication that he was going to slow up.

Once outside of Mayfair, we tore through the late-night streets like the Great Fire was nipping at our heels. I didn’t mind that Vex had the throttle wide open. I loved the wind in my hair, washing me clean of Maine’s stench. I knew he thought of me as his enemy, but he would leave my goblins out of it or I would make him disappear just like Churchill. It was a cold and mercenary thought, but one I’d carry with me for the rest of my days.

I reckoned I had my share of loyalty as well.

When we finally arrived at my place, it occurred to me that Vex could have gone home after the den. I could have gone with him. He hadn’t even suggested it. It had been a long time since I’d stayed at his house.