Free The Red Queen by Meg Xuemei X Page A

first time, they weren’t warm toward her.
    “Are you going to join them and fight me?” She sent him another challenge. They were prey. She could bring down all of them. She could take down an army, like she’d done in the Sealers’ Temple of Lemuria.
    “I’m on your side,” said Kian.
    “Then don’t get in my way,” she said.
    “Fight me,” said Kian, “and me alone.” He gestured for Vladimir and Ashburn to step aside. They gave him a tentative look before obeying him.
    “You’re the shrewd one, Kian,” she said. “You’ve taught me since I was little. You know my every move.”
    “Not every move,” Kian said coolly. “You picked up a few tricks on your own.”
    Lucienne laughed. But why did her laughter sound strange and coarse to her own ears?
    “I’m unarmed.” Kian raised his hands in the air. “You’ve crossed swords with two despicable boys and won. Why don’t you and I go for variety? A fistfight. I promise it’ll be more fun.”
    “Clever,” Lucienne said. “You want to strip away my weapons. No matter.” She tossed the Chiyoganemaru sword aside, and Thaddeus at once lurched toward it, removing it from her sight. “What are the rules, old man?”
    “Three rounds. Whoever loses won’t pick another fight, but will go home quietly.” 
    “And the winner will do whatever he or she wants,” said Lucienne.
    “Deal.” Kian adopted a boxing pose, gesturing for Lucienne to make the first move.
    "I can never win in a boxing match against you," Lucienne said. "But you forgot one thing, Chief McQuillen.” She flashed him a devious grin. “I don’t need a weapon. I am the weapon.” She stood where she was, five yards from him, and raised her hands in the air. Energy burst from her; the wild wind manifested itself, sweeping Kian off his feet and sending him flying several yards away. Until he crashed to the ground.
    “Chief McQuillen,” Ziyi rushed toward Kian with a wince, “can you stand? She didn’t mean to hurt you.”
    Kian was up in a second, waving the girl away. There was no anger in his hard sapphire eyes, but a mosaic of sadness, pride, and heaviness.
    “I wouldn’t really hurt Kian,” Lucienne said. “I love the man. I just need to show him my power, so he won’t always stand in my way. However,” she turned to point two fingers at Vladimir and Ashburn, “these two show me no respect.” She watched their disagreeable expressions. “Have you seen the looks they just give me? They talk about teaching each other a lesson. Now they’re going to learn that lesson for their insufferable arrogance.” Slowly she pulled a hunting knife out from her boot. “But which one should I stab first?” Her gaze flickered from Vladimir to Ashburn, back and forth.
    They stared at her grimly.
    “Ziyi,” Lucienne called, “I’m having a hard time here. You’re my genius. Help me decide.”
    Ziyi scrambled to Lucienne’s side in her stilettos, but kept a safe distance. “Stabbing is no fun. What about slapping them? It’s more insulting.” She made a dash toward Vladimir. “I really want to slap this one.”
    Vladimir grabbed Ziyi’s wrist in the air.
    “Play along,” Ziyi hissed at the Czech prince.
    “I don’t care,” Vladimir said. “No one slaps me, not even her.”
    “You’d rather be stabbed?” Ziyi hissed.
    “You know, I have super hearing.” Lucienne shifted her attention toward them. “And good job, Ziyi. You just helped me find my target.” She stalked toward Vladimir, eyeing the scimitar in his hand.
    Vladimir tossed his sword at her feet as he held her gaze. “I’m yours,” he said. “Do whatever you want with me.” He shoved off his leather jacket, flung it away, and tore open the black shirt that hugged his torso, exposing his bare, hard-muscled chest before her.
    Lucienne stared at it for a long moment. It would be nice to lay her head on that chest. Vladimir rasped under the weight of her examination. He was turned on by her, but she