Page 48 of The Empty Throne

"I am sorry she did indeed prove to be atraitor. I knew, but I still hoped Bittersea would uncoversomething that cleared her."

"She was a scheming, backstabbing liar,"Cohea said flatly. "Good riddance. I'd say I'm sorry Bittersea hadto be the one to do it—"

Bittersea laughed.

"—but we all know how he feels about thework he does," Cohea finished dryly.

Wendeth grunted. "I don't recall you twoever being on such friendly terms. You should have mentioned thatBittersea."

"We weren't before he came to my estate.Things… happened."

Bittersea laughed again.

Cohea shot him a warning look.

"I don't trust it," Wendeth said flatly."I don't trustyou." He glared at Bittersea. "You do whatyou're told when the money and the blood are good enough. Or atleast suitably entertaining. How long until you grow bored withwhatever game you're playing with Lindquist and slit his throatwhile he sleeps."

"I never kill anyone while they're sleeping;that takes the fun out of it," Bittersea said, almost soundingtruly offended. Behind Wendeth, Sobeki made a noise that could havebeen dismay or amusement or both. "Lindquist is mine."

Wendeth's brows vanished into his hairline."Yours? To what? Toy with, torment? What have you convinced him of,you nasty little snake—"

"Enough!" Lindquist bellowed, startling evenBittersea. "It's not your place to control my love life, YourMajesty. Bittersea and I were trapped in my home. We learned moreabout each other than either of us ever expected to and weresurprised by what we found. We're lovers. I love him. I don't careif you like it or not."

"I have a right to be concerned abouthismotives," Wendeth said, sparing Bittersea another hostileglance. "He's manipulating you, using you for something—"

"I'm not," Bittersea said, voice soft butthunderous. "He'smine. Lindquist belongs to me and only me.If you take him away from me, you won't enjoy what happens toyou."

Wendeth's jaw dropped, and behind him Sobekicovered his face with his hands.

Lindquist lifted his eyes to the ceilingbefore turning to face Bittersea, arms folding across his chest. "Itold you not to threaten him."

"It's funny you think I'll just do whateveryou tell me," Bittersea said, eyes glittering with challenge.

Lindquist answered the challenge with asmirk.

"I see," Wendeth said, making them both lookat him again. "Fine, if you really feel that way, Bittersea, I wantyou to prove it. A Binding. Tie your life to his, literally. ThenI'll at least know you won't kill him or let him die."

Bittersea laughed, the sound completelygenuine, as though Wendeth had taken him by surprise and he reveledin it.

Sobeki stepped forward to face Wendeth. "ABinding? That's illegal! Your Majesty! You can't demand such athing of him! It's uncon—"

"I'll do it. I don't care," Bittersea cutin. "If that's what it takes to prove this to you, then I'll doit." At the king's stunned look, he added, "Did you think I'drefuse? I told you; Lindquist is mine. If I can't have him, nobodycan have him. I was going to take him with me when I diedanyway."

"So will I," Cohea said, heart racing. Notwith fear, like it should, but with hot satisfaction, with thedangerous, seductive thrill of Bittersea's blood-soaked obsession."Have the rings made. We'll do it the moment they're ready."

On his finger, the stones were still blue.Like the sky, like the sea, like all the distance between nthem.

Sighing, he hauled to his feet and trudgedoff to get clean and finally put on clothes that did not smell offish and body odor.

When he was finally clean, properly andthoroughly clean for the first time in far too long, he crawledinto bed. He'd slept alone for years without issue. Then Bitterseahad come along and filled the extra space, and his absence now lefta hole. If he were here right now, Cohea would put him on his handsand knees and fuck him through the mattress or bind Bittersea'shands and make him ride Cohea's cock, enjoy his frustration whenthe lack of leverage made it difficult to find satisfaction. Griphis hips tightly enough to leave faint bruises, wrap his fingersaround Bittersea's throat and squeeze just the way he liked. Oncethey were finished, they'd lie on their sides, Bittersea pulledback flush against him, so when Cohea woke in the dead of night ashe so often did, Bittersea was right there to use as he pleased.Cohea loved the way Bittersea always jerked awake mid-fucking,moaning his name, nails biting into his arm.

He was too exhausted for his cock to rise toall the delightful images filling his head, unfortunately, so Cohearolled over to lie on his stomach and finally let sleep havehim.

Fourteen

Kite stood in the ugly red salon yet again,determined to figure out what about it bothered him. Not the size,he'd measured that zealously four times already. Not the height.Neither the bookcases nor either of the giant paintings hiddoorways.

Still something nagged him. For one, the roomwas unbearablyred. There was so much of it, in such avibrant shade, that it was like sitting in a pool of blood. Theonly accents were black and gold, which helped not at all. It feltlike someone had set out to make the room as appalling aspossible.

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