Queen of Darkness WATTPAD VERSION [Inter-Universal Protectors: Book 3]

10

After an extremely uneventful day, Tara decided she was too exhausted to go to the main hall for dinner. Having decided to climb the stairs from the city to the Castle, she found herself unable to move from her bed. Not that she was particularly hungry. That was a problem for later. 

She'd walked the streets to see the people - ask if they needed help - and been shunned. Again. Not that she didn't deserve it. Many of them had lost family members and friends because of her actions. Even she had lost so many friends in her time as Queen.

A knock on her door made her sit up slightly. Liam let himself in. He was holding a tray. On it were two plates of food, two glasses, and a wine bottle. Tara looked between him and the tray.

Liam shrugged. "Thought you would be hungry."

"Not really," she said.

He countered, "When was the last time you ate?"

She rolled her eyes, pushing herself upright. He sat on the opposite end of the bed, the tray resting on the sheets. One steaming plate was pushed toward her.

Tara breathed in the scent. "You really didn't have to-"

"Please," Liam said, passing her a glass filled with wine. "It's my pleasure."

Tara couldn't help her shy smile as she took the glass. Since he didn't call attention to it, she assumed Liam hadn't noticed. She hoped that was the case. He was the one person who stayed with her no matter how shit things became. Taking a long drink, Tara decided she would very much like to kiss him.

She blinked. Oh Gods. What was wrong with her?

"How is the search for the new Ruler coming along?"

She sent a silent prayer to said Gods for the sudden change of subject before answering. "I haven't heard from our Lyriumian friends in a few days."

Liam put his empty plate aside and poured himself a second glass of wine, the purple liquid sparkling in the floating lights. "Call them. Ask."

"What? Right now?"

"Yes, right now."

Tara reached for her phone, hesitated, then picked it up. She placed it on the sheets in front of her and a holographic screen appeared before her. She scrolled through numbers, pressing on the one labeled Photon Bitch.

Liam smirked at the name. "Better hope she doesn't hack your phone and find that's your contact name. Then you would really be in for it."

"Ha-de-ha-ha."

No one answered for five rings. Right when Tara was about to hang up, assuming Photon Bitch was busy, the call was answered. But it was not answered by the number's owner. It was her Second.

"Hey, Ta!" Nikki chirped. 

"You're not Amneris," Tara said. She felt stupid after doing so.

The woman looked over herself. "I can be if you want, but I doubt that would make things any less awkward." She winked. "Why you calling my Queen?"

An encouraging look from Liam made her regain her senses. "I was wondering if you'd had any breakthroughs with finding the new Ruler. We have not found anything." It was true.

Nikki winced. "Ah. Right. That."

Had they forgotten?

"You see, Ta, we've kind of had an unexpected event meaning the search has been put on hold."

"Is everything okay?" Liam asked, coming to sit beside her.

Nikki waved at him. "Hello, cutie. And yes, everything is fine." She glanced to something they could not see off screen. "Look, I gotta go but I'll get someone to call you when we find anything!"

Tara felt her heart skip a beat. "Wait-"

"Bye!" 

"What the hell was that about?" Tara asked quietly.

Liam shook his head. "I don't know."

* * * * * * * * 

Nikki cringed as she pocketed Amneris' phone. That had been an unexpected call. And badly timed. The Shifter sighed as she continued rummaging through Amneris' wardrobe. She had been sent to fetch clothing for her friend and Colt, though the latter's was already in the drawstring bag resting on the shelf. According to Kayla, there was a very high possibility they would be needing them by tomorrow. Or the day after. It hadn't been very clear. 

"Was that Tara?"

Nikki spun, placing her hand over her not-beating heart when she spied Carmin in the doorway. "You shouldn't sneak up on people!" she gasped, turning back to the drawer she was going through. "Seriously, how you do that, I will never know."

"Yes," Carmin agreed, placing her hands on her pregnant stomach. "You would think this made me easier to see coming."

"I'm surprised Dan let you leave your room."

The Dragonoid pulled a dark blue hoodie from its coat hanger. "You know how my husband is," she said. "He's only become more protective since my pregnancy." She gave Nikki a sidelong glance and smile. "I wonder how Leo will get if you two ever have kids."

"I, uh, I never really, you know." Nikki cursed under her breath at her lack of a sentence. "What I meant to say is, well, it's not really something we've discussed-"

Carmin laughed at her discomfort, taking the loose pants in her hands from her to fold and add to the ever-growing pile. "I'm teasing, Nik. Relax. It's not something you should feel pressured into doing."

"I know," Nikki said, leaning against the drawers. "It just feels like something I'm expected to do."

"Why?"

The Shifter tipped her head back, thinking. "Everyone I know who is married or has been married has had kids. You're pregnant. Amneris has Hathy. Colt once mentioned having a son and a daughter. A lot of my friends are in the process of having kids or have kids. Hell, there's even a theory out there that Enliatu has a child."

"I see what you mean," Carmin said, wings ruffling before folding behind her, "but, in the end, it's your decision. Think about it," she continued. "Dan and I have been married for over two thousand years and only now are having a child."

"I guess." She looked down. "Gods, this got deep fast."

Hands appeared on Nikki's shoulders. "We're both women, Nik. I don't mind talking with you about these things. I doubt the other women in our family will either."

"Thanks." She glanced toward the pile of clothing only to find it now in the bag she had left there. Carmin's doing no less. 

The Dragonoid held the bag toward her. "Give our Queen my best, okay?"

Nikki winked at her friend, tossing the bag onto her shoulder. "Can do." When she reached the door she stopped, turned back, and gave Carmin a soft smile. "Give a call if you need anything from me. Or if you're just sick of your husband's company."

"Tea tomorrow morning?"

"Sounds perfect," Nikki beamed.

"Assuming things don't get worse," Carmin added.

"Of course."