Page 66 of Royal Bite
She felt all of their eyes on her as silence fell around her. Would they listen to her? She would be princess once she and Hegna sealed the bond, but at the moment, she was just a human. She inspected Corbin. War raged in his eyes.
“You don’t know what goes on in those types of places,” Corbin said. He ran a shaking hand along his face.
“If I am to be sitting at Hegna’s side, then I need to see and know everything,” she stressed. She rested a hand on his arm, hoping the war inside him was siding with her. “I need to help her. She needs my blood, and if there is something else she wants there, then I will give her that, too.”
His eyes flashed to hers. He barked a harsh chuckle and shook his head.
“The only humans who are allowed there are the ones who are working,” he said.
“Then call the madam and inform her that her queen is ordering her to allow my daughter’s mate to have full rein of her facility,” a sharp voice ordered from behind Stormey.
She spun around, her mouth dropping open at the sight of the newcomer.
Queen Mira Riskel stood with a fierce expression.
Stormey didn’t have to question or guess who this was. She’d seen the queen enough in the media over the years and in photographs.
Edward, Cici, and Corbin all dropped down to their knees in respect for the queen. Stormey glanced at them and joined them, lowering her eyes to the floor. How had the queen snuck up on them without any of them hearing her?
The queen’s heels echoed on the floor and stopped before Stormey.
“Rise, Miss Jaymes,” Mira commanded.
Stormey raised her gaze and stood. The queen was a mirror image of Hegna, only her hair was blonde. She wore a deep-royal-blue dress with a black cloak wrapped around her shoulders. There was no doubt this woman was royalty. The air around her screamed that she was a queen.
The queen flicked her hand, allowing the others to stand as well. She assessed Stormey for a moment with a blank expression.
“Your Grace. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Stormey said. Her heart raced while under the queen’s perusal. Would the queen be upset that Hegna hadn’t claimed her? Would she blame Stormey for Hegna’s continued rejection?
“It’s a pleasure to meet the one who is going to put my stubborn daughter in her place.” The lips of the queen lifted at the corner slightly. She focused on Corbin and arched an eyebrow. “Do I need to repeat myself?”
“No, Your Grace. I will call ahead and notify them of your command,” Corbin said.
“And you will accompany Miss James and then ensure my daughter returns back home.” She moved to stand in front of Corbin.
His eyes widened a little, but he didn’t move away from his queen.
Mira’s voice lowered to a threatening manner that sent shivers down Stormey’s spine. “If she does not come home, then you will answer to me.”
“Yes, of course, Your Grace.” Corbin paled slightly.
“I would like to speak with Miss Jaymes alone for a moment,” the queen announced.
Stormey smiled softly at Cici who scurried past her. Corbin and Edward followed her down the hall. Once they turned the corner, the queen faced Stormey.
“My daughter needs someone who is direct and just as bullheaded as she is.” Mira folded her hands behind her back and slowly ambled around Stormey.
This woman was more intense than Hegna. Stormey could see where her mate got it from. The queen stopped in front of her and smiled. Her face relaxed completely, and Stormey saw more of Hegna in her.
She rested a hand on Stormey’s shoulder. “And from the sound of it, you are clearly her mate.”
“Everyone sees it but her.” Stormey sighed. She stood to her full height and met the queen’s eyes. “But I’m done with her pushing me away. I’m her mate, and she’s going to respect me as that.”
“Then you go to the club. I don’t like those places, but Hegna is convinced they are necessary for our people.” Mira grimaced and rolled her eyes in an un-queen-like fashion. “But you are right, my dear. As a future princess and future queen consort to my daughter, you need to be fully submerged in our world.”
“I’m ready, Your Grace.”
“I hope you are.” The queen smirked. She gave a squeeze to Stormey’s shoulder before releasing her. “When I met my husband, he was stubborn as well, but it didn’t take much to change his mind after I bested him in a sword fight in front of his men.”
