King See stiffened, and the ancient in me did raise her head. What did that mean? Had Change played more of a part in matters than I had seen?
Regardless, on the topic of husk dolls, he had not factored in the growing power of a queen and how well her crown would fit so shortly into queendom. Otherwise, yes, his attack on my self-esteem might have crushed me more.
“I will release your princess in one week,” I told him. “King Raise, King Take, what decisions have you made?”
Both kings were ever discerning. They understood that I had changed again. I could prevent a princess from returning to her king. And I would.
More than that, they did not understand the new ways in which I was dangerous.
“I accept your offer.” Raise was first to break. But he loved, and I was reluctantly starting to admit how that weakened him.
Take hissed his annoyance. “She has paid for the intrusion, you say. I will leave with my princess and my sixth. But you will pay for past slights against her, or I shall meet you here again in the same way.”
I nodded. “You might pen a letter to me on this, sir. We might negotiate to settle things amicably.”
“We shall see,” he replied.
Two kings departed with their sixths. Change and Bring exchanged a long look. How ironic to see an alliance between the king of ruin and that of saving.
Change turned his back on me and strode away without another word. His humans, those still alive, did the same.
“You have earned an enemy this night,” King Bring announced.
“You could be so much more without half as much denial, bringing king,” I said back.
And he yearned to attack.
This king hated me in fullness and might never stop doing so. How he wished to unravel and break and use me.
King See looped his arm around my waist. “You would do better to listen, brother king.”
Even through his hate, the ruler of charm and curse must want me, for he roared fury at the sight of See touching me, and his reply came between grunts of rage and heaving inhales. “You arenobrother of mine, purposeless king. You… are an enemy of my ambition, an enemy ofsaving, and so an enemy of mine.As she has proven unworthy, so have you. No unworthy creature shall win home in the future I create. I swear this now and forever!”
I had earned an enemy for myself and King See tonight. King Bring’s declaration was no trivial matter.
“Enemies, you say,” See mused to his brother king.
Then my chin was tilted and shifted until I gazed up into milky eyes. He did tower so.
“So be it,” stated King See as he set his cruel lips to mine.
And perhaps a queen’s purpose had little to do with kings.
But the obsessions of a king must be managed lest he spill into claiming madness.
And so I ran my hands over chalky skin and dark hair and torsioned my lips against his. I gave him what he needed now, knowing that our agendas might clash horribly another time very soon.
We spoke of destiny and doom after all.
So be it.
