Finding Her Magical King novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: The Second Crown

We reached the Starlite at dusk on a Sunday, and the sign was lit.

Someone had mended the dead letter on the sign.

Maeve had hung a banner over the office door that said WELCOME KING in green marker.

Underneath, in smaller writing, it said WIPE YOUR FEET.

Anselm read it twice.

"I've been addressed in worse ways," he said.

They gave him Room 12.

The frost was gone from the window, and the towels were folded in a perfect stack.

Ivor had already eaten the complimentary biscuits.

I stood in the doorway with a clean towel over my arm, because I could not help it.

Anselm took it out of my hands and hung it on the rail.

"You're a guest tonight," he said.

"I'm staff."

"You're my mate, and Maeve has told me twice that if you fold anything she'll leave."

Soot jumped onto the bed and lay down on the pillow, and no one argued.

Later we sat on the back step by the ice machine, with the sign buzzing over our heads.

The concrete was cold under us, and I did not mind.

"Is this where you tell me what's wrong with the plan?" I said.

"There's nothing wrong with the plan."

"You've been quiet for an hour."

"I'm composing something," Anselm said.

"A speech?"

"A question."

I turned my head, and he was looking at the ice machine with great concentration.

"Not here," I said. "Whatever it is. Do it where people can see."

"That's what I thought."

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," he agreed.

The silver on our wrists glowed softly in the dark.

At noon the next day the Great Hall was full of white lilies and no black at all.

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