Page 38 of Of Brides Of Queens

And I felt glad of it. The dolls confronted me strangely, and in a way that challenged my ideas of myself. These dolls could be an act of saving, and so was my fragile reaction a sign that I was not as inwardly strong as I had thought. Or was this an act of ruin and designed to make me feel such a way? Was I ruining myself, or was someone ruining me?

Uncertainty over the answer was not lovely to behold.

But Bring had said that the nature would become clearer soon, and so I would wait.

“Change comes for you, Perantiqua,” Bring said low and fast. “He readies his fifth.”

“So I am told,” I replied, wondering if Change was behind the dolls. “And how does the kingdom of bringing sit in the battle between an untold queen and a king who would ruin.”

“I find myself caught between purpose and desire, fair queen.”

“And if I were king?”

“Then I would ally with you against King Change. His attack would naturally imply that you served the opposite purpose to his.”

I heard what he did not say. “I have not declared my purpose.”

“You have not.”

“Not doing so is what saves me.”

“Saved you, more so.”

There was something in that. Now Change would send his fifth against me whether I declared purpose or not. My grace period was over. “You speak wisely, king.”

I walked on.

Bring’s clear voice followed me. “Will you speak your purpose to me?”

I paused. “I have made a deal, King Bring. You will hear my purpose after King Take.”

“Will I hear it after King See?” he asked, and I heard the jealous edge. Jealousy could prove the downfall of what he felt for my body and queenly potential. Jealousy could turn him into an enemy.

I trusted his princess in this.

When I turned, I found his gaze fixed lower on my body. “Thank you for helping me dismount, King Bring, and thank you for the gentlemanly nature of your advice.”

He’d presented another conundrum to me. Take must be first to know.

Who would be second?

King Bring bowed. “A rich midnight to the most ethereal of monsters.”

I did not mount the steed again after leaving the king. The horse grated behind me and the trio of pawns as we left Bring. We walked all the way to my old apartment, and I lost count of the husk doll renditions of me on the way.

“We are here.” I leaned down to pick up a doll, then tucked it under the saddle of my steed. I wanted to look at it when no one was around.

“What is your fright plan, Your Majesty?” Seal said on an exhale. He hopped from foot to foot as he stared at the apartment.

I had felt a fresh surge of anticipation too. “She faints easily.”

Sign pouted. “Finesse then.”

“My favorite,” declared Deliver, barking in nervous laughter.

“Not mine,” said Seal. “But I will do what is required of the fright.”

“Let us head up to my old apartment first. I like to be inspired by my surroundings.” My monstrous instincts would lead the way, and these dolls had none of those, so how could they ever appear magnificent?

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