Page 36 of Of Brides Of Queens

I straightened my bothersome crown, then gripped the ruffled reins again. “I understand this difficulty. We go to the apartment building of the landlord I rented from as a human. I intend to haunt her most terribly for the rest of her life.”

Deliver stumbled and nearly faceplanted onto the street. “You glow with monsterly intention, Lady Queen.”

“There is that within her that cannot be contrived, only born,” whispered Sign.

I did feel truly a monster in my heart these nights. My fragilities centered on being a queen weaker than all kings, who must protect herself from those kings, but who also greatly doubted her capability to do so.

We continued through the city with a grating pace that helped me appreciate each and every one of my teeth, and as we neared my old apartment building, I recalled that we neared King Bring’s towering sky kingdom too.

No sooner had I thought the thought, than King Bring appeared in the street ahead of us.

The king was careful not to disturb the freshly sowed seeds, and that consideration wasn’t lost on me, for this was the king who truthfully believed in future and life and vibrancy.

Did my thoughts of King Bring possess a more favorable glow this evening because See had declared himself a claiming king? A meaningful romance with See had been reduced to a transactional agreement in one dusk, so I could not say whether I might prefer Bring in a century or two.

“Upon a steed and dressed for a king,” the immortal said hoarsely. “I tighten at the sight of you, Queen Perantiqua, asalways. Please tell me that you are here in my fifth to accept my offer.”

I had not thought much of fifths when roaming Vitale. My queendom sat at the heart of Vitale and in the middle of the five kingdoms. If I could not ride into other kingdoms, then I would never be able to leave my queendom. Better to not ask for permission, then, but forgiveness.

I ran my gaze over his black, long coat and leather trousers. Dusk light was such that I could see the second fanged mouth over his stomach. “I dress for myself, King Bring, as ever.”

“The bottom hem dances over divine flesh only concealed. Your stockings would feel soft as I ran my hands up your thighs. Your garters would be used as handholds as I feasted on what you offered, no more and no less. Have you considered, fair queen, that you could kiss both of my mouths?”

I looked again at his second stomach. My, but I could not fathom how I would kiss that without injury, but intrigue stirred me so. “Sir, you speak like a lover, though we are not. These thoughts are yours to have, but kindly keep them in your head. I am a queen, and you are a king.”

He did not feel remorse, and his teasing chuckle told me so. There was something in arrogance that did stir my blood. How surprising.

“I come to you on matters of kings and queens,” King Bring said, dipping his head. “Will you walk with me, ethereal and impossible beauty?”

I would seize any chance to walk. “For a short while. I am on the way to share a fright with my stairway pawns.”

Only then did I become aware that my pawns lurked behind my steed in simmering silence.

“Lady Queen,” hushed Sign. “He seeks to concubine you. I would not seek to give you advice?—”

“Then do not,” I answered.

Sign snapped his mouth closed, then bowed.

I said to Deliver, “Some help, dear pawn.”

“Might I help you off?” Bring blurted from up the street.

“My pawns will do,” I replied without engaging ancient thought first.

King Bring cleared his throat. “I was surprised and… concerned to discover that my princess had been to see you. Without my knowledge or consult.”

And here was his game. I chose my response with more care. “There are precious few female monsters, sir, and only one that has ventured to speak with me.”

His breath caught. “Why do you speak with my princess?”

“Because princes that were my friends are now my pawns. I am lonely.”

“I would be a balm for your loneliness.”

I did not comment that his princess was the loneliest monster I had met. He should offer some balm to her. “I do not require a lover, sir. I require a friend. You do not wish to be my friend. You wish to feast on me and use my garters to help.”

A moan slipped from his mouth. Or both mouths. Goodness, how extraordinary.

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