“As what?” He looked back at me. “What would I do here?”
“Whatever you wish. Make furniture. Lead my army. Laze in bed all day. I don't care, as long as you stay.”
“But a king needs heirs, swanling.”
He was so serious, sorrow seeping from his eyes even as he tried to keep his face devoid of emotion.
I burst out laughing.
Kon's jaw loosened. “That's not the reaction I expected.”
“Anheir? Do you think that Nikolay cared about producing an heir?”
“No, but Nikolay only cared about himself.”
“Yes, and I know having an heir would be wise. It would be good for the kingdom. Maybe I can choose a woman to bear my child, and she can be artificially inseminated. It would be a good way to reward Olga actually. I mean,LadyOlga.” I grinned, so pleased with myself that I'd been able to reward those who were so deserving.
Konstantin blinked.
“Did you really think that I would give you up because I became King?”
“Well, I . . .”
“Kon, I would sooner give up the throne for you, than you for it.”
Konstantin let out a broken breath and yanked me against his chest. “Oh, swanling, you don't know what those words mean to me.”
“How could you ever think that I would abandon you?”
“Not abandon. I just wasn't sure what would be required of you.”
“And I wasn't sure if you'd want to give up your home in America.” I nudged his nose with mine. “I was prepared to offer you yearly vacations there.”
“I could be down with that.”
“Yes?”
“Yes. But I need you to be specific about what you're offering. What would I be to you?”
“What would yoube? Everything, Kon. Exactly as you are now.”
He smirked. “I'm definitely down with that, but I meant in your court, Misha. Would you make me your consort?”
“Consort?” I was aghast.
Konstantin's face fell. “I know it's a hard sell to get your people to accept me as Royal Consort since I'm a Kaplan, but I—”
“Kon, stop.”
“—thought perhaps you could tell them—”
“Konstantin.”
“—that I was your—”
“Shut the fuck up, tiger!”
Konstantin went silent, his stunning eyes growing wide.
