The Invisible Ring

it always came down to blind trust because it was the ultimate test of the bond between a Queen and the males who serve her.
    “It’s time to start,” Thera said, rising.
    Silent, all the men except Jared, Talon, and Blaed left the room. When Lia rose, the three men formed a triangle around the two women, Talon automatically taking the point while Blaed and Jared each flanked his own Lady.
    “Prince Talon, your presence is required,” Lia said when they stepped outside. She moved out of earshot and waited for the Sapphire-Jeweled Warlord Prince to join her.
    Jared’s muscles quivered at the formal request. Before he could decide whether or not to insist on being part of that private conversation, Thera dragged him back inside the tavern.
    She gave him a brittle smile that was probably meant to reassure him but, instead, turned his guts to water.
    “I need some of your blood,” Thera said, holding up a small pewter cup. “For the web.”
    Power sang in the blood. Life sang in the blood.
    And trust, like love, was one of the heart’s songs.
    Jared pushed up his sleeve and offered his wrist.
    She was quick, gentle, and far more careful about healing the nick in his wrist than he would have been.
    Giving him another brittle smile, Thera put the cover on the cup and dashed to the Coach she and Lia were using to prepare this Queen’s gamble.
    Stepping outside again, Jared eased closer to where Lia and Talon were still standing.
    “If that’s what you want,” Talon said grimly, “a fast—”
    “I told you what I want from you,” Lia replied. “Exactly what I want. Will you do it?”
    Jared eased closer. The fierce unhappiness in Talon’s face made his heart beat strangely, as if it couldn’t decide to pound until it burst or just fade until it stopped.
    “Promise me, Talon.” Lia gave Talon’s hand an urgent squeeze.
    Talon looked at their clasped hands. His fingers curled around hers. When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy. “I swear by the Jewels and all that I am that I’ll do exactly as you asked.”
    Leaning forward, Lia swiftly kissed Talon’s cheek. “Thank you.”
    Then she noticed Jared and stepped back, blushing.
    Still watching Lia, Talon’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. Then his attention shifted to Jared for a moment. “If you’ll excuse me, Lady, I have some preparations to make.”
    “Of course,” Lia murmured.
    As Talon walked past Jared, he muttered, “May the Darkness have mercy on me,” and kept going until he reached his Warlords.
    “Lia,” Jared said quietly, taking a couple of steps toward her.
    Lia retreated. “I—I have to help Thera.”
    There were shadows under her eyes from lack of sleep. There were shadows in her eyes, hiding so many things.
    And there was that something he should understand about Jewels and psychic links that was still teasingly just out of reach.
    “Lia, what is the Queen’s gamble?”
    “What it’s always been.” Lia licked her lips. “That the males she’s assigned certain tasks to will perform those tasks exactly as requested. That they won’t allow themselves to become distracted by whatever else is happening—or whatever else they think is happening.”
    “Lia . . .”
    Her hand clamped on his forearm. “Jared, you must hold the web. You must . Everything depends on it.”
    Jared swallowed hard. “I’ll hold it.”
    What he saw in her eyes took his breath away.
    Lia tried to smile. “I have to help Thera.”
    When she tried to move away, he reached out and gathered her in his arms. “Once more,” he whispered, lowering his head. “Just once more.”
    He kissed her gently, deeply.
    Confused, he released her and stepped back. “Go help Thera.”
    Jared watched as she hurried away from him. There was a tartness to her psychic scent that shouldn’t have been there. It didn’t fit her. Wasn’t like her .
    “Jared.”
    Putting that puzzle aside, Jared turned at the sound of Talon’s voice. “What did she ask of you?” Jared demanded.
    Talon gave him a considering look. “You know better than that.”
    Yes, he knew better than to ask another male about a private request made by a Queen, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to know the answer.
    Talon looked around, as if to make sure there was no one near enough to overhear them. Moving closer, he said quietly, “You’ve played chess with her?”
    “A couple of times.”
    “Does this fit her pattern?”
    Fool , Jared thought. You should have thought of this yourself . He closed his eyes and pictured the game board. “If her stronger pieces