Page 74 of His Realm

“There has to be one, without question. I won’t allow you to be in the king’s presence alone anymore. He’s lost that right.”

Which meant that truly, my days as cadeyrn were over. “Zev is, without a doubt, the best choice. I promise you. He’ll surprise you.”

He shook his head. “Somehow or other you’re laboring under the false belief that I don’t believe Zev is smart or gifted. He commanded troops, he’s an excellent tactician, as is Hadrian, and thinks quicker than most people. So yes, I agree he’d make a tremendously capable cadeyrn for my father.”

“And eventually, you,” I reminded him.

“I have Tiago. I don’t need a rajan and⁠—”

“Yes you do. Tiago travels with you, just like I will, just like Dae-Jung and Hadrian. You need someone here, looking after the palace, overseeing all the people running it, and keeping a tight lid on the intrigue. The palace has to be like a well-oiled machine, always running. People should be able to come here when you’re abroad and see where the king lives and how, to always be invited into the warmth of his home. That’s what your father doesn’t do. He stays here, hidden away from his people. You have to see everyone, go everywhere like you’ve always done, and have the confidence, again, that the palace is in the best hands.”

He smiled then. “You’ve thought this through.”

“I think when Nerilla was alive, that’s why you could travel. You knew she was here, taking care of everything, making sure everyone felt welcome, and no one talked back to her because she was Cassius’s widow.”

“Yes.”

“With Zev here, you’ll be able to do that again.”

“I would. Yes.”

“And especially when your father steps down, someone needs to be here who can rein him in, who knows his tricks, and will be empowered, by you, to say no.”

“You were empowered, and yet people pushed back. I would like to know who they are.”

I grinned and shook my head. “Not on your life, buddy. I’m no narc.”

He scowled.

“That’s not gonna work. I’m not afraid of you,” I said playfully, leaning in to give him a kiss.

Catching my bottom lip before I could lean away, the kiss got quickly out of control, and he walked me farther into the alcove, one hand on the small of my back, the other holding my nape so I couldn’t move. Devouring my mouth, he kissed me breathless. When he pulled back, I wrapped my arms around his neck so he couldn’t go far.

“I yet hunger for my consort,” he whispered, his breath hot in my ear.

“Yeah. Same. Let’s go.”

“You’re so romantic,” he goaded me.

“I don’t care. I wanna get laid.” He was laughing as I grabbed his hand and tugged him after me. “Whaddya need, a fuckin’ sonnet?”

“No,” he said, chuckling. “I like far better hearing the truth from your lips, that you want me not because I’m the prince, but because I’m a man.”

“You’re not a man, you’re my man,” I made clear, leading him up the stairs.

“Yes, I am. And will always be so.”

We walked in silence, starting the long trek toward our side of the palace, hand in hand. It was a fraction over a quarter of a mile end to end, from the top of the stairs, which began on the king’s and queen’s side of the palace, to the bank of windows where Varic’s wing ended. The good news was, the back and forth kept me in shape. I threatened my guards with getting a golf cart to scandalize them.

“I have a question,” I said as we were suddenly followed by Varic’s dreki, who basically stepped out of the shadows to join us. It was amazing that they could disappear and reappear like that so effortlessly. “But it’s personal.”

“It’s all right, you’re all dismissed,” Varic said, and they all ran by us to get to their quarters. “Go ahead.”

“How come when we used to be in bed, your eyes would change to black, but now the only color they change to is gold?”

“Do you think that means something? That perhaps my passion for you has diminished?”

“Not diminished, because it seems to me, as the love deepens, the sex does too. At least, that’s how I feel.”