Mercy (Queen's Birds of Prey 1)

Mercy flushed. She did have enough of the little tin toys to go out. Lucky for her she’d had some of the ones that she’d seen in stores ages ago, and when she saw a need for them again. it was easy enough to start production on them since she had some of the originals. With just a small change here and there, she had a viable product to sell.

“Here is what I’m going to do for you, Mercy. I’m going to book you a vacation and you will take it. Without your cell phone, without any kind of computer or tablet. And you will enjoy yourself.” Mercy opened her mouth to protest. She was a grown woman, damn it. “You have to do this. If you don’t, you’re going to be the most hated boss and friend that has ever been made.”

When Blaze left her to tell her employees they were going to close the plant for two weeks and that they’d be paid for it, Mercy sat in her office trying to think why she was going to do this. She knew that she’d been working too hard, and that her stress level was through the roof. But the need to have reserves, of everything, had followed her throughout her entire human life.

Being changed into what she was hadn’t been anything that she wanted. When the queen had told them of her plan, she never mentioned that they’d be around forever. Nor did she tell them that with their change, that they’d be able to be both sizes of birds. The smaller one that could take flight whenever they wanted. And the larger one that could be destructive as well as keep them safe—the large predators that helped save an entire kingdom.

Leaning back in her chair, she closed her eyes. Mercy tried very hard not to remember the events of that time, and today was no different. But her heart hurt for the woman that had given her life so that they might have theirs. Not that Mercy cared for her life, but she was going to make the most of it for Dante. Exhaustion took her under in just a matter of seconds.

The nap had done her a world of good, and she was ready to face the rest of her day. Opening her computer, she saw four messages from Blaze, as well as two from Esme. Mercy opened Esmeralda’s first. She was always a good one to have a laugh with.

I hear that you’re going on a trip. Yay! I’d like to say that I want you to have fun, but we both know that not only will you be worrying about your business, but also looking for a new project to get going. I love you, Mercy, so please, get laid. Have a one-night stand, and for all the love in the world, try and rest. You’re beginning to look your age.

With a happy face, Mercy signed off.

After making sure that all her emails were taken care of, she put in a note saying that she was going on a vacation. It took her ten minutes of trying to decide if she needed to do this when Blaze emailed her again.

Her plans were set. All she had to do was go to the airport. There wasn’t any mention of where she was going or what she was doing, but she figured that once she got it, if it didn’t suit her, she’d just go where she wanted.

Mercy didn’t need to pack much in the way of clothing—just something for show, as well as any kind of personal items that she would need. Not having to buy clothing—or for that matter, wash anything—had been given to them by Dante as well. They each had the ability to wear whatever they wanted at any time just by thinking about it.

The airport was crowded when she arrived. Blaze had told her that she was leaving tonight and would be able to enjoy her holiday in the morning. Mercy had no idea how she thought that was going to work. She didn’t even want to go on this thing. But there was a plane on the tarmac just for her to use. Blaze, apparently, had gone all out for this thing.

The plane was much nicer than she had remembered. They owned a fleet of planes that would deliver their merchandise all over the world. Not only did Mercy produce tin toys but Blaze designed clothing that was in all the big-name stores and online.

Jude handled all the online orders for both their businesses, which was very lucrative. Most of the sales for both of their business was from that very way of buying. The catalog that had been put there had special things that could only be purchased online.

Piper worked with metals, making the most incredible art with her own flame. Things that people who wanted a handmade proclamation that they had money would hang on their homes. Nothing she did was cheap.

Remi had a string of restaurants all over the world. She didn’t work in any of them, but she could cook a meal that would make even the best chef jealous. And after they all approved of the meal,

or gave their comments on it, she would then perfect it and put it on the menu. Her restaurants were featured in news writeups that gave her rave reviews.

Esme was an artist. That sounded so lame for what she did. Not only did she work with paints and canvas, but she had taken to making the finest jewelry that Mercy had ever seen. In fact, Mercy thought, she was wearing a piece of her work now. It was a pretty bracelet that had each of their birds on it. And their eyes on the bracelet were the colors of the castle they had been to with the Queen Dante and destroyed.

The plane took off on time and Mercy was brought a glass of wine. She so loved the taste of the white grapes that she’d bought herself a vineyard to make sure that the one that she enjoyed most never went out of business. The people that ran it were doing a good job, and sales for that were very nice too.

Mercy wondered if she was headed to a fat farm. Not that she’d need that—none of them could gain an ounce except for being with child. Mercy knew that wouldn’t happen to her. She wasn’t the type of person that men fawned all over. She wasn’t very tolerant of men in general.

It wasn’t as if she felt like her life was ruined by being what she was, but her life had been taken from her—at least the one that she had wanted to live. As she’d been born a falcon, she had thought that she’d live a full life—the one before the magic had changed her—and then die.

Dante had told them of the king’s decree that she wed him. Dante had also known that he was only doing it to take her castle. They all figured that the wedding night would be the last night alive for the queen of the castle, for he would surely kill her for someone much younger to bear him a boy child.

“Miss? The plane is about to land. May I get you anything before we do?” She asked her where they were. “I’m not supposed to tell you, but I’d dig out some shorts if I were you. I think it’s in the mid-nineties today.”

She’d sent her someplace hot? It would be like Blaze to make the next stop on this trip someplace where it was in the mid-nineties below zero. Getting up when the plane touched down, Mercy went to one of the little windows and looked out.

There wasn’t much to see but the airport. There might have been palm trees, but it was moving by so quickly that she didn’t have time to make it out. The plane she was on came to a smooth stop when it got to its gate, and Mercy decided that she’d know more about this trip if she would just get off the damned plane.

Mercy had to catch herself from snarling at everyone. Twice now she’d had to count to ten before asking as politely as one could through clenched teeth where she was. It was hot. As soon as she stepped off the plane it had slapped her no less hard than a good punch to the mouth. But she was here, and and it looked like she wasn’t ever going to enjoy herself.

Hearing her name called over the intercom, she looked around for a white courtesy phone. When she finally located one, not only was it not working, but it had gum all over the handle and now all over her hand. Christ, this was one of the biggest mistakes she’d ever made.

Finally locating a phone that worked, she wasn’t in a great mood. And no matter how many times she counted to fifty, nothing was working to sooth her temper. The man at the other end did not help his cause when he answered her return call with laughter.

“Look buddy. I’ve had the worse ten minutes anyone could endure. I’m supposed to be on a fucking vacation, not running all over the airport looking for a phone so you could blow me off by thinking this is some sort of joke. What the fuck do you want?” He laughed again. “I don’t know what you want, but as of his moment, I’m going to murder you.”

“Blaze said that you’d not be in the best of humor when I picked you up. I’m the man near the limo that is waiting for you to come out so that we can be on this adventure.” She asked him what the limo was for. “To convey a person or persons from one point to the next. With all your smarts, as I’ve been told you have, I’d think you’d know that much.”