“We’ll see, won’t we? You’re going to wear this until I trust you. Be thankful that I’m not using something more permanent, like your very own prisoner’s rune.”
“So, I’ll be wearing it forever. You’ll never trust me.”
“Let’s start by giving me your wrist. It’s going on one way or the other. You can fight me, or you can show me you’re willing to cooperate and that will go a long way to me trusting you someday.”
I know that’s a crock of shit, but I was taught not to fight losing battles and to save my energy for better opportunities. I hold out my wrist and he latches the cuff onto it. It closes so that it’s seamless. My star power mutes immediately.
“Am I human again?”
“No. You never were human, but you won’t outpower anyone here.”
“Awesome. You couldn’t let me destroy some shit first?” That would have been an awesome “welcome to the family” gift.
“That sort of destructive vulgarity will have to go.” The look on his face says he wishes he had chosen to execute me over this. He’s still the king and can off with my head at any time. Maybe I should cool it a little.
But he should feel some pain.
“Don’t worry your royal head. I won’t swear in front of the special people.”
He rubs his forehead. “How many days until you get Zhang?” He turns to Gem.
“Three.”
“There you have it. You have three days. Go to your family. Stay out of my sight and keep out of trouble.”
He turns on his heel. Silva and the healer follow him out, but Gem stays. He’s dressed in black slacks that taper to his ankles and a white blouse with a French tuck I know he learned from watching Tan France. His red hair is in a ponytail with a few tendrils pulled out to frame his face.
As stunning as he looks, it’s easy for me to tell he’s doing awful. “How you holding up, Gem?”
“I’m supposed to be asking you that,” he says. “I’m awful. Do I look awful?”
“You look like royalty, but also like your heart is broken. This is my fault—and Zhang’s fault. When he gets here, I’m making him help me fix it.”
Gem smiles. “You won’t have to make him.”
“Yeah, guess not. He’s so righteous, he’ll even stoop to helping me when there’s a rotten fish in the Guild water.”
Gem’s oval eyes squint. “Yes, that too. Trey, Zhang considers you a friend.”
I laugh. “That’s funny. With friends like me, you don’t need enemies, amirite?”
“Zhang has a few acquaintances, but he doesn’t have friends. He’s fully devoted himself to all the Nebuli so he might one day become an angel. He doesn’t have time to devote to friendships.”
“Right. How’s all that going to work with us when he’s an angel? He won’t have time for a husband either.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
I nod. “It is. Huh. Maybe this could work out? I am polyamorous, after all. If he is too, we simply take other lovers. There’s still the matter of us wanting to kill each other, but one problem at a time.”
Gem shakes his head. “Nuh-uh. If Zhang wanted you dead, he’d be prepping to head to your execution with popcorn. He saved you, sweetheart. If you want to live in denial that’s fine, but you’re going to have to come up with something better if you want to fool anyone.”
“Okay, fine. He doesn’t want me dead, and I guess I don’t want him dead either. He does drive me insane, and I don’t think husbands is the right move for us, but that’s happening. When is that happening by the way?”
“Next week.”
“Awesome.”
He pats my cheek. “You’ll be fine. Let’s get you dressed. I’m sure you’re anxious to get to your family.”
