The Bastard Queen (Viciously Yours #2)

“You. Fucking bitch.”

Well, then.

At her voice, the knife in my submerged hand melted back into the royal blue bands that decorated my fingers. Silver and blue against rich brown skin contrasted so beautifully it was almost hypnotizing. Unfortunately, Dani’s cutting voice yanked my attention to her looming form. Dropping my head back against the rim of the tub, I stared blankly at her stormy expression.

“You’re going to make me blush if you keep complimenting me, Babes.”

“Did you really think I wasn’t going to find out? Were you even going to tell me?”

“You’re right. Cheating was in poor taste, I should have just dumped you.”

Pink eyes rolled in annoyance, “Just tell me, you not actually going to see that crazy bastard?”

Pressing a hand to my chest, I jutted my chin out in an appalled expression. “First of all, there is only one crazy bastard in history and that’s me. Secondly, why are you upset? You like Afric.”

“No, Macha. You like him. Afric is a certified lunatic, who you never should’ve made a deal with.” She announced, sitting on the bed a good distance away.

Shaking my head, I stood and gave her my back while using a spare tunic to dry off. With only a few hours of sleep in my system, I wasn’t in the mood to listen to her talk down at me for a deal she was there for. Popping open the wooden chest, I dug around for something appropriate to wear to Afric’s den.

Sliding on a pair of matching undergarments, I muttered, “I didn’t hear you complaining when I made it.”

“That’s because I never thought you’d ever actually call it in.”

Wiggling into a pair of grey leather trousers, I snorted, “You don’t actually believe that, do you?”

“For once in your life, Macha. Be serious.”

“What do you want me to say?” I sighed, grabbing a black long sleeve.

“That you’re not going to collect on a Death Deal with a Den Head Banshee tonight.”

Shrugging on the tunic, I finally turned around to face her. “I can’t do that.”

“Damned to the ground, Macha!” Dani shouted. Jumping from the bed, she pointed a sharp nail in my direction. “Afric is not to be toyed with.”

“And neither am I. So, back off.” I gritted out between pointed teeth.

For a moment it looked like she was going to scream at me again until her shoulders slumped. Smoothing a hand over her pink and black curls, she groaned, “Look, I’m not trying to piss you off. You can obviously handle yourself, it’s just...”

“Just what?”

“You and Afric play an intense game of who’s crazier, Macha. Are you sure you’re up for that?”

An honest to Divines, genuine grin spilt my face followed by a hysteria tinged laugh. “Oh. You don’t have to worry about that, Babes. Trust me. It’s Afric who should be concerned.”

Pink eyes searched my face, “Okay. If you’re really doing this then I’m coming too. And despite what you want us to believe, you’re not crazy.”

Rolling my eyes, I slipped on my boots and walked around to the other side of the tent. Why did people always assume that my personality was an act? Maybe I was certifiable and maybe I wasn’t but that didn’t change who I was. If I had an urge to go toe to toe with a most definitely insane Den Head for a little thrill, why did it have to be an act? What couldn’t it just be me?

“I don’t want you to believe anything but the truth, Babes.”

Silver chains rattled as they unwound from the desk chair to wrap around my waist. Grabbing the handles of my swords, I shivered in delight when the cool blue metal snaked around my fingers and wrists. Bracelets tinkling, I waved at her to follow me from the tent.

“Wait, did you have dinner yet? I brought a bowl of coddle.”

To lie or not- Oh, who am I kidding? “I already ate.”

As soon as I stepped out from the tent, fresh air heavily scented with smoking vegetables greeted me. Nodding to the nearby fae, some with blue ribbons and some without, I continued on my way to the outskirts of the camp. The small bonfires scattered about lit our path out from the tents and into the tree line where a small group waited for us. Dougal, General Erick, and a few soldiers spoke in low tones as we approached.

One of the soldiers, sporting teal colored hair and a blue ribbon around his wrist, spotted me first. Sliding out from the group, he stepped in front of me with a nervous look. Chest tightening, I watched as his eyelids lowered and his head bowed, “My Queen.”

Once the words left his mouth, the others were quick to turn my way and repeat the gesture. Uncomfortable, I nodded in respect to the soldiers and caught sight of the blue ribbon they all wore. Before I could panic, they fanned out so that we could see each other clearly. Each soldier had their preferred weapon strapped to their body and a serious expression hardening their features.

“We’re ready to go when you are, My Queen.”

Nodding at Dougal, I glanced over the rest. “Does everyone here know where we’re headed? And who we’re meeting?” At the reassured ’yes’s, I continued, “If you don’t want to go, stay here. No one will think any less of you.”

