Page 56 of The Beast King's Bride

He nods. “Everyone is terrified of the Decay, of the monsters that rise from the shadows at night. The palace is infested because…”

“… because the king is here. He’s linked to them and the Decay through this curse.”

Another nod.

“You’re a faithful friend. And a passing good cook, though I could teach you a thing or two about soups. For starters, you can safely leave out the toad belly and worm condiments.”

His mouth twitches. “As you say.”

“The king is lucky to have you.”

“I told you, I’m here thanks to him.”

“You’re trying really hard to make me like him.”

“He is likable,” he whispers. “He forgot how, for a while. Problems of living a long life.”

“That’s not a good enough reason.”

“No, you’re right. But his family are… they’re bastards, every one of them, and he’s still coming to terms with what he did and what’s right and—”

“What he did? What do you mean?”

He bites his lip and looks away. “Nothing. Sometimes it’s all in how you look at things, you know? And the king has been alone for a long time.”

“Since the curse,” I whisper.

“Longer than that,” he says. “It’s good to see him with company. It has been hard for him to open up, admit to any pain, any trouble.”

“I’m not staying, Jassin.”

He whispers, “I know.”

My door is unlocked. That much at least is happening. Opening it, I glance around. I have a knife hidden in my belt, just in case. A small knife against a monster, like the one I used against the sark.

My hand still smarts where I touched it.

Rubbing at it, I prepare to lose myself in the maze, when Auria appears, carrying a tall stack of linens that almost hide her face.

“Auria!”

She stops, startled, her stack almost toppling over. “My lady!”

“Where are you heading?”

“The king’s room, to make his bed and tidy up.”

“And after that?”

“After that… back to the main wing of the palace to clean the rooms of the other—”

“I’m coming with you.”

“But—”

“You’ll be my guide through the palace.”

She curtsies, her eyes wide. “As it please my lady,” she says, doubt in her voice, but I follow her anyway.

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