Free The Red Queen by Meg Xuemei X

annoying.
    “She can’t hear you,” said Ziyi.
    The Chinese girl had joined her audience, but she was wrong. Lucienne could hear everything. She was just fed up with answering everyone. From her experience, they always wanted something from her. Always demanding.
    “You must stop her,” Ziyi said. “If she returns to herself, only to realize she hurt either of you badly, she’ll never recover.”
    “Very cute, Shorty,” Lucienne said. “But if I were you, I’d shut up. You don’t want me to fix my attention on you today.” She glanced at the girl, who opened her mouth agape at the threat. “But if you want to join the rank of these two insolent boys, be my guest. But you’re basically useless when it comes to fighting.”
    Ashburn blocked a blow meant for Vladimir while she was distracted by that super-annoying girl. “You two just keep returning each other’s favors?” she asked them. “ My enemy’s enemy is my friend . You two are learning.”
    “We’re not your enemy, láska.” Vladimir drew a breath. “We’re your friends. More than friends.”
    “Now you want to be my friends?” Lucienne laughed her silky laughter and swirled to the side. It was a feint. She cut a strand of silver hair from Ashburn. Souvenir . She put the hair under her nose and sniffed it. At the same time, her sword hand swept the weapon upward to fend off Vladimir. The sneaky Czech was trying to disarm her while she pretended to be sidetracked. “Take advantage of a girl?” she asked. “You’re excellent at it, Blazek. But I, Lucienne Lam, don’t allow anyone, especially men, to walk all over me.” She dashed aside and lunged, her sword meeting Vladimir’s double blade again and again. From a mixed look of appreciation and apprehension on his face, she could tell she was faster than any opponent he’d ever fought. But several rounds later, when she still couldn’t bring him to his knees, she wasn’t thrilled.
    Lucienne sent Forbidden Glory through her blade.
    “Let’s see how good you are at taking this,” she snickered.
    Fire flared from the clash of steel. The Czech prince jumped back with a yelp. His eyes widened, but he didn’t let go of the hilt of his scimitar.
    The men, who had scattered, returned and shouted out cheers, awed by her power. Lucienne was pleased. Many of them had never seen her in action. Now they witnessed how terrifying and powerful their Siren was.
    Behold! Behold the power flowing in my veins.
    Her sword sailing, Lucienne cut off a lock of Vladimir’s wheat-colored braid before he wheeled away. She brought the strand of his hair under her nose too. It smelled of rosemary, chamomile, and nettle.
    “Russian Amber Imperial, isn’t it?” she asked with a lopsided smirk. “You have expensive taste, prince. Ash uses only plain lavender soap.”
    Do not hurt them! Please. Who made the pathetic wailing? For a moment, she almost thought it was her own voice. “Someone tried to get in my head, begging me not to kill you,” she said. “I’ve given it a thought. It would be a pity to rid the world of both of you. Maybe I should keep one of you as my pet. Who’s going to be the lucky one?”
    Ashburn thrust his Viking sword toward her from behind.
    “And I thought you weren’t the irritating one, Ashburn Fury.” She parried backwards without turning. “I can blindfold myself and still beat you both.”
    Then she heard roars. Oh, brother . Kian McQuillen arrived. He threatened to punish the men with court martial if they didn’t disappear from his sight in two seconds. The buzz killer .
    The spectators were gone. Now there were only her opponents, Kian, and her personal guards. The petite Chinese girl in qipao also stayed, looking sadly lost and terrified.
    “Lucienne Lam,” Kian called, advancing toward her. “Put down your sword.”
    “Why should I?” She looked at him defiantly, a hand on her hip. “And who are you to order me, McQuillen?”
    Kian narrowed his eyes. For the