“These soldiers know the risk, My Queen.” General Erick announced.

“Perfect. So, then listen closely. None of you will be harmed on this little mission if you follow the blue rules.”

A soldier with rose petal eyes tilted his head, “The blue rules?”

Laughing at Dani’s groan, I fluffed my shiny hair, “Blue’s a thousand times better than gold, don’t you think Babes?” Scanning over their amused looks, I pushed on, “Going into any banshee den but especially Afric’s, these will be your tools of survival. Rule One, Show absolutely no fear. Rule Two, Never at any point separate from the group. Rule Three, Do not and I repeat do not drink or eat anything offered to you.” Locking eyes with each of them, I added the most important rule of the night. “This last rule is only for tonight but I need you to follow it to the T. No matter what is said or done tonight, you will not intervene in my conversation with Afric.”

Dougal immediately went to disagree, “Fahbt Siúcra, you can’t ask us to just standby.”

“I can and I am. If your reason for wearing my color is true then you will listen to me. Afric isn’t someone you can handle.”

“But you can?”

Turning to the General, I raised a brow and stated point blank, “We have a Death Deal. Afric is Den Head because of me. I took out his brothers in exchange for a future favor. He now owes me a large debt that I plan on collecting, plain and simple.”

While a few of them looked impressed as a Death Deal wasn’t something to balk at, Dougal was angry. Holding his gaze, I waited for him to say something but he seemed to bite his tongue. I knew he would be pissed when he found out exactly what kind of deal it was. Instead of sealing the deal with a jolt of magic, a Death Deal with a banshee required both participants to die. Me and Afric’s death had only lasted a couple of minutes but it was enough to seal the deal.

“Why would you make that deal?” Dougal snapped, aggression lining his tone.

Oh, he was soooooo not going to like my answer.

Giving him my best ‘please don’t be mad’ smile, I admitted, “I could say the old Den Head was giving me trouble. But really, I was just bored.”

Seconds went by where he just stared at me but right when I caught sight of pointed teeth, Erick jumped in. “We should go. We still have a fake travel trail to create before we head to the den.”

Taking the exit he was giving me, I replied, “Let’s head out. Remember the rules for tonight and after you’ve established a fake trail, meet at the entrance of Garran Tolglainne.”

The men and women in front of me nodded in agreement before one by one, we all disappeared.

————

Inky darkness gave way to a charcoal sky dotted with shimmering diamond like stars and a shadowy castle. The flowers dotting the overgrown field swayed gently under the breeze coasting towards the stone walls of the castle. Without a tree in sight, there was nowhere for Afric’s guards to hide other than within the shadows of their fortress walls. Tall wraith like beings with waist length black hair leaned slightly out of the shadows to reveal their pale skin and yellow tinged eyes. It was almost unsettling that these dark beings lived in such a picture perfect clearing. But then again, the same could be said for the Unseelie.

While my group began to appear around me, the Banshees slunk out from their hiding places to confront us. Ankle length cloaks whispered across the grass as their metal staffs pounded into the ground creating an ominous tune. Taking a step forward, I placed myself between my soldiers and the Banshees who approached. Say what you will about Afric but he did excell in intimidation and dramatic flares.

A woman of my height called out, “Blue Queen, you’ve returned.”

“If I never truly left, how do I return.”

“What is it you seek within our walls?”

Folding my hands behind me, I rocked back on my heels and smiled, “The most powerful of all.”

“He is not receiving.” She replied.

“I’m taking, not giving.”

A small smirk transformed her expression from bored to interested, “There are no guarantees in the Banshees den. Do you wish to wake the king?”

“I deal in certainty. He deals in death. A king does not wake for a Queen but bows instead.” A weightlessness filled me at our tricky conversation and my grin continued to grow.

She eyed me with her own grin before spinning on her heel and tossing over her shoulder, “Follow Queen if you dare. Not one of you to be spared if it is declared. Dinner is rare.”

Hollowed chuckles rose from the line of Banshees leading us towards the castle while I glanced at the others behind me. Confusion and apprehension warred on their faces but they stood tall with a solid grip on their weapons. I couldn’t blame them, the Banshees loved their riddles and rhymes. Especially, when it was about granting someone entrance into their den. Taking pity on them, I flipped around to face them while continuing to walk.

Pressing a finger to my lips, I mouthed, ‘Remember the rules.’

Dani, apparently unimpressed with my attitude, mouthed back, ‘You could at least pretend not to be enjoying this so much.’

