Page 49 of Of Skulls Of Shackles

Picket whipped out a few rope fibers to open the gate for Valetise. She gave directions to some of King Take’s minions unload the wagons.

“A word, Picket,” I said, as he moved to help.

He stood at attention, rope arms and legs rigid and snapped into obedient lines. “Of course, my queen.”

“Picket, are you well?”

“Never better, Your Majesty. Is something amiss in my performance?”

“Not at all, sir. I rather worry that you are working your fibers to thinness.”

He inspected his arms, then grimaced at the fraying state of them. “There is much to do. Your queendom grows with your power, and it is up to me to ensure your picket is strong and complete.”

“Us,” I said softly. “It is up tous.You are grandly made for your purpose, Picket, and truly a monster of wonder. I am stunned by all you have achieved. And there is more to monsterdom than duty.”

Picket’s fibers creaked as he shot Valetise a look. She appeared particularly beautiful in a pencil skirt and blouse combination. “More?”

“More,” I repeated. “We are monsters for a reason, and purpose is just one part of walking in the toothed beast’s yawn. Enjoyment of monsters. Enjoyment of the monstrous… these are equally as important.”

He creaked a bow. “Thank you for your ancient wisdom, my queen.”

“You are welcome. Fret not, dear Picket. You are not the first monster to learn the juggling act. There is much that we need to do, and there must be constant effort to ensure one need does not gain more attention than the others. Now then, I fathom that Valetise could use some help.”

My rope monster bowed again and hastened away.

Frayed indeed. But he would be well in Valetise’s loving hands.

I glanced at Princess Change, who continued to smirk from the shadows. What glee she felt. I did not care for it.

I let her seemysmirk.

Princess Take and her king were suddenly at odds. Very suddenly. There was a stench of ruin in the air.

My smirk widened. King Change had just used his power to force ruin upon the Takes. He had usedallof his power.

He would be weakened for two days.

Ah,but I had tried to conquer King Bring, only for ancients to halt my clawing hand in midair. I had felt no madness nor obsession.

Yet now.

Now…

Obsession started to trot within me, and then to gallop, and then to hurtle as lightning might careen to slap the cold, hard ground.Crack!I dragged in an inhale, and my voice was layered and terrible.

The princess’s smirk was long gone. She had seen this part of me before.Madness in obsession.

As if summoned, the other princesses appeared at the balustrade above.

My body shook with suppressed obsession, and I roared a laugh at them. “Are you here to stop me, then? You cannot! Not this night.”

My queendom leaped and squeezed.

Princess Take answered, “We do not come to stop you. We smell the air. The target of your obsession is true. The champions of your queendom gather to cheer you to battle.”

She curtsied—as did Princess Bring. Princess Raise bowed.

I dipped my head at them, then looked at Princess Change.

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