Page 90 of Of Sockets Of Stitches
I grinned, and then sucked in an inhale as my hand was encased in a large, chalky hand. See pressed a kiss to the back of my hand, a smile upon his face. “My queen.”
“Prince Consort,” I replied. “You were not in my bed when I returned.”
After healing seven veins, my champions and I had not returned until midday.
“Madness of wanting you drove me to purpose,” See answered, rising to his full height. “Perantiqua, you are otherworldly, and I would fall to my knees to thank ancients for gracing us with your magnificence.”
Hellebores were drawing out the poet in him.
See had switched his usual black and silver embroidered clothing for a tuxedo of white. His shirt was red, as was the cravat that poured from neck to the first button of his shirt.
I frowned. “We match.”
“Valetise appeared in my princedom to dress me before dusk,” he said.
She was to be a royal valet.
“Will you dance with me, my darkness?” See asked.
I glanced at my monsters. They were so settled in the festivities of the evening. The Takes were already dancing, their gazes locked in hopeless fear. Duke Raise was speaking with King No Change. King Bring was not here yet—I had asked pawns to wait for my signal. Princess Bring was beautiful in a gown of pink that washed her pale blob in blush. She was speaking with Princess Change, but peeking at the entrances every five seconds.
Princess Change was ignoring her king.
Pawns were mingling and drinking and smiling.
I set my hand in See’s and hooked my train up in the other hand. “I will dance. My monsters are well and happy.”
See stepped forward to curve an arm behind my upper back. He whispered in my ear, “Perhaps something to do with the décor.”
I bit back a smile. “Perhaps that.”
He whirled us in a sudden spin without warning, and my body followed him as we joined the Takes in the center of the ballroom. The fabric covering the walls and ceiling billowed at our blurring arrival to the dance floor. Monsters noticedthat,erupting in clapping and cheers.
See drew me tight against his body, and I felt the jut of hisoversized hip joints low on my stomach. We swirled and dipped to the haunting melody of the violin.
And the hellebores worked on me as surely as everyone else.
I stared into his gaze, and he stared back.
“What thoughts occupy a prince?” I asked.
He spun us in a wide arc. “One thought. Her. And what of a queen?”
“Many thoughts always, but one belongs to him.”
The ballad ended, and See escorted me to a throne in the corner. A second, smaller throne was set beside it. I cocked a brow.
See winked and only sat once I had done so and arranged my ballgown and train.
Goblets brimming with wine appeared on the small table between us.
“Thank you, Mother.”
We drank, and I chuckled after swallowing. “Hellebores in the wine. Mother, you would have us all mindless.”
See tapped his goblet against the rim of mine. “Shall a queen join me?”
I did not know whether my power would submit to them. “A queen is curious to try.”
