Page 61 of The Empty Throne

Bittersea sighed. "Must it be some enormous,tiresome affair?"

"Yes, and you know it, so stop being abrat."

If anyone else had spoken to Bittersea likethat, they'd wind up missing their tongue at best, but Bitterseaonly rolled his eyes and resumed drinking his tea.

"Cremisio tradition is usually for spring andsummer weddings, isn't it?" Ralidya asked.

Sobeki looked at her and Skye pensively."Yes, typically, but as you clearly want to have this discussionnow, I will end the matter and say that I am not marrying anyonefrom Kenten." He lifted a hand when they started to protest."That's not even in regard to my personal feelings on the matter,it's purely a political one. Cremisio has been through a great dealrecently, and soon we will be burying everyone murdered by theTerekians. The new alliance will upset many. I am not going tocompound the problem by taking a Kenten spouse. It's too much. I'mmore than willing to arrange a marriage or two between nobles, andI can think of several in my court who would be ecstatic to take upsuch an arrangement, but it will not be me. If that's untenable toKenten, then it's best we all know that now before the fightingbegins."

"We wouldn't leave you to a slaughter justbecause of a hypothetical marriage," Ralidya replied. "Iunderstand, and of course it was a possibility we considered. We'llrenegotiate that part of the alliance after the fighting isconcluded."

Oskia poured herself a cup of wine and dranka large swallow, mind spinning with surprise. Tumult. WhateverSobeki said… his personal feelings must be tied up in the matter insome measure. Why, though? Oskia had refused him ages ago, and nomatter how much her mind had changed over the years…

Well, she was well and fine as a duchess, butshe doubted anyone wanted her fiery temper on the throne.

She startled slightly as Sobeki rested a handon hers beneath the table, staring at his stupid face with itsstupid smile and stupid soft eyes. "Sobeki…"

"Later," he replied, before turning back tothe others—right as a pounding knock came at the door.

The door swung open a moment later, and threefigures strode inside, General Qualt and General Tym of the CreminRoyal Army, and General Hortus of the Kenten Royal Army. Qualtstepped forward, papers clutched tightly in her right hand, herleft hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "We've come with finalreports, Your Majesty, and to inform you that the Terekian Army hasbeen spotted. Barring worsening weather or some unforeseen event,they'll be here within the next few hours. Four at most, more likebetween two and three."

"Have someone take Lady Ralidya and LadyCorinta to safety," Sobeki said as he stood. "Sit, Generals, andlet us finalize how to end this war."

Seventeen

"Don't do something stupid like get yourselfkilled before I can punish you properly," Cohea said, grippingBittersea's wrist hard enough to bruise, to feel the bones grindagainst each other, eliciting a hiss of pleasure-pain. He bitBittersea's ear, drunk as ever on the heady knowledge that thisman, this remorseless killer who felt nothing for no one, wassomehowhis. "I haven't seen you properly in a year, and youwere an absolutebratwhen Fazekas had me. Then, when Ifinally see you again, you collapse on me, sleep through whatlittle time we had together, and have been completely incorrigiblesince waking up."

That made Bittersea jerk, since there wasnothing he hated more than the reminder he was as human as the restof them.

"It would serve you right if I tied you upand left you to suffer for hours while I go do something else."

"Try it and see what happens to you,Lindquist."

Chuckling softly, Cohea worked his way downto bite and suck at Bittersea's neck, leaving toothmarks andbruises that Bittersea would let linger for days. There wassomething intoxicating about putting marks on a man who couldcontrol how quickly they healed. Cohea might be the one marking,but Bittersea had all the power. "Do you really think I don't knowhow to keep you where I want you by this point, moon shadow?"

Bittersea huffed, the noise mostly lost tothe wall he was pushed up against. With his right arm twisted upbehind his back, the left one trapped between his chest and thewall, he was nicely pinned in place and helpless to Cohea'swants.

Exactly the way Cohea wanted him. He bitBittersea's throat again. When he had the time, he'd make an entirecollar of bite marks, leave Bittersea looking like he'd beenravaged by a beast. Scratch and bite and suck his way down thatlithe body, leave Bittersea too wrung out to think, let alone move."When this is over, I'm going tochainyou to my bed, withjust enough length for necessaries. You won't be able to reach yourpretty little knives, or the door, or anything else. Won't be ableto do anything but what I tell you, until I'm satisfied orbored."

"I don't need knives to kill you, Lindquist—"He broke off with a grunt as Cohea gave his hair a particularlyforceful tug, but finished, "Using the bedsheets just means it'llbe slower and more painful for you."

Cohea chuckled, low and rough. As thoughBittersea needed to do more than touch someone to kill them if hereally wanted. Everyone thought of healers as altruistic, good,kind people who just wanted to save others. Not every person bornwith healing magic was good, though, and Bittersea knew better thanmost how to turn his gift into a curse.

Everyone thought it was the knives that madehim such a good assassin, but Cohea had seen him kill in farnastier ways, quiet and insidious, wounds that nobody even knewwere there until they died choking on their own blood.

Releasing his hair, Cohea cupped his chin andforced his head back hard against his shoulder, holding it theretightly, admiring his handywork. "You're going to be too busy beingused like the eager little fucktoy you are to have time to kill me.My bed has been cold for averylong time, and you're goingto keep it warm for as long as I want." He dragged his tongue alongBittersea's cheek and nipped at his jaw, then down to tongue at thebruising toothmarks he'd left, eliciting a hiss of pain. "I'm goingto sate myself until you pass out, and then when I've rested, I'mgoing to use you all over again, whether you're awake or not."

Bittersea scoffed derisively, but it didnothing to hide the telling shivers running through him. "This allpresumes you'll manage to not to get us killed, Lindquist, and weall know you're a fucking dumbass about your own wellbeing. Don'tmake promises you don't know you can keep."

"Why would I promise you anything whenthreatening you is so much more fun?" Cohea retorted, elicitingmore shivers. Releasing his tight grip, he turned Bittersea around,pinned him to the wall with his full body, and kissed him until hisown lips were sore and they both needed desperately to breathe.

Bittersea shoved at him, and Cohea relented,freeing him at last, though only with the greatest reluctance.

Cohea captured his chin, leaned down to kisshim more gently. "Stay alive, Bittersea."

"Take your own advice," Bittersea replied,biting his lip before moving deftly and swiftly out of reach. "Weboth know you're the bigger danger of getting killed between thetwo of us."

In the next breath he was gone, off to hispost for the looming battle. Cohea lifted his hammer from wherehe'd rested it against the wall nearby, fastened it to his back,and headed off to his own post, leading the forces that would bedefending the eastern half of the north wall. He hadn't been activemilitary for some time, but every bit of help was needed, and Coheahad always excelled at defense.

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