Muffling a laugh, I shot her a wink before turning around in time to see the Banshees come to a stop. As the gates slowly opened, the others behind the leading female drifted back along the wall to reclaim their positions. When it became possible to slip between the gates, the woman went through quickly and motioned for us to do the same. Dani and Dougal pressed in close as I passed between the gates making me roll my eyes at them. We were already invited in so they wouldn’t lock them out. They were tricky and insane but not impolite.

Instead of leading us into the castle, she led us around the side to a beautiful garden at the back of the stone castle. Roses, Lillies, Dandlewoods, and Fire Brights tangled together in a thorn filled arch in front of the gardens entrance. What held my attention though, was the man sitting at the long oak table a few feet in front of the garden. Banshees hovered by the table drawn in by the man’s alluring aura of death and insanity. It was thick and more intoxicating than a Nymphs lustful intent.

Sparkling yellow tinged eyes flicked over our group with a growing interest while he sipped from a golden chalice. His thin skeletal like body wrapped in black should have been corpse like but instead seemed effortlessly elegant. Afric’s long black hair was piled high on his head with a metal spike impaled through it. Sharply defining his hollowed out features while causing his eyes to stand out more. Despite having the same eyes as the rest of his kind, Afric always declared them his most unique and attractive feature.

Giggling, he raised his chalice in the air, “Blue Queen! Many whispers of you but none know the truth. Take a seat and let me see you.”

With a little pep in my step, I crossed the space between us and took a seat on his right. Resting my hands on the metal arm rests, I watched as Afric slid a filled cup in front of me and then turned to look at me. His smile grew to an almost uncomfortable degree when all I did in return was grin back at him. The others around us shifted at our odd situation but otherwise didn’t intervene. Good, they’re listening. Picking up the cup, I gave it a quick jerk and flicked the liquid into the bushes over my shoulder.

“No drink is free. Ask my fee.”

Without looking away, Afric shook his head, “Tsk. Tsk. Much has changed, you are not the same.”

“I have no time to waste.” I shrugged.

“Yes, yes. My Banshees, you implore, for your domestic war.”

My eye twitched at his little ‘implore’ and ‘domestic war’ comment but my grin never slipped, “I’d never implore. It’s to complete our deal and nothing more.”

Afric hummed, tapping a long nail against the side of his cup, “No.”

I could tell his one worded answer unnerved my companions but I was used to it. Even Afric’s whirlwind of a mind got tired of rhyming. That was more of a passing thought though as his ‘no’ pinged around my head at warp speed. Did this son of a bitch just really tell me no?

Pitching my voice sickly sweet, I purred, “Are you refusing to complete our deal, Afric?”

“Yes and no. I will only complete the deal by giving you something you really want.”

“I just told you what I wanted.”

He leaned forward with a conspiracatory smile, “But that’s not what you really want.”

Dropping my smile, I leaned into him, “And what is it that you think I really want?”

“Ah, ah ah. Not so fast, Blue Queen.” He replied, giving my nose a tap. “First, I must ask you a series of questions.”

I wish I could say I was annoyed by the sudden game he wanted to play. But the excitement that shot through me was undeniable. I wanted to play and see where it led me. Hopefully to a fight. It’s been too long.

“Fine, we play. But you condescendingly tap my nose again and I’ll rip your head from your shoulders.”

Afric slumped back into his chair with a high pitched laugh, “Always the jokester, Blue Queen. Answer the questions with the most base truth and there’ll be no retribution. First question! Who are you?”

“My most base truths, huh?” Sitting back in my own seat, I twirled a blue lock of hair around my finger, “In that case, I’m Macha O’Riordan. Mab’s first born and only bastard.”

“Off to a great start,” He announced, “Now, would you say you make rash decisions?”

I wasn’t even surprised that he wasn’t surprised to find out I was a bastard. “Concerning others? No, not anymore. Concerning myself? Always.”

Afric nodded with a serious expression and literally check marked the air, “Fantastic, we’re almost done. What’s your preferred method of killing?”

“Anything that amuses me in the moment.”

“Do you want to be Queen?”

I paused in my hair twirling to cast a look at the others sitting around us. The soldiers watched the surrounding Banshees but Dougal, Dani, and Erick watched us. Their colorful eyes were plastered to us as they witnessed our verbal sparring. Seemingly genuinely interested in how I would answer this next question.

Without looking away from them, I answered, “I honestly don’t know but I’ll stay and do my best if the people want me.”

“You, an Unseelie, would put aside your own wants for Fae you don’t know? For Fae that don’t owe you anything?”

