Page 75 of Of Brides Of Queens

“If you accept my king’s proposal, then he would stop poisoning me, you mean?”

I stared. “Oh…”

“You didn’t mean that. Forget I said anything!” She squelched off the seat.

I rose too. “Wait, stay. Please. Be done with embarrassment. Of course you wish for him to stop poisoning you. We will figure this out together, I promise, but I cannot bring myself to become his concubine.”

“You do not find his frame attractive? I had thought most did.”

“Other than See, I find him most attractive of kings. He filled my head with thoughts of kissing his second mouth, but he pins a lot on what could just be a pleasurable exchange. Sex must be an act of saving the world to him, and that pressure is very off-putting.”

She lowered again. “I am at a loss. How should I go about not getting poisoned?”

Could she stop sleeping in that room?

A knock.

“Enter,” I called.

Princess Raise walked in. “Bring. I thought I heard your squelch.”

“Raise! You are above the surface. Too many decades have passed, dear friend.”

I wanted to be a dear friend.

Sadness filled Raise’s voice. “I often think of the frights we used to share when I am locked up.”

“I am free mostly, but those joyous memories fill my head, too, without other companionship to warm me. But here you are in Queen Perantiqua’s personal lounge. How came you to meet her?”

The two princesses fell into conversation, and there was a familiarity and ease to their conversation that stabbed at me somewhat. They had known each other for more than a millennia, and I would never win the sprint to catch up on all I had missed. Perhaps then, my efforts were best centered on not regretting what I had missed.

I had until the end or beginning of the world to know them better and to grow as familiar as they already were.

“Queen Perantiqua,” Will Be said, opening the door. “A letter for you.”

His eyes—the one on his forehead included—shifted over my shoulder to Princess Bring.

I took the letter and studied the curled B. “Thank you, Has Been.”

I worked the letter open.

Queen of my thoughts and desires,

Our last conversation lingers in my mind.

You spoke of allies of queens and allies of kings, and I see my error.

I would be more than your friend, but in alliance, we might deal.

You are invited to my meadow for a midnight picnic at your earliest convenience.

Bring no pawns. I assure your safety.

Words and Actions Mighty,

King Bring

I expected that King Bring envisioned a writhing, naked picnic where we would eat foods off one another with only the moon to blush for every craven act we committed.

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