Page 99 of Queen Takes Triune

I didn’t hate my mother. I couldn’t blame her in the slightest. At least locked away in Marne Ceresa’s prison, I couldn’t harm or terrify anyone. I was “safe.”

Even if I wasn’t free.

This was freedom. Walking on two legs, breathing in cold air, feeling the dance of moonlight and starlight on my skin.

The blessed touch of another body against mine, who didn’t draw away in horror.

My queen even had a pool of water nearby, though judging from the steam, it was hotter than I’d like. I would adjust. Let her boil me until I turned red and my skin flaked off. I didn’t care.

As long as she smiled at me again. I didn’t dare even think of touching her again. My true appearance was too repulsive. Too abhorrent. Too—

“Okeanos.”

Even my name on her lips rang like a siren’s call in my head. I dropped to my knees at her feet.

Goddess below. The tender acceptance in her eyes undid me. I crashed like a ship on the treacherous rocks of the Aegean. I pressed my wet cheeks to her bare feet and wrapped my hands around her ankles. “My queen.”

“Huh.” One of her other Blood laughed. “The new guy has a foot fetish.”

Her blood caught fire inside me. She whipped her head around to glare at the man, and he immediately dropped to the ground as well, mimicking my posture.

“Forgive me, my queen. I only meant to lighten the mood.”

“Usually I love your jokes, Daire. But I won’t have anyone ridiculed for their need, let alone their pain. He’s weeping out of sheer relief that I didn’t turn him away because of what he thinks is his grotesque appearance.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, shame rocking me to my core. “It’s not what Ithink, my queen. Iknowthat I’m grotesque.”

“Hmmm.” Her low hum smoothed some of the sharp edges shredding my soul. “Let’s complete the bond first, and then I’ll decide the best way to address this issue.”

“You’ll be more comfortable in bed.” The big alpha’s voice crashed and rolled like thunder.

And then I realized what he said.

Surely. Not.

I couldn’t.

I didn’t dare.

“True.” Her fingers danced over the top of my head and along my cheek. Settling beneath my chin, she tipped my face up to hers and gently pulled me upright on my knees before her. “But I have work to complete here, and I don’t want to make him wait until I’m finished.”

I opened my mouth. Shut it. I didn’t know what to say.

Her lips curved in a knowing smile that made sweat bead on my forehead. “Are you more comfortable in water than on land?”

Was it a trick question? My name meant ocean in Greek. I was a king kraken. I’d lived underwater most of my life.

She nodded. “Very well. I could use a good soak. Nevarre.”

Another of her Blood with long black hair stepped closer and started helping her remove the beautiful royal gown. First the magnificent crown of Isis. The train. An outer skirt.

Goddess. Help me.

The inner skirt.

Leaving my queen’s nude body shining in the moonlight.

I couldn’t not look at her. Even though her beauty hurt me. It hurt because I knew how this story would end. The kraken devoured the princess—or the hero slaughtered the monster. Hopefully her alpha would make it a quick, clean death.