Playing With Fire

Chapter Fourteen

I crossed the plush cream carpet to the couch and sat on the cool leather. The two men followed and silently sat on either side of me.

"Excuse me while I change into something more comfortable."

She strode through the room toward the door on the opposite wall that I assumed led to her bedroom and walked inside closing the door behind her. Castiel looked at me and opened his mouth. I slapped my hand over it before he could get a word out. His eyes widened and I removed my hand pointing at my ear then at the door the Queen had disappeared behind.

"Yes, I can still hear you." Her voice called out from behind the wood.

What kind of sight did she have with those unnerving alabaster eyes?

Castiel blinked and faced forward again. Maverick leaned back into the leather throwing his arms across the back of the couch and I crossed my legs and folded my arms. Silently the three of us waited.

The Queen did not leave alone us for long. She came back in the room in a white robe. The sheer silk did little to hide the full figure underneath or the fact that the robe was the only thing she had on. She sat across from Maverick and slowly crossed her long dark legs. I fought an eye roll. Her gaze snapped to me and she grinned.

"Well, I think that now we can talk freely. I must say you three play the game well. I almost believed it."

I did not like the direction this conversation was going. I could feel the tension in the muscular thigh Maverick had pressed against my own. It seemed like he didn't either.

"I know the true reason behind your visit tonight. The Caorthannach has escaped."

The silence that followed her statement was thick and heavy. Both men were tense balls of apprehension beside me. I forced myself to uncross my arms and relax back into the supple leather under me.

"It seems we have underestimated you, Amaris."

"Not something you will do again I suppose," She replied with a grin.

"No. I don't think so."

"Augustus has told me much about you, Delany, but even still his information was quite lacking. What sort of supernatural creature are you?" She tilted her head at me. A stray curl broke free from her updo and brushed the side of her delicate neck. I watched it.

She is trying to glamour me.

I met her white gaze and smiled blandly.

"I can smell the carrot in the powder from here. Can't blame a girl for trying though, can you? Though I wonder if you really needed it..."

"What do you know of the Caorthannach?" Maverick spoke drawing her attention away from me.

Her body relaxed languidly as she faced the Male.

"I can smell the electricity in your veins Fae. You would be such a delightful challenge to break." She purred at Maverick and stroked a long red tipped finger down her neck toward her exposed cleavage. A threat. And an invitation.

I tensed but Castiel spoke. "Majesty, you seem to be much better informed than we prepared for, allow us to apologize and start anew."

"You three are smart to never let my attention settle on one of you for too long. I wonder who advised that strategy." She looked at me.

"What would you have of us, Amaris?" I asked, keeping the bland expression on my face.

"Let's cut to the chase? As the saying goes." She lost the flirtatious and relaxed demeanor and sat up straight. A predator in her den. "I fear that unless something is done an old enemy of mine will be making a deal with the she-demon."