Austin smiled wryly. “We know Prince Malin won’t acquiesce unless you show you are willing to remain by his side. Unless you support theplan.”
Surah shook her head. “I don’t know what you all are smoking–but I wish I had some. Why in the world would I want that for myself, or Malin? He has a life outside of court. Wealth, reputation. What does he need the burden of the thronefor?”
Austin leaned forward, long hair falling over his shoulder to brush the table. “It isn’t necessarily what you and he want or need–but what our people want and need. We need him–and you. Geza's leadership is plunging the territory into a cesspit we’ll be unable to muck out of forgenerations.”
“Even if I agreed with you,” Surah said, rising again, staring hard at the hand around her wrist, “you’re forgetting onething.”
Austin withdrew. “And what isthat?”
“Malin is my lover–but Geza is mybrother. I love them both. I’ll walk youout.”
At the door, Austin turned to her once more. “Please don’t tell Geza I came here today–he doesn’t know I’m on the side of the rebels. I trust in yourhonor.”
Surah's brow rose. “You’re aspy?”
Austin looked embarrassed. “Not exactly. I’m just in a position to hear things and pass them along ifpertinent.”
“And you think I won’t betrayyou?”
“I know you won’t.” Austin smiled. “We’ve been watching you for a long timenow.”
“Wait,” Surah called when the male had walked away several feet. Austin paused, turned back. “Who’swe?”
“Kausar, Nikolau, and those withus.”
He wasn’t going to say more, and she already knewthosetwo were behind things. Frustrated, Surah went home early, unable to concentrate enough to make much of a difference to her work. Malin was in his study. Or rather, on the balcony, staring up at the nightsky.
“How do you feel tonight?” Surah asked, brushing a hand along Malin’s shoulder. She pressed a kiss to the Prince’s neck, moving alongsidehim.
“I’m fine,Surah.”
The edge in Malin’s tone alerted her. “You’re thinking about it, aren’tyou?”
Malin turned, eyes wary. “Thinking aboutwhat?”
Surah leaned on the railing, hands gripping it tightly. “Come on, Malin. I’m not stupid, and neither are you. You must have guessed I’d be approached. And if they came to me today, they must have come to you aswell.”
Fire flared in dark eyes, a tinge of pearl-gray spreading across Malin’s skin. “I told Kausar to leave you out ofit.”
“They can’t afford to leave me out of it. They see me as the only complication to you falling in line with their littlerebellion.”
Malin frowned at her, hand tight enough on the rail his knuckles showed white. Then he turned abruptly, striding back into the study. Surah trailed after him, watching as the gargoyle approached the bar, perused the racks of wine and choose a vintage, pouring twoglasses.
“Wow, he must have really stressed you out.” Malin wasn’t really one to drink–that was Surah's weakness. She suspected he kept a selection from force of habit, because it was expected. Malin shoved a glass at her with a sideways glare as Surah walked over and slid onto a stool. Sipping on the vintage, she studied her lover. “Well?”
Malin downed the contents of his glass, turned away. “Don’t you want a child,Surah?”
Surah stilled, heart twinging in sympathy from the note in Malin’s voice. “This isn’t the first time you’ve mentioned it, but…I didn’t realize it was that important toyou.”
“I never thought I would have a chance for my own family.” The Prince still didn’t turn around, shoulders still. “The years when Geza was achild—”
“And me?” Surah smiledwryly.
“And you,” he acknowledged. “They were some of the happiest in my life.” Malin turned back around. “I…want that feeling back. But I always knew that I wouldn’t do it if I couldn’t have you at myside.”
Surah took a deep breath. “You shouldn’t put your life, your happiness, on hold for any person,Malin.”
The gargoyle’s crooked smile charmed, and saddened, Surah. “The heart and the head don’t always follow the same master. But Surah…as much as I want a child, I also don’t want to pass on my defectivegene.”
