The Queen's Dance (Emerging Queens) Read Online Free Page A

with depleted uranium rounds and walked outside. These bullets could punch through a tank’s armor. While it wouldn’t kill a drake or one of the bigger Celtic dragons outright, it would make them think twice about poaching on his land.
    “Remy, what?” Margery said, alarmed. “That’s a big damn gun.”
    “Rifle. Cover your ears,” he said and fired to the left of her.
    The drake roared and flipped over. It writhed in pain as the depleted uranium bullet shattered through several layers of scales. Remy shot it twice more until it twitched in agony. It was still alive, but it wasn’t going to get up anytime soon.
    “Holy shit,” Margery screeched, both hands clamped on her ears.
    “Stay down,” he warned and blasted a second drake.
    “Hold your damn fire,” the third drake snarled, shifting into human form to make a smaller target.
    Margery scrambled up from the air mattress, clutching the laptop and the quilt to her.
    “What are you doing on my land?” Remy asked.
    “We wanted to talk to the Queen.”
    “How did you know she was here?” Remy covered Margery as she scurried behind him, sinking two more rounds into the second drake so the only immediate threat was from the one in human form.
    “People talk. We listen. Is she sick?”
    “I’m fine. Thanks,” Margery said. “I’m not in the mood to be receiving guests.”
    “The Queen says fuck off.” Remy sighted the barrel on the remaining drake.
    “We need to ask her a few questions.”
    “Then come back tomorrow. The embassy’s delegates will be here.”
    “I don’t need to kowtow to Reed and his idiots,” the drake spat. “It can be solved here and now. What is the Queen going to do about the lake situation?”
    “Last I checked, it was my lake,” Remy said.
    “Not anymore it’s not, son. She’s the only Queen in this territory. Unless Viola is going to claim all the islands, too.”
    “I’m not interested in territory,” Margery said. “I’ve got an apartment in Manhattan.”
    The drake cocked his head. “I’m not sure who’s Queen of New York, but it ain’t going to be you. You’re not powerful enough to keep it when another Queen attacks it.”
    “I don’t think you understand,” she said, tucking the quilt more securely around her. “I’m not interested in dragon politics.”
    “Well, it’s interested in you, sweetheart.”
    “I’ve got my own life and my own career,” Margery went on as if he hadn’t spoken.
    “You need protection. I know Champ here is your protector now, but he’s useless as tits on a bull.”
    Remy shot him. A human would have had a gaping hole in his chest where the DU round punched through and into the tree behind him. The drake flew back, but he couldn’t see daylight through him. “How does useless feel, son ?”
    “It doesn’t have to go down like this.” The drake coughed, slowly regaining his footing. He was a tough bastard. Remy could see why he was the leader. “Let the Queen make her own choice.”
    “It’s made,” Margery said. “I’ve accepted Remy’s protection.”
    Fuck.
    He was now her protector until she put together a formal court and he could petition to be relieved of duties. Remy couldn’t stop to glare in her direction. She probably didn’t even know what she’d just done. Still, he was a better choice than these jerk-offs.
    All he wanted to do was fish and be left alone. He didn’t need this Queen shit.
    “Is he your consort?”
    His body twitched in response. It might not be all bad after all. He’d never thought he’d have sex with a woman of his own species. And Margery was gorgeous as a human; he would have been buying her a drink if they’d met under different circumstances.
    “That’s none of your business,” she said.
    Remy grinned at her prim tone.
    “If you haven’t picked a consort yet, there will be plenty offering for the job.”
    “I’m in negotiations,” Margery hedged.
    Remy rolled his eyes. She was a bad liar, but the drake