Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 184(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 184(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
I guess I knew this wasn’t going to be as easy as I made it out to be. Even Marjorie had to deal with Stan’s fetish for surprise anal and refusing to put his dirty socks in the hamper. Every victory in life seems to be another opportunity for defeat to once again rear one of its heads.
“You’re not happy,” I say, crestfallen.
“I am where I should be,” he says, sounding more resigned than triumphant.
This is a downer. We won. At least, according to every narrative construct I’m aware of, we won. The villain has been cast out, wrongs are being righted, and the king has his throne. This should be a fucking fairytale ending of absolute perfection. But seeing Manik this way makes me feel sort of hollow.
What if I was wrong to convince him to come back here? Maybe being king isn’t really all it is cracked up to be. Maybe I’ve condemned him back to a life he was actually quite happy to escape. He was different in the ice cave. He was cheerful and humorous. Now he’s just a king. A king with no time for a human pet, probably.
“I guess you don’t need me anymore,” I mumble, just as one of the courtiers comes in, singing Manik’s praises in the hopes Manik won’t summarily kill him.
Manik doesn’t hear me. I slip away. He’s busy. And I suppose I have some thinking to do. On the ice planet, I was his captive and the sole focus of all his impressive attention. On his world I am going to be one of many problems.
I wonder if now isn’t a good time to slip away. This is a massive city. I could easily lose myself in it. But I don’t think this is the world for me. I think this is Manik’s realm, and now that he has what he needs, it’s time for me to go on my way.
I go for a walk, first wandering the palace, and then out onto the many walkways of the city. From the first moment I expose myself to the world outside the palace, I can tell that chaos has ensued. There are crowds in the streets, shouting and waving things. I cannot tell if they are happy or sad. Probably both. In my experience in human realms, populations are usually split fifty-fifty on almost every issue of importance. It’s almost as if the issues themselves aren’t what matter, but a primal need to form tribes and go to war. I hope that isn’t what is going to happen here, though I know Manik could put down any rebellion single-handed.
They don’t know me, of course, but to some of these people I am a liberator. To others, I have returned a tyrant king who has stolen everything they own. I thought I was making a difference, but now I’m wondering if all I have made is a mess.
“What the HELL are you doing?”
I look up into Manik’s furious eyes. He must have followed me. He doesn’t look pleased.
“I thought…”
“Don’t think,” he says. “You are grounded until further notice. And don’t think about wandering without me. Do I need to put that collar back on you? Teach you your place all over again? Do not make any mistake, Lyssa. This world is as dangerous to you as the ice was, but you are less well equipped to see these dangers. You could be kidnapped by one of my enemies. You could be killed by someone who fancies you a source of exotic meat. You could be…”
He is dragging me back to his chambers, his big, royal, scaled hand in the back of my suit. This king spends more time carrying me about like a scruffed kitten than allowing me to walk on my own two feet.
I should be enraged by this treatment. After all, he’s not respecting my autonomy. But there’s a part of me that is just so pleased to be wanted that his scolding makes me feel cozy and loved. Lecturing and punishing is Manik’s love language.
“I thought you might not need me anymore now that you’re here. You’ll need a proper queen.”
“Oh, one like Enchante?”
“Maybe someone who is slightly less of a bitch?”
He laughs.
“You are my mate, Lyssa. I claimed you in the cold. I saved your life and claimed it. That does not change simply because we are here.”
“I thought you might not have time for me, or want me, or…”
“I am going to be busy here,” he says. “You will have to become accustomed to being at my feet when I conduct business. I will take you out for exercise from time to time, and we will see this world together, but you will always, and I do mean always, be by my side. Understand?”
I nod.
“I want to hear it.”