The overlord shrugged his right shoulder, his arms still crossed over his perfect chest. “Would it have been easier if your partner was bad in bed?”
My mouth opened. Then snapped shut.
My black brows puckered. “No. That would have been terrible.”
“And you expected it to be terrible?”
“Yes.”
His eyes flared red for a beat, then turned normal once more, unseen by the other overlords. Pleasure flittered over his features at my answer but swiftly disappeared, hidden behind his normal persona. He chuckled quietly under his breath. “Then you—”
Cato, the unwanted, cut him off, leaning on an elbow, grouching, “Why the hell would you have sex with someone if you thought it would be terrible?”
I instantly held up a stopping hand in his direction, not even glancing at him. I kept my eyes on the overlord in front of me. “Please continue.”
“I was saying that you got off easy.”
I blinked in instant confusion. “Huh?”
Lord Belshazzar unfolded his arms. He pointed at himself, then jerked his left thumb over his shoulder to the other overlords. “Do you know how many times we’ve had horrible sex with someone? Just so we would benefit in some way in the long run? Too many times to count, that’s how many. It’s part of the life we lead—its many deceptions as a leader—and your partner or partners will know that. Or they should if they’re halfway intelligent. What is best for me? What is best for the crown? What is best for our people? If you actually had good, fun sex, then you got off easy. If you’re not mated, hardly any sexual acts are for pleasure alone once you become a ruler.”
Lord Xenon’s eyes glazed over, quiet in his response. “He speaks the truth. There have been…,” he visibly shuddered, “…well, be thankful if it was pleasant.”
Even my asshole father sat back, peering off into the distance. “Be very,verythankful.”
I almost gagged, quickly turning my head away from my father and his sexual memories. “Okay. Okay. I get it.”
But he didn’t stop talking!
“No, listen, my sweetling—”
“I’m not your anything,” I spat.
“You see,my sweetling, Lord Belshazzar forgot to mention the most important part.”
My nostrils flared.
Though, I waited. Silent.
Cato continued, “The most important part to remember in sexual intrigues is to never let your heart get involved.”
Gradually, I turned back around to my tea and scratched at my cheek in thought. Curious advice.
I lifted the little string on the tea bag and pulled it free of my mug. My tea should be ready by now. I tossed the tea bag in the trash, firmly ignoring the extending silence—and a specific overlord who hadn’t moved from directly behind me, his heated stare blazing on the back of my head.
I could literallyfeeltheir disappointment in me.
Cato eventually cleared his throat, stating ever so carefully, “She has much to learn yet. Give her time. We didn’t have it all figured out either when we were candidates.”
I sighed and glanced over my shoulder, glaring at each of them in turn. “I didn’t say I had feelings for this man.”
Lord Belshazzar returned, “You didn’t deny it either. That’s why it really bothered you that it wasn’t terrible. You wanted it to be horrible, but it wasn’t. It was…fun.” He shook his head, rubbing his chin roughly. Then he pointed with a fast finger at the whiskey. “I have no patience for this tonight. Hurry up and pour what you want so I can have the damn bottle.”
My forehead scrunched in revulsion. “I’m not some lovesick woman who can’t keep her feelings in check after sex—even good sex. I’ve used sex before to take down men and women. Hell, I’ve taken down a kingdom once with it. Sex is easy. I just didn’t expect to have fun, that’s all.”
His eyes flashed red, and his response took a good long moment like he was considering each word. He finally growled, “Like I said, then you got off easy.”
I crossed my arms and eyed him.
