Page 122 of Of Monsters Of Kings

I even felt the truth of these words today. Maybe not every day would feel so easy, and yet I felt elation, plain and simple, that hate hadn’t filled me at the sight of my reflection. I felt hope.

“I might already feel some love for you,” I told her, and she smiled back.

My monster.

Me.

How curious.

“This mirror shall remain uncovered.” I would look at myself each day, and soon the sight would be as normal as breathing.

My words rang in me and the whole situation felt very fateful. I’d been right to prepare for meeting myself.

A murmur of conversation floated to the conservatory, and I shrugged into See’s jacket with haste. Avoiding the glass panel in the floor, I walked to the balustrade and found my courtyard crowded with monsters.

“Twelve princes,” I blurted. “Whyever are you all here?”

“We were hoping you’d tell us, Lady Patch,” said Prince Hex. “We were dragged here a few minutes ago.”

I frowned. “I didn’t call you. Not on purpose at least. You were dragged, you say?”

Sanguine had blood dripping down his chin. “Yes, dragged.”

I’d torn him from a draining by the looks. I couldn’t be sorry for that. “There has been a mistake. I have no need of…”

The wall of bars admitted three more princes.

Sign, Seal, and Deliver scanned the busy courtyard.

“Is there a soiree?” Sign asked. “I wouldn’t mind a soiree. This is the second time I’ve been to the surface in many centuries.”

I almost felt sorry to let him down. “Not a soiree, prince. Have you news from your liege then?”

Perhaps I should send the other princes away. They would inform their lieges of the meeting between me and Raise.

But I didn’t.

Deliver bowed. “Our king happily returns his one-fifth of the snuffing share to Hotel Vitale and greatly anticipates your meeting in the near future.”

The near future. I didn’t miss that part.

I didn’t miss the return of Raise’s snuffing share, either, though I didn’t see cleaning carts or furniture with my eyes.

I felt them return.

A dusk wind spiraled through the courtyard, and the princes reared back. To no avail, for my mother yawned and all fifteen of the princes disappeared beneath ground.

I gasped, “Mother, you can’t renovate with princes!”

Racing downstairs, I didn’t truly register that more of the hotel had transformed since I’d walked to the conservatory.

When I burst into the courtyard, shock slowed my feet.

Mother had spat out the fifteen princes, who looked as confused as I felt to see them dressed in matching livery. Copper livery embroidered with black hellebores.

My jaw was ajar. “Mother, what have you done?”

Yet I knew well enough that my mother didn’t own this space. She liked to yawn things away and regurgitate renovations, but I owned this space.

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