8. Krynn

Iwatched as Sel disappeared down the twisted corridor that led in a round-about way to the Palace kitchens and then took my own route, which led to a seamstress I knew I could trust.

I wished that I could stay and assist my Lady with her bath instead. I wanted to scrub every inch of her skin until the Glow of Lolth emerged. She was beautiful, even now, though the human dross had created a kind of shell around her true form. But I knew that once she fully emerged and came into her power, no male in the Court would be able to resist her.

Well, with the possible exception of Mordren—the Lord Regent had been plotting his conquest of the Throne for years now. He wouldn't be easily swayed from his desire for power—not even now that the Lost Princess had come home.

I thought of the flow of magic I had felt coming from her when she touched my Markings and I admit it made me weak. I wanted to offer myself to her—to serve her in any way she wanted—any way she needed.

For as long as I could remember, I had dreamed of having a true Queen to serve. One I could give myself to completely in any and every way. But I knew it could be dangerous to offer myself without reservation. Once the Princess's powers began to emerge and she took her true form and came of age, her Thirst would start to grow.

It was said that back in the days of Lolth, the Spider Queen might drain as many as twenty Mortals at a time. And then she would sip from her Chosen Ones—the Fae courtiers she chose to wait on her and serve her at Court, giving both pain and almost unbearable pleasure with her bite.

Just the thought of that—the image of the Lost Princess sinking her fangs into my throat, just where the Markings were, made my shaft so hard it hurt. It would be dangerous but the danger would be so very sweet…

No—I pushed the impulse away. Right now my main focus needed to be tending to my Lady's needs and keeping her safe. She was vulnerable at the moment—not powerful enough even to defend herself, let alone to fight one as strong as Mordren. Her magic was there, just under the surface, but it couldn't emerge until she shed the human shell that had formed over her true beauty.

Later I might be able to indulge my fantasies but for now it was enough to keep her safe. I hurried on my way.