“Why is it so important to have my shirt unbuttoned?” Rigel asked.
“Because you areincrediblyripped, and it’s going to make you look wicked cool next to these guys.” I gestured at one of the portrait walls.
“Um…” The artist—an unsuspecting gnome who had shrunk about four inches since I started describing to her what I wanted—clutched her box of oil paints to her chest. “The portrait will take multiple sittings to complete…Are…are you sure you want this?”
She motioned to the little stage I had set up for the portrait.
I’d brought Solstice and Eclipse inside, and I planned to dramatically press myself against Eclipse’s shoulder and rest my hand on Solstice, preferably with an expression that would make me look like a heroine in a gothic romance.
Muffin and Whiskers were going to be lounging near Solstice’s hooves, while Steve and Kevin would be at Eclipse’s.
Rigel would probably look normal—as much as I teased him about his abs I didn’t think he’d agree to it—but that was fine. It would make him a good foil to me. Since all the monarchs in the portraits were wearing dark, somber colors, I’d decided on the one lilac colored dress I owned as my outfit.
The whole thing was going to be ridiculous, andperfect.
“Yeah, it’s exactly what I want,” I said.
Rigel was standing next to me, and he’d been thoughtfully studying one of his daggers, but he looked up when the gnome tottered back to the canvas. “You don’t desire a ridiculous portrait just to stir up your Court?”
“That’s an added side benefit,” I confessed. “But it’s deeper than that.” I paused. “I wanted Killian and Hazel at my crowning party because they’re my friends, obviously, but I asked Hazel to bring a bunch of the wizards because I knew they’d lighten up the crowd. Our Court—ourpeopleare scared of me. And it’s not because of the way I took down Myron, but because fear of powerful monarchs is all they know. And I’m going to change that—one ridiculous portrait, one hilarious personal seal at a time.”
Rigel stared at me for several long, uncomfortable moments. “You really do care about the Court.”
“Yes,” I said.
He thoughtfully went back to studying his dagger. I took the opportunity to sneak a peek at Skye and Indigo.
The duo had set up shop just behind the artist at a heavy table Eventide and some of the other servants had dragged in. Skye was typing away on a wireless keyboard I’d bought her, and Indigo was reading a comic book.
“I’m surprised you two don’t have any objections,” I said.
Indigo turned a page in her comic book. “You do you, my Sovereign.”
“Since coming to work for you, I have realized even your most outrageous of actions have viable reasons behind them, my Sovereign,” Skye said.
“I’m really glad, but I was hopingsomeonewould be upset.”
“Don’t worry—I’m sure some of the nobles will faint,” Skye said.
“Faint in awe, right?” I winked at her, then glanced up at my consort when I felt his dark eyes on me.
“My shirt stays closed,” Rigel said. “But I’ll wear my jacket.”
“The one you wear when you’re in yourWraithmode? Really?” I squealed and clapped my hands. “Great—you look awesome in that. Oh—and then we can say it’s in memory of our first meeting!”
The subtle light of Rigel’s rare humor sparked in his dark eyes.
“Though—don’t get me wrong—I’ll mourn the lack of your abs,” I said.
“It has come to my attention that you mainly seem to esteem me for my appearance,” Rigel said.
“Nah.”
“Given how often you carry on over my abs, I must disagree.”
“He’s not wrong,” Indigo piped in.
“I can’t be that bad.”
