I keep working on Red Queen when I’m supposed to be doing other things, which is why I’m calling it “the crack book”. It’s addictive and won’t leave me alone. Here’s a sneak peek:

When planning a fairytale wedding, it’s dangerous to forget an important fairytale rule; the uninvited guest always curses the celebrated event.

RED QUEEN
Charlene Teglia
copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved

“Did you invite anybody interesting to our wedding? Some little detail you didn’t tell me?”
“Not an invitation. I sent an announcement.”
I nodded. “To who?”
“To the griffin king.”
“Griffins,” I said. “Like a lion, but with wings? Those are for real?”
“For real. And the king of the griffins is the king of all beasts.”
“We have an evil overlord?” I burst out.
“Not evil. Just overlord.”
“Do we need his permission to get married?”
Zack shook his head. “Mating is a pack matter. But it’s polite to notify the sovereign of these things. We haven’t had a queen for over twenty years. We may be invited to court so you can swear fealty.”
“Court being full of other shapeshifters,” I said. “Any of whom could be a psychopath.”
“David and I would never leave you alone.”
“Why am I not reassured?”
“Because you’re very smart.” Zack hugged me hard. “Mostly the various races of shifters keep to themselves and their own territories. Court has its own set of rules.”
“In other words, at court even a wolf queen has to watch her step?”
“Yes. It’s not our territory. We don’t have the final say there. And maneuvering for power isn’t a purely human phenomenon.”
“You really know how to kill the afterglow,” I muttered. “Is there anything else you didn’t mention before? A family curse? A wicked stepmother?”
“No.”
“Good.” I felt faint as it was. “Glad there aren’t any further surprises waiting. So I should be on my guard against feral shapeshifters, and the griffin king might send us a royal invitation we can’t refuse.”
“That covers it.”
“Just so we’re clear.”