Reign of Blood

Chapter Forty-One

In a nutshell, Annaliese was feeling humiliated. She found, as she walked along the beach in the dark, that nothing could cool the heat of her cheeks but the bitingly cold air around her.

Annaliese was feeling humiliated. Gods, there was a feeling she never thought she'd feel.

Annaliese of all people.

Apparently, nothing was impossible.

Suppose, she hadn't met a lot of werewolf royalty in her lifetime to have them turn their noses up at her.

So... the werewolf didn't want to have sex. With her specifically, presumably. She'd heard of his track record. Annaliese was no fool. The werewolf that had touched her at every given opportunity and made all these verbal promises didn't want to go through with it.

For the first time in 52 years, Annaliese had been ready for it, but Chronos didn't want to—with her specifically. Oh Gods. That really wasn't doing much for her ego. And Chronos could say whatever the hell he wanted. She wasn't a complete idiot. She'd heard of his activities in the Common World. Chronos had a reputation for being a ladies' man, but he still wouldn't put it in her.

She felt like an idiot.

In the dark, she sauntered along the beach towards the palace, ready to do what she did best. Annaliese had been humiliated. She needed to feel like a Queen again. So, whilst Chronos was sleeping (with a little bloodied influence) she'd pop down to the palace, get a portal jumper from Marina, then be back in time for him to wake up.

Or maybe she wouldn't come back at all.

She hadn't decided yet. Her embarrassment was yet to dwindle.

Step one: getting in.

The palace was patrolled by an intricate system of guards, which would be easy enough to get past. So maybe they could flog her with water, but they'd have to see her coming first.

Chronos might not have wanted her that way, but she wasn't without her wits.

Annaliese was smart, regal and cunning. One snooty werewolf couldn't take that away from her.

Annaliese would do what Annaliese did best.

She'd show everyone who was boss.

"Evening gentlemen," She called out in a sultry purr. "I don't suppose any of you fine lads could direct me to Marina?"

"Dream on sweetheart," One of them said.

"A floor number, or maybe a room, would be really helpful right now. Perhaps a map."

"Be gone wench," One of them said to her. "You're not wanted here."

"I so wish you hadn't said that."

Annaliese had planned to let them live, but the wench bit was pushing it.

She yawned as she flicked her wrist. One by one, the guards collapsed to the floor, blood foaming from their mouths.

She always found it quite enjoyable to watch how those who talked big always had a way of falling short.

"Predictable," She said and walked past them. In the entrance, a row of guards watched her with open mouths and wide eyes. She gave them a dutiful smile. "Hello, simpletons. It is I, Annaliese, Queen of Veneficus, regent of the witches and the vampires. I'll let you argue it out amongst yourselves who gets the pleasure of taking me to Marina."

After a minute, a pale demon stumbled forwards and dropped into a low, shaky bow.

Of course they'd heard of her.