Twisted Metal Heart - Eve Langlais Page 0,80

for seconds.”

The queen stared at Darius a moment longer. “Perhaps the next time we meet.” She moved past him and slowed as she neared Titan. Her lip curled. “You again? How is it you’re not dead? I guess it’s true what they say about rats.”

She swept past, and while Titan’s eyes burned, he kept his mouth shut. Riella had warned him Mother would try and make him snap.

Finally, the queen stopped in front of her. “You are getting to be more trouble than you’re worth.”

“Imagine that. I’ve failed to please you again.” She rolled her eyes.

“I should have smothered you the moment you lost that arm. I knew there was something wrong with you. Something Deviant and not Aunimaa.”

“You’re the one who is sick,” Riella said to the woman who was never a mother. “And it’s time the world was rid of you.”

That was when she launched her part of the plan. The part she’d never told Titan or Darius about because they would have refused. Would have tied her so tight she’d have never gotten free.

She reached for her mother and hugged her. As the queen’s eyes widened in surprise at first, it quickly turned to fear as she realized Riella’s intent.

But by then it was too late. They’d hit the heart-stopping waters.

Nineteen

Titan couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think beyond his horror that Riella had sacrificed herself. She’d thrown herself and the queen into the deadly waters.

He lost it. The Centurions in front of him dented as his bionic fist slammed into the chest plate of one, the helmet of another. Then he was diving into the water, expecting it to burn, but finding it pleasantly warm. Soothing even.

He kept his eyes open as he scoured the murk, looking for her. Even if it was too late, he didn’t care.

He kicked, farther and farther down, feeling his lungs getting tight, knowing he’d have to breathe soon. But he had to find her. Had to…

He kicked to the surface and emerged spewing water. “Argh.”

“What are you doing, you idiot?”

He heard her voice, and it seemed impossible. He treaded water and turned to see her staring back at him.

“I came to save you.”

“I told you the water was dangerous.”

He blinked wet lashes. “Yeah.”

She smiled. “You risked your life for me.”

“Always, princess.”

“In this case, I forgive you.”

“If you’re done yapping, care to help a man out?” the pirate barked.

The lead Centurion had his weapon against Darius’s temple.

Riella grimaced. “Hold on a second. She’s heavier than she looks.” A moment later, a head surfaced. The queen’s head.

Dead.

Damn.

For a moment, Titan wondered if it would matter. The soldier appeared torn. No queen, the killer in sight.

Then there was a shouted question from the moored ship.

“You want us to keep any alive, Cap’n?” hollered one of the crew. An agile fellow who could climb every inch of the rigging.

“Depends. You guys planning to live to serve the next queen, or were you that attached to her you feel a need to avenge?” Alfred shimmered into view behind the Centurion. Even if the soldier couldn’t see him, he knew he was in trouble.

“Fuck that.” The Centurion dropped his weapon and pulled off his helm. “You did what we’ve been thinking of for a while.”

The other soldiers also removed their helms, showing a range of men and woman in their thirties and forties. The ones tough enough to be considered the best when their hearts were in it.

With them surrendering, he and Riella swam back to the docks. He heaved himself out and noticed how the soldiers leaned away from his dripping body.

Just as sopping wet, Riella confronted the soldiers. “The queen is dead. What will you say when you return to Emerald and report?”

The query made Titan wonder if leaving them alive was the right choice.

The lead Centurion, with his crew cut blond hair, snorted. “Who says we’re going back? Even this place seems better than the city dome and all its rules.”

Darius eyed them. “We could always use more men on the ships.”

“Work for a pirate?” More a question than a sneering remark.

“Got any better options?” Darius asked. “Just because this queen is dead doesn’t mean the next ruler won’t be worse.”

Riella grimaced. “Once the Enclave know Mother is not coming back, the fight will begin to see who takes over the throne.”

“You’re not going to try and snag it?” Titan asked.

Her nose remained wrinkled. “Ruling wouldn’t leave me any time to build things.”

“While you all figure out what the fuck you want, I say we get