Page 116 of Of Brides Of Queens

Until all comfort fell down.

Valetise trailed into my chamber. “My queen, the guests have gathered and await you.”

My breasts were pushed high in the copper bodice, but by contrast to the armored top, the skirt reminded me of a flowing toga. Two slits parted the white, floating material to display my legs whenever I walked. I was a warrior goddess this night indeed.

A barefoot warrior goddess, queen of her home, and ancient in thought and intention. “Thank you.”

I walked in my gliding way from my chamber, then leaped off the balustrade to descend to the first level. I landed lightly and on the balls of my feet.

Growls from the courtyard caught my focus, and I peered over the balustrade to the ground level. Three werebeasts lurkedby their kennels. The sight gladdened my heart, especially for spotting the copper glint of their hellebore badges.

But there was nothing to do but attend a royal dinner affair, and so I did, gliding into the dining hall and pondering happily of how my crown did not feel in danger of slipping.

The rest of my pawns lined the walls, and the sight of them standing alert and dressed in my queenly colors boosted me greatly. I had not fathomed that the sight of them would tip the scales of power against my kingly guests, but kings must feel very annoyed and uncomfortable with the visual imbalance of present monsters.

Would that help or hinder me tonight?

Conversation died at my entrance. My footsteps made no sound, and so there was no sound at all aside from quiet breaths and flickering fireplace flame. I took care that my inhales and exhales did not alter even when I had reached my throne setting at the long table.

The thought had occurred to me while dressing that I might see the faces of all kings now. I would not betray this to them, of course. I might gain much from playing blind a while longer, especially from King See.

I peered to the opposite end of the table first. To the face I had already seen contorted in rage. I braced myself to see him in calm fullness, and bade myself not to betray my new sight of him. “Welcome to King See. Thank you for attending my royal dinner. I am most glad to see you of all kings.”

I got the words out, but barely.

My heart pounded at the thin cruelty of his lips, and the perfection lent to his jaw by his short beard—such a midnight contrast to chalky white skin. King See was the most towering of kings, an immortal being crafted to carry the burden of past, present, and future.

No wonder his joints were oversized and thickened. His hands, his entire physique was designed to carry a weight that no other monster could.

I had seen him in rage. I saw him in calmness tonight.Ancients grant me mercy to view him in every way.

See blinked his milky eyes, and they were surely the looking glasses of ancients for the way they pierced into my soul and mind.

He did not know that I could view him, but other kings had seen him always, including now. King See could not hide his shock from them, and I did feel an urge to purr over undoing him so.

Perhaps there was something to be said about claiming behaviors—in addition to their ability to keep madness at bay for a time.

King See inclined his head, and the candlelight caught at the simple, thick circlet of dull silver nestled in his black hair. “Good evening to a ravishing warrior queen. You are more exquisite than ever, Perantiqua.”

He spoke the truth, no more and no less. King See had not fathomed that I could see him, and I could thank his madness for making me flee his palace and hiding such things, for surely he would have connected the truth in a blink otherwise.

How I longed to view his face in privacy that was not filled with his rage. What expressions and inward thinkings might he betray then?

Yes. I will play blind a while longer.

I looked at King Bring next, and the first sight of him nearly betrayed me. The skin of his face was as crimson as his body. His hair was a stark white, shaved close to his scalp, and his eyelashes and eyebrows were white to match. His mouth was soft and plump as his second mouth was sharp and savage. One of his eyes was the blue of a clear sky, while the other wasflooded black.Charm and curse.Black cracked through one half of his face, too, another sign of his purpose. He was a marvelous monster of ancient design, a canvas of his purpose. My, but he stole my breath away. “King Bring, welcome to my royal dinner affair. I am happy to see you.”

His princess sat beside him, and I was glad for a familiar sight.

“King Take,” I said next. “You are very annoyed with me, and I thank you for coming to this dinner. No doubt your thirst for information of any kind can be thanked for that, but I am glad to see you and your princess anyway.”

King Take’s face was not much of a surprise, which was a relief. His skin was raisined and gray like that of his princess. Black smudged around his eyes too. Unlike her luscious and full lips, King Take possessed a mouth of jagged fangs with not much lip to speak of. Red eyes. Long and curved black nails. Black inked through every one of his veins that I could see.

I could not say that this king was anything other than his purpose. Wonderful and marvelous. None of the kings had disappointed thus far.

Princess Take stared at the table. Her cheeks had warmed pink at my greeting. She stole a peek up at me, then hastily returned her stare to the tabletop at a savage hiss from her king.

The black around his eyes flooded out into a mask. He was a jealous king tonight.

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