Page 85 of Kiss the Filthiest King

Your heartbeat is racing. Stop playing the prey,I hear straight into my mind.

I frown. No one’s invaded my thoughts since I was brought back with Loch’s dragon stone in place of a heart. I didn’t think they could.

“How did you do that? Can you?—”

He understands me without my spelling out the full question. “I can send out whatever thought I like. Reading yours is another matter. You’re still scattered. Not shielded, as such, but your thoughts feel like a broken mirror with a thousand facets. Attempting to muddle through it is honestly a headache. You’re safe on that front.”

And exactly no other way.

“Can I do that? Send my thoughts to someone.”

Loch inclines his head. “Magic isn’t so very difficult for the folk. You have to will a thing, and if your thoughts are clear, focused, and it’s within your power, it’ll happen.”

“Just like that, huh?” I stare at him intently, and think as hard as I can.No one seems to want to kill me today.

The bright queen and the duchess of wings are gone. That helps.

He grins. “And it’s always easier with a touch. With practice, it should be—” Loch interrupts himself, his eyes widening, staring toward one of the entrances of the hall.

A golden couple enters, somehow different from everyone else here. I can’t put my finger on it at first.

The woman, warm-skinned, with hair a deep cherry pink, is dressed in dark, soft reinforced leather, with a harness over the top. She uses it like a holster, though instead of a gun, it holds several knives. She’s the picture of a warrior. By contrast, the man at her side is in a human suit, clearly well cut, custom made, but so very human. If it weren’t for his ethereal beauty and those pointed ears, I’d assume he was a mortal.

I assumed they both were for over a year.

It’s the Cissa I know, and yet…it isn’t. This one has sharp teeth behind her smiles. Eochan, however, is equal to himself.

Now I understand what they meant when they said Cissa married someone from a different class. In their club, Night Hall, they seemed like equals, both in their element. Their staff responded to both of them the same way. If anything, looked like Cissa just drank and enjoyed herself, chatting with regulars, while Eochan appeared like he was the one who took charge.

Now, there’s no such illusion. One week in this world and I can see, clear as day, that the power is in the hands of the small, dainty girl, by the stares, the bows, and the energy coming out of her. I canfeelit.

Eochan, much taller, starts to walk a little slower so she’s first, but I watch her pause and offer him her hand, though it causes plenty of chatter.

When they reach the dais, I stand from the throne, though I can tell from the way Loch’s jaw tightens that I’m not supposed to.

Cissa doesn’t curtsy; like a man, she bows, and Eochan almost folds himself in two.

I smile. “My friends. I’d hoped you'd join us soon."

"My queen." Her lips curl up in delight. "Your note was quite the surprise. We came as soon as we could portal. Sorry to have missed your coronation."

"I only almost died once," I retort with a shrug, causing several chuckles. "I take it you've considered my offer to return to your responsibilities in the winter court?"

I decide to get straight to business, because the last thing I need is for people to think I favor another unseelie court. There are only so many cocks a woman can take to make a point.

"We have, Your Majesty," she replies, though she includes Eochan. "We're highly grateful, but if the winter court doesn't want to be ruled by us, we'd rather not attempt to force it again. We lost enough the first time around."

I heard about it. Her marriage toEochan enraged her court for some reason; they were attacked relentlessly, and eventually left after the death of their child.

"The winter court cannot remain leaderless," I state.

Which ones are the winter folk again?I ask Loch wordlessly, thinking as hard as I can.

The grumpy bunch glaring from the wall on your right. Silver and blue.

I recognize the colors Junis used to wear with aplomb. The combination should have been aesthetically pleasing, but I shiver in disgust.

"We have a number of lords from your domain here, yes? What do you say, ladies and gentlemen? Would you rather be ruled by Cissavna, or absorbed under the flag of the court of night?"

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