Free STARGATE ATLANTIS: The Furies (Book 4 in the Legacy series) by Jo Graham Page A

no betrayal.” So intent was she upon her consort that perhaps she did not even notice that the human’s hand had tightened on her ankle.
    For a moment Guide hesitated as though he would not obey, but then he bent his head in deep respect again. “As Queen Steelflower requires,” he said.
    “Shields are dropping,” Bronze said at the sensors.
    Steelflower looked at Waterlight. “I thought it best if I came to talk to you alone, rather than with Guide and a full hive. I thought that would seem as though I wished to intimidate you, rather than speak as queen to queen. And so I asked my consort to follow after. But I fear he values me rather too much, and did not wait as long as I said.”
    Waterlight’s eyes were shining. “What other would do as you do?” she asked, “To come alone and speak with me as kin, when you might have had me beneath your guns and simply demanded my compliance?”
    “That would be the act of an enemy, not a sister,” Steelflower said.
    “Then gladly I name you sister and ally,” Waterlight said.
    “As I name you,” Steelflower replied.
    “My Queen?” Guide said. “Will you not come aboard your ship?”
    “I would prefer to travel aboard the Eternal,” Steelflower said coolly. “Come to me there and make your report.”
    “As my queen wishes,” he said, and the transmission ended.
    “I must return to my ship,” Steelflower said to Waterlight. “I would hope that we may yet speak further, but it seems my consort is eager to speak with me. No doubt some matter has arisen he feels needs my attention.”
    “Of course,” Waterlight said.
     
    Guide met them in the corridor outside the docking port, and there were many expressions of respect all around, Thorn to Guide, Waterlight to Steelflower, before the portal closed and they stood within the skin of the cruiser Eternal, Steelflower, Guide, and the human John Sheppard.
    Guide watched as the portal iris closed, and the cruiser disconnected from the Promised Return, floating free between the two hive ships.
    “What in the hell is going on here?” Sheppard demanded.
    “I was about to say the same thing,” Guide echoed.
    “I am surprised you ask,” Teyla said, turning to Guide, her long coat like a blade’s swirling around her. “Since you are the one who told me where Colonel Sheppard was.”
    “This was not what I had thought Carter would do,” Guide began. “It is…”
    “Wait.” Sheppard held a hand up. “Todd, you told Teyla where I was?”
    “I told Colonel Carter where you were,” he corrected. “Though I had no doubt that she would share that information with the Young Queen. And that she would take steps to insure your release.” He swung back to Teyla. “What are you playing at with Waterlight and Thorn? Do you have any idea the stinger’s nest you are getting into?”
    “Wait,” Sheppard said again.
    Guide stopped, his eyes on his face. “Yes?”
    “Thanks.” Sheppard was disheveled and dirty, but his back was straight and his eyes level. “I appreciate it.”
    Guide huffed, almost a laugh. “It was nothing, I believe the expression is.” He shook his head, turning back toward Teyla, looming a foot over her, and yet she looked as though it didn’t even occur to her to step back, unarmed and inches from his feeding hand. “But this masquerade is unexpected, and throws all into disarray.” He shook his head again. She was Steelflower to the core, and though he knew it was false he could not fail to respond to her as though she were the Queen she pretended. She might wear a human body, but there was no mistaking the strength of mind that dwelled within. Were she Wraith indeed, she might have been a great queen. “I do not know what you hope to gain.”
    “Besides Colonel Sheppard’s release?” She lifted her head, her beautiful hair rippling at the movement in the soft shiplight. “We have tried and failed to gain access to Dr. McKay. Perhaps Steelflower can prevail where Teyla Emmagan