“Yes, but I've learned to block out sounds when thinking is imperative.”
“Of course you have,” he muttered.
“What is it? Why are you upset?”
“I suppose I'm not used to fighting for someone's attention, even when it's them who I must fight against.”
“Right.” I ran my tongue over my teeth, feeling the point of a fang to remind myself not to let the King pierce my normally thick skin. “I apologize for not paying more attention to you, Your Majesty.” I turned to face him. “What is it you wanted to speak to me about?”
“First of all, you can stop with that tone, Tekhan. I'm not asking you to coddle or dote on me. I would simply like a response when I speak to you.”
I inclined my head. “Yes. Courtesy. I can manage that.”
The King snorted a laugh. “Can you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Now, what was it you needed to speak to me about?”
“The kurline. How much was used in the bomb?”
“Not much. The paper factory bomb had a teaspoon of kurline in it. I assume the same amount was used in the prison bomb.”
“Damn it all!”
“Yes. He has enough left to make another bomb. Several of them.”
“Dear Gods.”
“Now, may I return to my pondering?”
“No. Not yet, Tekhan. There is one more thing that I wish to speak to you about.”
“What is that?”
“Torture.”
I lifted my brows.
“In particular, yours.”
I looked away.
“Don't turn away from me!” He grabbed my hand. “Tekhan, you said those Eljaffna were traitors.”
“Yes, and I told you why.” My stare lowered, staring toward the sidewalk while not seeing it.
“I believe you,” he went on. “But I don't believe you told me everything. You are hiding something from me. There is more to it.”
My heart started to race. I thought I'd gotten away with it. No! I had. I just had to keep calm. He was testing me. So, I slid my stare over to him. “What exactly do you think I'm hiding, sire?”
“Will you please stop? It's just you and me in here. Talk to me like your lover, not your king.”
I lifted my brows. “I don't believe that you're asking as my lover.”
“Then you're wrong.” He squeezed my hand. “What did they demand of you, Tekhan? It couldn't just be to influence me about the import rights.”
I sighed. “Can you not just let this go?”
“No, and I'll tell you why—they hurt you. A lot. And they did it because of me. That much I know you're telling the truth about. You were tortured because of me. And whatever they asked of you, it must have been horrible. Bad enough to warrant torture.” He leaned in to add, “Bad enough for you to withstand it.”
