Page 102 of Hunt Me

“On the great dining hall table?” he suggested.

Matilda shuddered at the thought. “The last one there is a rank troll!” She shot down the hall and gawked when he flew overhead, leaving her behind. “That’s cheating!”

“Make haste, my rank troll.”

37

Poise and Grace

Matilda pressed her lips together, visibly restraining herself as her seamstress complained under her breath. She was aggravated but could hardly blame the vampire woman who’d spent tedious days and nights constructing her gown.

“If you breathe any louder or mumble one more word under your breath, then I will toss you from the tallest height of the castle,” Belzara growled at the seamstress. Matilda didn’t think it was possible, but the woman’s pale face became whiter. “Apologize!” Belzara commanded.

The seamstress bowed her head graciously and offered a swift, “My apologies, my Queen.”

Forgiveness was at the tip of Matilda’s tongue when Belzara interjected.

“Your apology was not satisfactory. Grovel, woman!”

The seamstress’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Vivian? Do you mind giving me and my lady-in-waiting a moment?”

“Y-yes, my Queen,” she whispered before scampering off to parts unknown.

“Belzara.”

“Yes?”

“Can you cease behaving like a donkey’s ass for a moment?”

“She was being a disrespectful pig,” Belzara exclaimed.

Matilda rolled her eyes and couldn’t help but think Belzara’s new status had gone to her head.

“Belzara, as my lady-in-waiting, you must carry yourself with poise and grace.”

The orc snorted. “Says the huntress who doesn’t have an ounce of poise and grace.”

“I admit, I’m a work in progress, but we mustn’t alienate them. We need as many subjects on our side as possible, and making them grovel is not the way to go about it. It was not long ago I made my living massacring their people. I must earn their trust before I earn their respect. Do you understand, Belzara?”

“Yes, my Queen,” the orc grumbled.

“There is another matter I must address with you, Belzara.” Matilda fixed her gaze on her longtime friend, needing to drive her message home. “You are not exempt from the rule. I have been lax with you because of our history and everything you have done for me, but how can my subjects respect me if my lady-in-waiting speaks to me as if I am beneath her?”

“I—”

“Let me finish.” Matilda was satisfied when Belzara clamped her mouth shut. “I know we jest, and the words you say to me are not meant to be malicious; yet, others are not aware of the intricacies of our former relationship. Perception is everything, and they will perceive your jesting as disrespect, and I will be seen as weak. What kind of queen would I be if my lady-in-waiting spoke to me so brashly? Luka detests the way you speak to me, and despite my interventions, he is not convinced that your place is by my side. He will send you back to the tavern, and that’s if he is in a pleasant mood. I love you and want you here with me because you are familiar and feel like home, but you must behave accordingly. Do I make myself clear, Belzara?”

“Yes, my Queen,” Belzara responded quietly like a scolded child.

“Please apologize when Vivian returns.”

“I will.”

Matilda refocused on the mirror and rubbed her stomach, which doubled in size overnight. According to Dr. Blackwood, the child’s rapid growth was due to blood intake. He assumed she would continue to experience intermittent cravings throughout her pregnancy and to only consume when she had intense cravings. For now, the child was satiated. Unfortunately, her increase in size warranted a trip to the seamstress for an adjustment to her wedding gown. The couple had wished for the pregnancy to remain a secret until after the wedding, but their fortune and good luck had run out.

A knock at the door prompted Matilda to invite her guest in.