Page 102 of Of Brides Of Queens

Huckery was as astounded as the others, and I smirked within. I had them.

I explained, “My will fills you with the power to protect yourself against kings. My seeing pawns did so against their liege, did they not? If King Change seeks to punish you for slumbering in my queendom, you are required to protect yourself.”

Huckery spluttered, “We cannot?—”

“There will be no punishment in my name,” I thundered. “Do not cross me in this matter. This applies to the issue of slumbering in my queendom and toallfuture issues involving me and your king. You willprotect yourself from him. On and on and forever.”

Minutes passed.

Dawn was well and truly here.

Three werebeasts disappeared as humans stumbled from the ruins, and three likenesses of gods stood where beast had been. Ancients had carved them to obscene perfection.

Maybe that was how I appeared now, too—a goddess without stitch nor patch. Except I did not usually feel such discomfort in my mind, like a headache steadily worsening.

I must quit this kingdom. Change’s power was working on me.

Huckery whispered, “We would choose his punishment over this, my queen. We understand and agree with his actions.”

And that was an ache in my heart that warmth would not heal. So cold it must be. “This is the payment I demand. None of you need to agree or understand my actions to enforce them. You are my valued and worthy pawns, but mere pawns to a queen. Even as princes, you do not exist to understand your liege, and as my pawns, you are required to do less.”

This struck a chord with them, and I could not say how the coldness of this transaction sat withme. I was forcing them to protect themselves.

“We return to my queendom for slumber,” I said. “There, I have three hellebore badges for you that I have intended to present you with since the battle with King Raise. You will wear these as a token of the deal we have struck.”

The nearest humans startled at my voice that must have appeared to come from thin air. Even if I appeared a goddess to them in daylight, they could not appreciate it.

One croaked, “She that inspires,

She they desire,

Should only shimmer

Like a star

Without its power,

Lest starlight steals

All they are,

To build her tower.”

I grimaced at the poem. It would not do for King Change to hear that.Goodness,but my mind was quite painful. I had to leave this kingdom.

“Steal who she is,” roared a human.

The shout was taken up, and the humans scanned wildly for me. Fire was lit, and the husk doll versions of me were tossed in to stoke the flame.

Steal who she is!

King Change had been busy with his whispers indeed.

I walked ahead of my god-like pawns, and they fell into step behind me—my vulnerable werepawns. I would see them less vulnerable in all ways. But I must first make myself less vulnerable by hiding the bridal gifts from See.

I stumbled toward my queendom, fingers pressed to my temple. The pain in my head was crushing, and the simple act of walking grew harder by the second. The pain preventing me from blurring and blinking toward my queendom even, though the urge to hide a garter should have made me do both.

I simply could not, and as I stumbled on, my mind began to squeeze and shimmer in a way it had not done for some time. I gasped at the pressing of my brain against skull, in awe of Change’s attack on me. “Unguis, have we left your king’s territory?”

---