Page 81 of Of Brides Of Queens

“So they all assumed,” he snarled. “I will not leave it to chance, Perantiqua. Hate me for it, but we will never love. I have waited too long for you to give way to a path that does not lead us to immortal fulfillment, and it appears ancients agree with me.”

“A mad monster might convince himself of almost anything.”

See stroked his power down my cheek. “I hope for a dusk where you feel as I do. The sight of your distress pains me, even as it is necessary.”

I turned my cheek, and his power stroked the side of my neck next, then whispered across the thick stitch at the base of my neck. I bit back my gasp.

“I see what has been, new queen,” he said hoarsely. “I see what is, and I also see what will be. Sometimes whatisand whatwill behappen close to one another, too close for me tointervene. Other times, when letters are received, and letters are replied to, there is opportunity. I grew blinded to King Bring’s movements around midnight tomorrow.” Menace curled around me.

I tipped my chin higher. “There are things I must do as queen.”

“What is your intention tomorrow? Speak it.”

“Will you write your name on my body if I do not?”

“Or worse, Perantiqua. Or worse. Believe that I am less mad, and I am relieved to have more control of my obsession, but that control is not endless.”

I believed him. I had felt how madness in obsession could claim a monster. Yet I felt bitter in our destiny and part of me wished to drive him wild… but whatever acts he was driven to would not be those of love but of claiming. The thought deflated the petulant mistress in me. I would try to empathize with his madness itself. “I do not intend to submit to physical desires with King Bring. I go to discuss alliance.”

“I thank you for the clarity despite our lack of alignment. Bring will try to bargain for the use of your body.”

“Then he is no different from you, sir!” I surged to my feet. “That is what you do right now.”

The air changed.

See’s rage. “I want more than your body. I want more than yourlove. I want your immortality. Never lessen my thoughts to those of Bring, not when I walk in madness for you.”

He walked in madness for himself, and I was weary of this disagreement of love. “I do not plan to partake in Bring’s seductions tomorrow night, sir. Is that all you wished to hear? I would return to my guests if so.”

“Yes, that is what I wished to hear.”

I swallowed back the lump in my throat. “Goodnight.”

I turned on my heel.

“We are not done this evening.”

I did not stop at his words. Weweredone. And I was ever a bitter queen because I had hoped to be convinced to daylight activities all night long.

He said, “We must help each other in this, Perantiqua, or there will be nothing left.”

I did stop then, not deigning to speak.

King See walked closer. Slowly. “I had come tonight for a simple reason. To ask if you would try again for intimacy with me. You plan to visit a king, and to do so when your body burns with need. I have a strong urge to do violence by King Bring, but I could be satisfied by satiating you in completeness so that Bring senses you are covered in me. In short, Perantiqua, this is an occasion where intimacy between us might not come with claiming surprises. I would like to see how my madness could be controlled.”

“Mights and maybes, King See. You are saying that if I do not writhe with you, you will war against King Bring.”

He answered, “I expect there would be some act of claiming too. I am learning of madness, as I have said. You might see it that way, or you might see that I am attempting to navigate an unexpected madness and an ancient situation in a way that will not destroy your heart.”

“Just break it.” There was so much in my head and heart when it came to King See. He had taken the time to know himself better and had shared what he could with me. I felt a great weariness that was despair of our situation. I wished to fight for our destiny, and did feel some hope over the connections we had figured out, and yet how could any good come of heart break? Should I stop this madness before I went up in flames?

I struggled to find the words. “I hardly know the way forward, and yet I sense authenticity in your words. You seek a way through this ancient murkiness. This turn in our destinywas as much a shock for you as I, and perhaps a greater adjustment for a king who has not much changed in twelve hundred years at all. I can see that we both traded blows in the newness of madness and my queendom. But sir, my heart and body are linked. You would be unwise to sever one from the other, as that is exactly what keeps me distant from Bring’s seductions.” I took a breath, feeling the lurching in my stomach. “I cannot entertain intimacies between us as we used to enjoy. I sense that something colder is all we can manage for now.”

“You speak of transactions.”

Ink flushed in my cheeks as I faced him. “I do. You seek to learn of your madness this night by engaging in daylight activities all night long. You speak that the alternative is war with Bring. These are your problems, not mine. How will you make it worth my while?”

“You wish me to pay you for the boon of pleasuring you,” he said, and amusement warmed his menace.

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