Still looking at my small team, I smiled, “Yea.”

“How warm and fuzzy of you. Okay, Bastard Queen. Last question.”

Turning back to him, I caught his yellow tinged eyes with my own, “Hit me.”

“Are you the Hero or the Villain?”

My brows shot to my hairline as I jerked, “What?” I said hit me, not fucking slaughter me.

“It’s a simple question, Bastard Queen. Are you the Hero or the Villain in this future fairytale?”

I completely blanked as my eyes searched for the answer he expected but saw nothing. Was I the Hero or the Villain? The Hero or the Villain? Hero or Villain? Villain or Hero? The words felt like they were being repeated on a slow loop inside my head. Dougal said Puck called me a Hero but hundreds, including Mab, called me a Villain. A Hero was a savior, a person who sought justice for others. A Villain was someone who preferred chaos, death and destruction. Or were those just stereotypes?

“Macha is-”

Afric’s fist slammed harshly against the table before he grabbed the front of Dougals tunic and screamed in his face, “Afric and Macha are one in the same. Do not interrupt the game!”

Copying his actions, I snagged his collar and yanked him in my direction. His grip slipped from Dougal’s tunic and before he could blink, I had a knife pressed beneath his right eye. Afric raised a hand, stopping his Banshees from approaching, and gazed at me with a smile. Not an ounce of fear or concern for his eye showed as he whispered, “There she is, how beautiful a sight.”

“You asked if I was the Hero or the Villain, Afric. And I’m going to tell you my base truth.” Tapping the knife against his eye, I gave him a small private smile and whispered back, “You’re a worm, Afric. I take offense to people who try to wiggle their way out of my deals. So, I could stab this knife through your eye and slaughter your entire den without a single regret. Or I could let you go with a warning and everybody lives. This situation, like the many others I’ve been in, could go either way. And you know what, Afric?”

“Tell me, My Queen.”

“I. Couldn’t. Care. Less. The only thing stopping me is a whim. A whim of what I believe will benefit me and my people at the end of the day. And believe me when I say, I could leave here covered in your blood and not lose a wink of sleep over it.” Wrapping his cloak around my fist, I pulled him closer until our foreheads collided. “Hero or Villain? I’m whatever I need to be. So, give me what I’m owed before you really start to piss me off.”

His grin was huge as he shouted, “All Hail The Bastard Queen!”

“All Hail The Bastard Queen!”

Shoving him back into his seat, I looked around in confusion at the Banshees screaming in excitement and repeating his words. Dougal and the rest of my group slowly got their feet as well and looked around. Dragging my eyes back to Afric, I watched as he laughed hysterically and jumped up to grip the front of my tunic.

“A Queen! A Queen! A Queen! For so long we could only dream! Our loyalty and allegiance is solely yours. My soldiers, five thousand strong, will scream the death song for your glorious war! The deal is complete and much more!” Tears of joy gathered in the corner of his eyes as he released me to hop up on the table. His feet moved in a quick jig as the Banshees slammed their staffs into the ground setting a rhythm for him to dance to. “Brothers and Sisters! The Bastard Queen, our reigning supreme! The Den Head of All Den Heads! Neither good nor bad, she’ll lead us on the Divines path! A feast, a feast, to honor our Queen! Nay! Our God!”

Five thousand soldiers? God?

Drums began to beat in a loud haunting fashion as I tried to wrap my head around what the fuck just happened. Huge fires suddenly shot up in the once hidden pits around us and my group closed in around me. Banshees came crawling from the castle like a swarm of bees and covered the areas around us in a wiggling black mass. Laughter and screams rang out as their feet moved in fast spinning movements around us.

Dani clutched at my arm and yelled over the pounding drums, “Macha, what the fuck did you say to him?”

“Did you collect on the deal?” Dougal shouted.

Wide eyed, I watched as Afric got sandwiched between two dancing females on top of the table. “Uhhh, I could be mistaken but I think I just passed an interview to be their god.”

Erick leaned in to be heard, “Well, what do we do now?”

Taking a quick glance around at the partying Banshees, a grin spit my face. Screw it. Rushing forward, I got up on the table beside Afric and screamed, “We party till the fires die!”

More Banshees screamed out in joy as the fires shot higher into the sky. And the night passed by in a blur of fire, dancing and sugared liquor.

——

Okay, so be honest...who won that crazy off? Was anyone surprised with this little glimpse into Macha’s dark side? I think this might be my favorite chapter so far.

Don’t be shy to comment on what you liked about the chapter!

Smooches, Verbage💋