Page 61 of Of Skulls Of Shackles

King See stared at me, and I won the invisible prize of witnessing him dumbfounded.

Dumbfounded.

“I see how this would go,” See eventually said. He looked at Change, who cracked open an eyelid and chuckled drowsily before falling into hellebore haze again.

See approached him and inspected mange and scar. “Such sacrifice took from his very flesh. Brilliance in pursuit of ruin. That I will say for him.”

That was the truth and no more and no less. “Your power of connection stirs my lust.”

“As yours does me.” He told no lie, yet I could glean that See was hurt by Change’s actions too.

I faced my mirror to give him privacy.

I stared at my reflection and my stitches, then drew up the memory of twenty-six mothers in stitched vigil. I took care to feel each of their stitches on my body and the nature of the mother who had stitched it.

My body was a well of wisdom. Not only could I pull from my own ancientness, but I could also pull from the experiences of twenty-six mothers. That made me ancient in truth because how could I be led astray with so many to help me?

The stitch at my shoulder panged angrily, and the stitch across my upper thigh throbbed in understanding. I chuckled at my reflection.Thatis how I could be led astray. Mothers did not always agree—with each other nor me.

As in every other aspect of monsterdom, I must listen to myself first and foremost. Yet what a wonderful gift to carry the lives of fifty ancestral mothers with me always.

“You speak kindly to yourself?” King See mused.

I peered back. “Yes, I had expected the practice to feel uncomfortable with King Change present. I had braced myself for the challenge in his mocking company. But I am quite good at the practice now.”

He dipped his head. “Would you reassure a king that you will not remove your clothing during practice as I have chanced upon you?”

I hummed, and then abruptly decided not to tease him on the issue. I did not want a mad king around. “I will remain clothed, King See. I will do this to ease your madness.”

He was behind me and spun me from the mirror. He captured my hand and lowered cruel lips to the back.

“Thank you for respecting what drives me.” His kiss stole my breath and my insides hovered above me before settling back in.

Respect.The word annoyed me, and the word annoyed me because I had become more ancient. As ancient as a king. “Respect is important.” I saw his lips curve, though he remained bowed over my hand. I said in warning, “See…”

“The words stick so in your delicate throat. Are they pointy?”

“You push your teasing luck, sir,” I retorted. “And… they are pointy indeed. I concede naught else, but I admit respect carries importance.”

Wisely, perhaps having seen thousands such moments between lovers in his time, King See remained silent when he might have pressed me about love.

The thing was, I had seen much about love in monsterdom, and none of it very inspiring of confidence.

King See held out his crooked arm, and I held my breath to loop my arm through his. He released a pent-up exhale when I did so. At least we were both very tangled up in our destiny.

We walked to the bench overlooking my queendom. My vast queendom. I could only just see the very edges of it.

Princess Change was out amongst the thatched houses, pushing her hands into the soil. Princess Raise was speaking with Princess Take, who then set out of the wall of bars beside a laden wagon.

Princess Bring was flirting with Huckery, who appeared as confused as I had ever seen him.

“Who is next?” King See asked me.

I blinked. “I apologize, sir. Immense power is very distracting.”

“You will grow used to holding such power and functioning within the limits of others’ understanding.”

“I am glad.” I adjusting my heavy skirt. “I believe King Raise is next.”

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