Page 144 of The Crown’s Temptation

He could barely see her face in the dim light but he could hear the smile in her voice.

"No. I was angry. I still am."

"Why?"

"Because I am here for you. All of this is for you. And yet you make it impossible for me to keep you safe—" His voice lowered. "I need to know where you were."

He would not say the rest of it out loud. Would never say it out loud. But he needed to know there was no one else whose company she wanted more.

"Are you worried there is someone I want more than you, Teorin?" Her voice was mild, almost bored. "Colsar cannot come to Morrath and as you know I am stuck here as your prisoner."

"Is that what you think you are?"

She sat up. Her nightgown was sheer and Teorin was infuriated by how distracting that was. “Perhaps I do not mind. Perhaps a prisoner is what I would prefer to be."

He could not help himself. He pinned her into the bed, his hand over her throat.

"Cut the bullshit. This has been months. You can hate me for my lies, but before this we were close. I gave you⁠—"

"Gave me what exactly, Teorin?"

"I spent time with you. Taught you things. Saved your life more than once."

"And?"

"I need to know."

"Know what?" He felt another rush of irritation. She was playing coy and he hated that the most.

"Where I stand. Me. Sevrin. Fucking Colsar."

"Colsar is my husband."

"Yes."

"But he is not here right now."

"He let you die."

"Perhaps." She paused. "The point is that he has disappointed me many times. As have you."

"Answer the question."

"Colsar is husband material. You are not. Not in the real world anyway. Perhaps you would be suitable for some third tier creature in this shitty kingdom."

Teorin's fist clenched. "So you do not think I am good enough."

"I know you are not good enough, Teorin." She smiled sweetly. He heard a low hum in his head. "I do not know if you would even know what to do with my body if you had it." She took his hand gently. "Come here. Does it matter, truly, what I think?"

"It does," Teorin said. His voice was hoarse. "It fucking does."

"Then do for me what Colsar would never do and what you are dying to do, Teorin."

He hesitated. "What?"

He could not stand this version of himself. Weak. Over a woman who may not even want him. She took her bare foot and traced his chest with it before letting it trail down between his legs. It stopped on the bulge at his pants and did not move.

Teorin could not breathe.