“It’s a risk, but one the Ioveanu line has survived—and I’m only a few steps away from a treatment. Are you saying you want me to prevent apregnancy?”
His jaw tightened. “I–don’tknow.”
“You need to know, Malin. I’m not on anything. I don’t want to get pregnant if I’ll be on myown.”
“You willneverbe on yourown.”
She smiled, bitter. “I get it. I’m good enough for you because you don’t really believe I’ll ever cure you. So it doesn’t matter if you mate me because you will be trapped in human form anyway. But you don’t want to embarrass yourself with shiftlesschildren.”
He stared at her, face turning white. Fire flared in his eyes. “If you were anyone else, you would pay for thatinsult.”
Tension stretched between them. “What do you want me to think, then, Malin? Be veryclear.”
“Damn you, Surah. Is that what you really think of mycharacter?”
“What I think,” she replied slowly, “is that you are an Ioveanu Prince. And I am undernoillusions what that means as far as your mindsetgoes.”
He said nothing. Surah gave him time to think, rising to pour herself more wine. Malin approached, taking the bottle from her. “That’s enough of that,” he said. “If you aren’t on birth control, you shouldn’t be drinking. And you shouldn’t be drinking anyway, since you have a weakness forit.”
She said nothing, staring at him until he sighed. “I will love our children if we have them, whether they can shift or not. Whether they are human or garling. No, my love, I don’t want you to do anything to prevent a pregnancy. If we are meant to have a child, let itbe.”
Surah let out a breath. “Fine. But what about Ludargo’sdaughter?”
Malin sighed, looking down at the glass in his hand. “I don’t want to touch another person, Surah. My refusal could be the spark that finally fans theflames.”
She knew it, and stared at a wall, throat dry. “I don’t want Geza overthrown–he needs time to mature into his role. I also don’t want you with another female, and I don’t want a war.” She laughed, bitter. “I don’t see how those three goals are compatible, though. It seems like overkill to depose our own brother so we can have our ownbaby.”
Malin pinned her with a steely look. “I’m not overthrowing Geza because I want a child with you. I’m overthrowinghim—”
“Whoa, wait a minute.” Surah got to his feet. “You act like the decision’s beenmade.”
“And without even consulting me first,” a voice said from the study entrance. “I’m hurt, brother,sister.”
Malin turned, eyesnarrowed.
“Geza?” Surah walked forward a few steps. Malin grabbed her arm, pulling her to a halt. Surah looked at her lover, incredulous. “What are youdoing?”
“How did you get in here?” Malin askedsoftly.
Geza strolled into the study, wings pulled tightly against his body. He paused in the middle of the room, turning slowly to examine hissurroundings.
“My, brother, it’s almost…homey…in here. Do you let the servants in to clean atall?”
“Where are your guards, Geza?” Malinasked.
Geza settled into the dark leather couch, stretching out his legs. “Hey, bring me a bottle of that stuff you’redrinking.”
“It’s too early in the evening for you to be drinking,” Surah said. “You should beresting.”
“Which is how I evaded my guards,” Geza replied, examining his nails. “Wine? Don’t be a poorhost.”
“Geza—” Malinbegan.
The Prince cut his brother off, brow furrowing. “Oh, come off it, Malin. I know you’re plotting treason. I don’t really care–you won’t win anyway. But I really, really want you to take my fiancée off my hands. I'll throw in a royal pardon as a wedding gift if you do–for whichever wedding youchoose.”
Malin crossed his arms, a gesture he’d picked up from Surah over the last several weeks. Surah sighed, and went to pour her younger brotheroneglass of wine, handing it to him under Malin’s suspicious gaze. Geza grimaced when he looked at the half-fullglass.
“Really, Surah? God, I’m tired of everyone motheringme.”
