Hive Queen by Sinclair, Grayson (positive books to read .txt) 📕

she said with a grin. “But word will quickly spread, and we won’t have any more trouble. I’d say that’s worth the life of one lowly pickpocket.”

Makenna sat down with a chuckle. “I won’t complain. Besides, if it keeps the rabble from getting handsy with us, then I say it’s well worth the price.”

I disagreed wholeheartedly, but I couldn’t speak up about it, not when my own hands were stained with blood. I killed because I had to, because Sam or myself would have died otherwise, but that was murder. Something I wasn’t comfortable with at any level.

Sam himself was a murderer, but he always had a good reason for killing. Evelyn may have had a valid reason, but there were other options available that she could have done easily.

I sat down heavily, the chair groaning as I dropped my weight on it. Evelyn and the other looked up, saw my face and frowned. Evelyn picked up a fork and jabbed it at me. “Don’t even think about it, little queen. You’ll just waste your breath.”

“But…did you have to─“

“Yes. Now I don’t want to hear about it again. I’ve already forgotten it.”

With that, she tuned me out and whistled for the barkeep, who had been nervously eyeing us since she’d killed the man. He came over, tray in hand close to his chest like a shield, and tried to put on a fake smile, but it slipped every other second.

“What can I get for you today?” he stammered.

It seemed everyone deferred to Evelyn as she ordered for us. “A round of drinks and steak, and it better be fresh.”

He jumped at her tone and nodded before scurrying back behind the bar. Adam looked over at his sister with a sigh and reached over to flick her lightly on the nose. “Your evil is showing, dear sister of mine.”

She laughed. “And your point being?”

“Nothing,” he said, grinning. “Just being a dutiful brother and pointing out your shortcomings.”

Evelyn laughed and began toying with the fork still in her hand, making it balance on the tips of her fingers, looking over at me and my sullen face. She sighed.

“All right, little queen. Because I actually like you and it seems not everyone agrees with my decision, I’ll stick to clear, justifiable murder going forward, fair?”

It was probably the best I could ever hope for, so I nodded. “Thank you, Evelyn.”

After that, the mood lightened around our table. A few different conversations picked up between the guild. Gil and Makenna talked to themselves, discreetly holding hands under the table, which I thought was the cutest thing I’d ever seen. Tegen and Cheira were sitting together on a chair, each of them fighting for more room on the small chair until I picked up Cheira and put her in my lap.

She smirked at Tegen and leaned back into me. “See, told you Eris loves me more.”

“She does not,” Tegen retorted. “Right, Aunt Eris?”

I reached over and patted his head. “Of course. I love you both equally.”

Cheira’s hair was windswept, so while we waited for our drinks, I combed through her hair with my fingers, untangling the knots.

By the time I’d tamed the chaos of her hair, the barkeep returned with an even larger tray filled with glass mugs brimming with a deep brown and red liquid. “Far Trips specialty. Blackberry mead. On the house,” he said, setting the drinks down and leaving, going through a door on the back wall that led to the kitchen, from the scents of food that wafted out.

I picked up the glass and savored the bittersweet aroma that drifted to my nose. My mouth watered at the prospect of drinking it, and I was about to take a sip when Cheira grabbed my arm.

“Can I have some?” she asked.

Tegen perked up at that as well and raised his hand. “Me too, me too!”

Should I give them some? It seemed harmless enough, but I wanted to make sure it was okay before I let them have any. I took a sip and marveled at the sweetness of the blackberries before I reached the small bite of the alcohol. It was sweet and smooth, and if they didn’t drink too much, I figured it would be fine to let them have a taste.

They each took turns after I warned them of only a sip, and they both delighted in the taste, lighting up and reaching for more, but I took it from them.

As the barkeep passed by our table, I waved him down. “Can I get two small glasses of watered-down mead for the children?”

“Right away, Miss,” he said and quickly brought over two glasses.

Soon after our food was ready and we dug in, each of us delighting in the fresh meat and drink. I joined in the conversation with Gil and Makenna when they brought up Sam and Aldrust. They were trying to figure out how Sam could possibly complete his task, but keeping the specifics vague since there was a chance we could be overheard.

I had never been to the kingdom of the dwarves, so I was useless in providing any help, but it was interesting to listen to them talk about it. I knew that most of the city was deep underground, but  from the way they were talking about it, it was far larger than I originally thought.

“So you think he has a chance?” Gil asked.

Makenna thought about it for a minute before sighing and shaking her head. She was about to say something, but I interjected. “Of course he does. He’s the most stubborn man I’ve ever met. human or Hive. He’ll be fine,” I said, putting as much hope that I was right into my words.

Makenna smiled and patted my shoulder. “You’re right. He’ll be fine.”

We ate, drank, and talked for another