Page 41 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

I forced a smile onto my face. “I know, it was a surprise on my end too.” I dismounted my horse and handed the reins to Larkin. “And I come with a guest.” I motioned to Nico. “This is Nico Elsher, emissary to the Blood Court. I ran into him on our way here and offered to be his guide into the city.”

“The Blood Court?” The male’s face paled.

“Don’t worry, bud.” Nico said, slapping the male on the shoulder. “I’m not a vampire.” He smiled wildly, revealing his lack of fangs. “I’m a wolf.”

I rolled my eyes. “He’s harmless, Larkin. Is my mother in?”

The male tore his terrified eyes from Nico. “She is, I believe she’s in her office.”

“Perfect. Have a meal ready for us in a bit. We are hungry after our travels. And make sure my room is ready, along with a room for Nico.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“C’mon, pup.” I gestured for Nico to follow me. “Time for you to meet my mother.”

I knocked once before entering my mother’s office.

Caterina wasn’t one for surprises and she might have been Queen of the Mystic Court, but she was still my mother.

“Who do you think you are to enter my office without—” My mother froze mid-word when she looked up to find me in her doorway and not whoever else she thought it might be, her dark eyes, a mirror to my own, going wide.

“Luciana.” Her accent only came out in occasional words. One of them was when she said my name, with a slight accent on then. Her slight lilt soothed an ache in my soul I didn’t know was there. “What in the Goddess are you doing here?” She didn’t hesitate—immediately rising from her chair and moving around her desk to embrace me.

“Mama,” I said into her dark curls as they surrounded me.

“What are you doing here,Lulita?”

“I came to see you.” She shifted, moving to see around me.

“And you brought a guest?”

I removed myself from her embrace. “This is Nico Elsher.” I gestured to Nico who took a step forward. “He’s the emissary to the Blood Court.” My mother’s dark brows rose an inch.

“Emissary to the Blood Court? Well, aren’t you a long way from home?” She looked between the two of us. “And what are you doing here with my daughter.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty.” Nico bowed slightly before taking my mother’s hand in his own.

“You remember Lennox is engaged to the Blood Prince.” My mother’s eyes widened at my informal mention of Lennox.

She squared her shoulders before speaking. “Yes, I am aware of ourHigh Queen’s engagement.”

“He knows everything Mama, Lennox and Kara told him.”

“Did she now?” I quickly explained Luka’s injuries in the forest and Lennox’s need to use her powers to heal him, revealing her witch heritage.

“I see. But that still doesn’t explain why you’re here together.”

“We ran into one another outside of Arcadia, Lucy was nice enough to ride with me the rest of the way. After I berated her to the point of annoyance.”

My mother cracked a half smile as she turned her attention to Nico. “You’d be good for her.”

“Mama.”

“What?” Her mouth lifted in a half smile. “You can be so serious. You need someone to loosen you up.” She winked at Nico, whose mouth fell open before breaking into a smile.

“We are not discussing this now,” I interrupted before the conversation could go any farther. I shouldn’t be surprised by my mother’s brashness; she took any opportunity she could to try and set me up. She had taken over the crown alone, but she did not wish for me to bear that burden alone.

“Nico comes with a message from Lennox.” I needed something, anything to change the subject from where it was currently heading.

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