Queen Ascending (Ace of Queens #2)

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Here," Exton sat on the floor of Mavi's room and gave her a piece of block which she happily tried to stuff into her puzzle box. He had come straight home after watching Gemma leave and the only one he could tolerate in his sour mood was Mavi.

"That is a circle," Exton said to her, "You can't stuff a circle into a square."

Mavi didn't care. She banged the blue circle against the wooden box. She grew frustrated when the circle block did not fit into the square cut out. Agitated, she picked up the box and threw it across the room.

"Jesus, kid!" Exton laughed. "You can't be doing shit like that."

Mavi pouted and she began to bang the circle on the floor.

"Exactly what I wanna do to Tobias's head." Exton said watching his sister assault the shape. Gemma's face came running back into his mind and he groaned. He covered his face with his hands and laid back on the plush rug.

"Eggs," Mavi said as she climbed onto her brother's chest.

"I'm okay," Exton said staring at the ceiling. He sighed and closed his eyes. "No, I'm not okay. I miss her...do you remember her?" He lifted his head to look at Mavi sitting on his chest. She was still distracted by the circle.

"Oh you'll like her...she's like one of those princesses you watch on T.V. You know the one in the blue dress who rides that pumpkin? Yeah, like that one. She has these eyes...and this smile...man, I love her smile."

A big grin appeared on Exton's face as he placed his hand behind his head and stared up at the ceiling again.

"And she's smart too," He continued. "Quiet...really quiet. But very smart. She'll be a great queen."

"Eggs!" Mavi said in frustration as she slammed the circle block into Exton's chest.

"Ah!" Exton yelped. "What the heck!"

She held the block out for Exton. "Blue!"

"Why are you beating the shit out of me with blue?" Exton rubbed the spot where she had dug in the block. For a small thing, she packed a hard punch.

"Is she hitting again?" Rye asked as she walked into the room. "Mavi, no hitting!"

Mavi's bottom lip rolled over as her eyes widened. She inhaled sharply and let out a long cry.

Exton sat up and wrapped her in his arms. He sat her on his lap and bounced her.

"It's okay, piglet," He said laughing.

Rye rolled her eyes. "She is so dramatic."

"What's going on?" Xavier came into the room concerned.

"Ah yes, of course," Rye said rolling her eyes again. "You can stop crying now," She said to Mavi. "Your two kinghts in shining armors are here."

Mavi just wailed harder. Xavier held his arms out for her, but she shook her head and reached out for Rye.

Rye reached down and picked her up.

"Stop crying, mama." she said kissing the little girls head. "You know you can't hit people."

Once Mavi stopped crying, she turned her head to her dad.

"Daddy."

"Come here princess," Xavier said taking her into his arms. "Mama is right, you can't hit people."

Mavi wasn't pleased with her parents. She wiggled down from Xavier's arms and stumbled over to her brother who was still on the floor.

"You two are spoiling her," Rye said sitting down on the rug. Xavier followed her. He leaned against the little bookshelf and picked up a fallen book from the floor.