Had he meant the words as a warning? “Then I’m glad.”
Did he realize he flexed his fingers on her scalp?
“Who’s Drendall?” she asked as the question popped up.
The combing paused for a moment. “My sister carried a doll. Very beautiful, this doll. Viori’s most favorite toy. She took it everywhere she ventured.” He paused as his gaze drifted to a faraway place. “Viori was such a happy girl. Smiles for everyone. Except those who insulted her magnificent Drendall. I don’t remember where or how she acquired the doll, only that she clutched the little darling close at all hours of the day and night. You look like Drendall.”
She did? “Is that why you responded to me at the beginning? Why you like me? Because I look like a doll?” She supposed there were weirder reasons. Right away, she’d noticed Kaysar’s dreamy serial killer eyes.
“I noticed you because you look like a doll,” he said. “I remain interested because you are...you.”
Well. Okay, then. She ignored the lump in her throat. “What’s your favorite memory of your sister?”
“The times I sang her a lullaby. She always fell asleep with a smile, her troubles gone.”
Cookie kissed his heart, offering comfort and affection, and brushed her knuckles over his throat. “Your voice is the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard.”
“My glamara revolves around it. I’m able to compel others to do my bidding or sing them to madness and health.”
A super cool ability to wield, and a terrifying one to face. “I won’t like it if you compel me to do something.”
“Have no worries, sweetling. I’ll never force you to do anything, you have my word. I covet your affection, freely given.” He cupped her nape and kissed her brow, a gut-wrenchingly sweet gesture. “You respond to my song differently than everyone else.”
She could tell he delighted in that fact, and yeah, okay, maybe she did, too. “I’ll share a secret with you. Your singing makes me horny.” In case he didn’t understand human slang, she added, “Horny is when someone gets turned on.” Wait. “Turned on is when someone wants to get laid.” Moving on. “If I hadn’t been busy murdering those soldiers, I would have thrown myself at you on that battlefield.”
His fingers flexed on her. “Truth?”
“Truth.”
He groaned and shot rock hard. “Allow me to reveal to her royal highness what I have planned for her this morning, before I become distracted,” he said, playing with her hair again.
Oh! Her first official day as queen of her own castle. Bouncing against him, she squealed, “Yes, yes. You are allowed. Tell me.”
His chuckle tickled her ears, unleashing a tide of shivers. “I’ve arranged for your subjects to pour into the palace. They will offer gifts to their beloved queen and beg for the opportunity to serve your every whim. Once you grow bored of the constant adoration, you’ll begin your training with the doormaker’s apprentice.”
A thousand times yes. “What else, what else?” His delighted expression told her there was more.
“Our oracle, Eye, has been commanded to do nothing but await your summons. When you are ready, she will peer into the mortal world and show you Pearl Jean and Sugars.”
What? “Are you for real?”
“I am very for real,” he deadpanned.
“Oh, Kaysar.” Cookie sniffled as she hugged him tight. “Thank you for arranging the most special day of my life for me.”
He snaked his arms around her, lightning fast, holding on. “Will you do something for me in return?” he asked hesitantly.
“Yes. Anything.”
“No caveat?”
“Within reason,” she added, and he flashed a smile.
Appearing tormented a moment later, he said, “If you remember a portion of the princess’s life, any portion in any capacity, or if you feel a single flicker of her emotions, you will let me know. Do not wait to tell me, even for a moment. Stop whatever you’re doing and find me. Interrupt me, whatever I’m doing. Give me an opportunity to explain all the reasons Lulundria was wrong to feel what she did.”
He couldn’t need his vengeance the way he needed Cookie. He just couldn’t.
Her chest squeezed. “Agreed. But Kaysar? I honestly don’t think I’ll remember anything else. If she’s in here—” Cookie tapped her temple, then her heart “—she’s not strong enough to show me anything else. I’m probably too powerful or whatever.” To be honest, she kind of believed the two visions she’d seen had been Lulundria’s last-ditch effort to warn her away from Kaysar.
The princess who died hating him had given Cookie a gift. For Cookie to shack up with her killer—yikes. A totally sucky move on Cookie’s part. No doubt it had a top spot on the list of How Not to Be Appreciative of the Person Who Saved Your Life. But she wasn’t backing down, reversing her decision, or giving Lulundria and Jareth Frostline a chance to change her mind.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “You learned to use her powers as naturally as breathing...as if she taught you herself.”
“Maybe it’s muscle memory? Or thanks to the elderseed?” Cookie hadn’t wanted to discuss it before because she honestly had no idea.
A knock sounded at the door, and she jolted. Kaysar came to his feet, his single set of claws curled in—ready.
His aggression awakened hers. She crouched on the bed, covering herself in vines and preparing to strike.
“Whoever stands outside that door,” he bellowed, fastening his leathers, “will be wearing their innards if I’m unsatisfied with the reason for this interruption.”
“The ballroom is ready, your majesty,” came the reply. A woman, oddly upbeat considering her life was at stake.
Kaysar’s irritation vanished in a blink. He brightened. “Your subjects await you, sweetling.”
“Wait,” Cookie cried, hit by an unexpected and violent tsunami of misgiving. What should she wear? How should she style her hair? Did she plan to be a benevolent queen or a malevolent one? A girl should know these things before she assumed a role of leadership. First impressions mattered greatly.
And what if Micah attacked her mid-queening on day one? She hadn’t yet honed her abilities—abilities he knew about. The element of surprise was gone. As a natural resident of this kingdom—and this world—Micah might know what weakened or stopped her. If he beat her in front of her own people...
No, no. Cookie needed training and a lot of it before she assumed control of her kingdom.