Page 62 of Of Monsters Of Kings

I clenched my hands to fists. I did not like his frivolous manner all the time. Was there no room for seriousness in him?

King See continued his wide berth around me. “Can you not see her rarity, Take? Why do you treat her so?”

“I see it, and I shall relish taking her from you, for old times’ sake. Nothing personal, you understand. Immortality can be so dreadfully boring.”

“You feel bored because you do not much like yourself.”

“Tread easy, King See. You are in my kingdom now.”

King See stated, “I will not allow you to take her from me, not to toy with or for any other design.”

“The king of nothing will fight at last? And not for the world, but for a wench, even a rare one?” King Take roared with laughter.

I stumbled back, nearly toppling to the ground again.

The roaring tapered off, and his princes stopped sniggering a while after.

“My sources say that the king of seeing cannot see in this lady’s presence.” The words held a cold contemplativeness, and this must be the version of King Take to be wary of. Here was where he hatched his plans. Here was where he decided who best to take. Here was his potential and his sharpness.

“It is true,” said King See. “She blinds me, and yet I know she is my possibility.”

I pressed a hand against my chest as something thudded and reverberated under my sternum. Where I’d managed to stand through Take’s raucous laughter, I found myself slithering to the floor now. My legs folded, and I stared at my cupped hands atop the burgundy velvet covering my lap.

King See’s voice sharpened. “You are well, mistress?”

“Yes,” I said, somewhat breathless. “Only, I wish neither of you would speak on this subject any longer. I am uncomfortable about why kings would talk about having me at all, and I find the confusion is overwhelming along with everything else.” I sniffed against the sudden urge to cry.

“She cannot see herself?” King Take asked in glee.

King See wasn’t gleeful. “Mistress, it must be impossible that you cry. The fates could not be so cruel to have us witness magnificence weep. I cannot have it so.”

I sniffed again. “I will try not to then.”

“Thank you,” he said in a softer tone, then called, “Princes of mine.”

There were three sets of footsteps, but I didn’t get a chance to look at his princes before the balloon of King See’s power gently batted me backward much like a mother cat might knock over her kitten with her great, fluffy paw. I was rolled away from King Take, and each time I tried to sit, King See would gently bat at me again. He did so until he’d rolled me halfway across the ballroom and managed to wedge between me and Take.

“You realize I’ve told the others,” King Take drawled. “I simply couldn’t resist.”

“You have heard me say many times that it’s entirely possible for you to resist, brother king,” See replied. “The way is still open to you.”

“I don’t care for your possibilities, See,” Take snapped. “Take them with you, and I shall even let you take the newest jewel among us, just to let you feel a small win before a larger loss.”

Oversized hands picked me up, and I held onto Has Been’s neck as he hoisted me into his arms.

“We will go now,” King See answered. “When it comes to this lady, brother king, you will not find me content to remain impartial. You are warned.”

Laughter. “There is no sense warning me, See. A fight between kings would ensure the ruin of the world, and it is you who cares for stasis, not I. Let that be your warning, brother king. There is no limit for one who cares not for anyone or anything.”

The exchange was awful—beyond awful.

“Take me from here, Has Been,” I begged. “Please hurry.”

He obeyed without a word, Will Be and Is either side of us. The balloon of See’s power stayed firm, and I drew up the image of him following us at a distance.

“How can you stand for them to touch her when you cannot?” King Take called out in question.

Has Been paused when King See did the same behind us. Peeking up from the prince’s neck, I caught sight of a ripple of a lace curtain across a shadowed nook. My nose tickled with a sour scent. Who was there? Another monster or a shell?

---