Page 75 of The Empty Throne

"I've been busy, and everyone and theirsister has been warning me not to further exhaust myself, like Idon't know my magic and limits." Sobeki rolled his eyes.

Oskia laughed softly. "I don't believeyou."

"Oh, hush. How is everything going? Ourpeople?"

"They're as well as can be expected," Oskiareplied, and related everything that had transpired since herarrival.

"I'll start working on the introduction. Wecan use Cremisio as a neutral meeting place. Probably will take afew months, though, with everything else happening." He rubbed histemples. "On top of everything else, the council is trying to bullyme into a big, ostentatious coronation."

Oskia wrinkled her nose. "Crass."

"Yes, my thoughts exactly. I've refused sofar, insisting on something small and private. I don't see the needfor a coronation at all, but compromises…" He spread his hands."Would you prefer I push it off until after we're married?"

"Gods no, don't you dare do that to me. Thewedding and everything else will be hassle enough."

Sobeki laughed in that bright way of hisshe'd always loved. "Oh, I see how you really feel."

Too easy. Oskia smirked and stepped incloser, even though with his spirit form it really made nodifference. His eyes widened slightly, locked on her face, mostlyher smirking mouth. "How I feel is annoyed by needlesslyover-complicated formality with no purpose but to show off. How Ialsofeel is eager to fuck until you pass out, and stuff youso full you'll be giving birth to our first child in thesummer."

Even in his spirit form, it was easy to seethat Sobeki's face had gone entirely pink. Clearing his throat,Sobeki said, "I am entirely too busy to be bearing children anytimesoon."

"Well then you should go and get some rest,darling, and we'll discuss this further when I get home. Should besoon, barring severe weather, as the talks went extremely well.I'll let you know when I depart."

"See you soon, Oskia."

"Goodnight, Beki."

He faded from view, and Oskia swept off tobed still smiling.

Twenty-One

It took a little over six weeks of carefullycontained chaos to set the worst of the mess to rights. Fixingeverything entirely would take months, some things even years, butgiven all that had happened and the time of year, everything couldhave been so much worse.

Most citizens were choosing to remain wherethey were, planning to return when the weather eased up. Others hadreturned and were either back home if they had one remaining, orresiding in suitable empty houses until residents returned andtheir own homes were repaired.

Cohea was grateful keeping track of all ofthat wasn't his problem. No, infrastructure was Kite's problem, andCohea had been assigned the damaged wall and assisting thearmy.

Keris had gotten what he wanted in the endand was dealing with prisoners of war. Cohea had warned Sobeki notto do that, but he hadn't listened, and so far as Cohea wasconcerned it wasn't his problem if a few of them went missing. He'ddone his best.

He pushed away the reports he'd been poringover and abandoned his desk, rubbing at his temples in an attemptto ease the headache that came with too many hours spent reading.Leaving his chambers, he headed off through the palace in search offood and company.

Outside, snow was falling, but lazily, likeeven the weather was tired of existing for the day. Maybe he justneeded a nap. But he would prefer to nap with Keris in his arms, asthat was when he slept best, but there would be no dragging himaway from his bloody delights until he wanted to be, and whatevergames they played, Cohea was not actually a controlling bastard whotook what he wanted when he wanted it with no thought or care tohis partner.

A delicate shiver ran down his spine as hethought of all the games they could play soon, back in the safehaven of Lindquist Manor, far from the rest of the world. Away fromprying and judgement.

He was nearly to the room where he and hisfriends most often congregated when they were able, only to bewaylaid by a trio of nobles with a look on their faces that said hewasn't going to like what they said. Not even bothering to stiflehis sigh, Cohea drew to a stop a few paces from them. "What?"

"Is it true you are Bonded to LordBittersea?"

"Yes, I am."

"Why would you do that?" asked the one on theright, a young woman with a sweet face at odds with her judgmentaltone. "He's an awful person. A killer!"

"I'm a killer," Cohea said, and lifted a handwhen one of them started to protest. "No, the fact it's sanctioneddoesn't make it better. Killing is killing."

"You don't take pleasure in it like he does,"the man who'd first spoken muttered.

Cohea sighed again. "Is there a point to allof this? You are in no position to be speaking to me so, and I'llnot tolerate it much longer."

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