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Khan rolled his eyes. "Why are you trying to steal my happiness, old man?"
"Go. I'll have tea and find you later." Fen stood on tiptoes and kissed the side of his neck. "And I like how you smell."
Khan made a sound in his throat that made desire hit her low in the stomach.
"Move now before I do something drastic," he said, letting her go.
"Keep it in mind for later," she replied, giving him a wink before walking across the barge to join Sargon.
"I think you have bewitched my grandson," he said, hands on his hips.
"Literally? Because I'm not into casting love spells on anyone."
Sargon smiled. "Not literally, but he's…smitten. I haven't seen him like this before. I don't know whether to be delighted or disturbed."
"Be both and jealous as well," Fen teased. Sargon's smile turned into a laugh. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"You are a delight, you know that?"
"I don't think I've ever been accused of that before."
In Fen's experience, it had always been the opposite. Perhaps it was the heat or the eternal summer that seemed to be in Aaru, but she did feel lighter there than she had in a long time.
They moved further down the barge to Sargon's rooms. Fen had never been on a boat so big or luxurious. The Atrahasi didn't do anything if they couldn't do it in style, and their ships were no different. Sargon's rooms were bigger than some houses she had been in.
Fen sat cross-legged on one of the flat cushions next to a low table with tea and food.
"Have you told him you're in love with him yet?" Sargon asked.
Fen started. "I haven't thought about it?"
"Sure, you haven't." Sargon poured her tea. "Your secret is safe with me. It's not really a secret, though. Anyone who looks at you can see it written all over the pair of you. Are you using protection? Because I wouldn't mind some great-grandchildren."
"Oh my god, you did not just ask me that." Fen blushed and put a hand over her face. "I use a birth control rune, and Khan takes a tonic, so no, you're not getting great-grandchildren."
"Yet," Sargon said, his eyes glittering with mischief.
"Is this what you wanted to have tea for?" Fen asked, trying to change the subject.
"No. I want to talk to you about your god blood."
Fen choked on her tongue. "You don't break a person in gently, do you?"
"My dear, I've learned that too much time is wasted in life with people hesitating. Always be direct with emotions, intentions, and instructions. People are too stupid to figure it out on their own." Sargon chewed on a date as he studied her. "Ea came and spoke with you directly. You might not find this significant, but he is my god, and I would be a poor magi if I wasn't curious about it. Don't you want to know more about it? Or why your gods would make bets on your life?"
"Gods are dicks. We know this." Fen's hand balled into a fist. "I don't care what the bet was about."
"Why?" he pressed.
"Because they fucking abandoned me like everyone else, Sargon!" Fen burst out, her anger and hurt sudden and painful. "It doesn't matter if my father is Loki because he abandoned me. It doesn't matter if Freya and Odin are making their fucking bets because they alsoabandonedme!" She was shaking, her breath too tight in her chest.
Sargon didn't bat an eyelid at her outburst. "That's what I'm talking about, Fen. Why would they? What about you scares them so much?"
"Why do you care? Are you worried that I'm going to destroy Khan or Aaru or something?" she demanded, hurt and panic searing through her that he would think it.
Sargon let out a long sigh before he pulled her into a hug. "Gods, Fen, just breathe, will you? I didn't mean to upset you, and I don't think you are a threat to Khan or Aaru. You would never hurt him. What you two have goes beyond your races, common sense, or the gods' plans."
Fen let out a shaky breath and swallowed back her frustrated tears before they fell. She hadn't realized how much his opinion mattered to her until that moment. She never wanted him to think she was a threat in any way.
