“Are you?” Tallu tilted his head. “Are you trulygratefulto not be sitting on this throne?”
Rute’s eyes widened before narrowing. I remembered his words about Empress Koque. He understood exactly what Tallu was capable of when his position was threatened.
Had he finally overplayed his hand? Was he about to find out how ruthless the viper on the throne could be?
“Yes,” Rute said hoarsely. “Terribly grateful.”
“We are glad,” Tallu said, “to have such a devoted heir.”
Rute bowed low, his knees trembling, and I could see the hesitation, the moment he had to decide if he was going to drop to the floor. Finally, he stood, fingers forming a triangle reflexively. General Kacha bowed again before ushering Rute out.
“Well. I guess I see where the politics fall now.” I looked around the empty room, pointing to where everyone had been standing. “General Saxu believes in you. But more than that, he’s a warhorse who’s tired of battle. General Kachaisn’ttiredof battle, and he would paint the streets of the Imperium red with northern blood if he could. Rute is happy as long as his appetites are fed, and right now, General Kacha is making sure his proverbial plate is overflowing. Your ministers have been castrated to the point that they will follow whatever strong wind comes their way. You might have cut the rot from your father’s council, but it’s left you vulnerable. It’s left you without any strong allies.”
I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. “Is that about the size of it?”
“Prince Airón,” Tallu said, his tone flat. “You are tired.”
“Of course I am! I dragged your half-dead body down a mountain! I found us a ride back into this… well, we agreed it wasn’t a snake den, so a very fancy hyenas’ cave you call a court?” Exhaustion crept up my spine, loosening my tongue. I was tired. I had not expected whoever tried to kill him would frame the Northern Kingdom, but the idea of the Imperium setting sail before Tallu’s blood even cooled meant my job was even more important than ever.
Well. I couldhandleit. Icould.
My vision turned hazy, wobbling in the corners.
The next thing I knew, I was sitting down, staring up at Tallu on his throne. He hadn’t moved.
“Emperor Tallu,” I said, “I say this as someone who hopes to survive to his wedding day. You need more allies than just me. The man you’ve threatened into marriage can’t be the only one in this court loyal to you.”
Then, because it had been a long day, I passed out.
I wokeup in a room I didn’t recognize. The bed was massive, silk sheets and four wooden posts that held up a canopy. Bed curtains were pulled to the side, letting in orange afternoon light. I sat up, aware I was wearing a shirt that wasn’t mine and pants I didn’t recognize.
The room was large enough to have the bed, a writing desk, and several tables pressed up against the wall, the afternoon light reflecting off polished surfaces. One entire wall was made of bookcases, the spines a mix of different colors and materials. On the ceiling, carvings of dragons graced the crown molding, chasing each other around the room. They looked so true to life that I was sure they were going to dance down and consume me whole.
“You’re awake,” Tallu said.
I blinked, sitting up too quickly, the blood rushing from my head. Spots formed in my vision, and I spun to see Tallu sitting next to the bed. He was clean and dressed, his face tinted gold in the afternoon light. He put the book he was reading on a bedside table, the long sleeve of his robe skimming over the bedsheets.
Because this was his bed. I was finally in his bed.
My stomach tightened, and I inhaled sharply. If I was Eonaî, I would be able to turn this into a seduction. Instead, my stomach growled, and I said like a moon wit, “Is there food?”
Tallu stared at me, his mouth flat, and for a second, I thought I’d blown it, and then I realized he was fighting a laugh. “Yes. The doctor ordered you to eat some gruel because you need hearty sustenance?—”
The sound I made was something between offended and horrified, and Tallu laughed, the sound sending a shiver up my spine as though I’d won a prize I didn’t know I was competing for. No, this was a seduction.Iwas seducinghim. He was not seducing me with his sly sense of humor and the cold way that he commanded his court of sociopathic vipers.
“I had the kitchen make you something better.” Tallu stood, and I started to get up, but the gesture he made with his hand was so clearly an indication for me to relax that I focused on the impossibility of relaxing rather than my continued ignorance of imperial body language. I was in Tallu’s bed. I was being waited on by theEmperor of the Southern Imperium.
Crossing the room, Tallu looked over his shoulder. “Did you mean it?”
“Did I mean what?” I asked, even as I had a feeling in my stomach I knew exactly what Tallu was talking about.
“About us being allies. Did you mean it?” Tallu took the covers off some dishes on one of the tables, and my stomach rolled with hunger at the thought of the food. “Did you mean it when you said that you were loyal to me?”
I could lie. I could lie about this and use it to bind him to me, and the lies dried up on my tongue. Tallu returned and placed a tray on my lap. I stared down at the food until he began pointing out the various dishes as though I’d never seen flatbreads and cheese before. One of the dishes was a delicate vegetable sliced thinly with fried fruit and little puffs of fatty cheese mixed in.
Taking the offered fork, I stabbed at one of the pieces of fruit and said, “You and I share a common goal.”
Tallu inhaled sharply, and I looked up, finding his impossible russet eyes staring at me as though I was all there was.
