“Should?” Ksar said. “I know you’re new to this, but it’s advisable to have sex only if there’s a ‘want’ involved.”
Seyn snorted. If I keep doing what I want, I’ll spend all my time under you.
That thought only hardened his resolve, because what the hell, seriously.
“I’m just thinking rationally,” Seyn said, taking a cautious step back when Ksar started walking toward him. “You said it yourself: this is pointless. You’re engaged. My mothers are also choosing the best suitor out of the proposals I’ve received.”
Something dark reflected on Ksar’s face for just a moment before his expression went completely blank. “Proposals? It has been ten days.”
Seyn chuckled. “It’s been known for a month that our bond was going to be broken. It was more than enough time for me to receive over thirty proposals, mostly from other planets’ royalty and politicians.” He smiled crookedly. “And before you say something, yes, I’m perfectly aware that most of them are essentially political proposals.”
“And you’re fine with it?” Ksar said, coming to a halt in front of him.
Seyn took another step back. “Why would I not be? That’s what our betrothal was, too.”
“I distinctly remember you not being ‘fine’ with our betrothal.”
“I was perfectly fine with it until I met you. I was willing to put in an effort and make our marriage work—until you started treating me like I was an annoying little boy you found lacking.” Seyn was proud of how casual he managed to sound.
Something shifted in Ksar’s expression. “So you’re willing to marry a stranger.” His voice was very even. “After telling me for years that you wanted freedom.”
Seyn lips twisted. “Not necessarily freedom—freedom of choice. If—when—my mothers narrow the proposals down, I’ll be given a choice between them. I know that if I don’t like any of them, I won’t be forced into another unwanted betrothal.” He lifted his chin, looking Ksar in the eye. “But eventually I will accept one of them. I’m a prince of the Third Grand Clan. Contrary to your beliefs, I know my duty to my clan. I’m not a foolish spoiled boy. I will do what I must to improve our shaken political standing and secure a good alliance for my clan. At least this time it will be my own choice. He, whoever he is, will be my choice.”
That ugly emotion flared around Ksar again, surrounding him like a cloud of toxic gas. It was amazing how outwardly calm Ksar could look when he clearly felt anything but calm.
“He?” he said tonelessly. “Not a she or an it?”
Seyn shrugged, holding his gaze, “I find that I like cock too much to give it up.” It came off as vulgar as he’d hoped. He needed to reduce this—whatever this was—to nothing but carnal desire. Because it was. It was, dammit.
A muscle twitched in Ksar’s jaw. “I see,” he said. He walked toward his desk. “Speaking of marriages…” With his back to Seyn, he picked something up from his desk.
When he turned around, the ugly emotion surrounding Ksar was gone, his shields fully up and impenetrable once again. “I think these haven’t been sent out yet, but you may as well take yours now before you leave.” He handed the white card to Seyn, his expression closed off completely.
Frowning, Seyn skimmed it with his eyes.
You are hereby invited to the ball that will take place on the 12th of Solctinys to celebrate the occasion of Crown Prince Ksar’ngh’chaali’s marriage to Lady Leylen’shni’gul, a daughter of Clan Mihuhr.
Seyn didn’t read the rest. He stared blankly at the card—at the wedding invitation.
The 12th of Solctinys? It was barely a month away.
“That soon?” he managed. His throat felt weirdly thick, as if something had lodged in it and he had to speak around it. He didn’t know why he was so blindsided by the news. He’d known it was coming. He had. It still hadn’t felt real.
Until now.
“Your House isn’t the only one that has been damaged by the recent scandals,” Ksar said. “In fact, mine has taken a larger blow, especially considering all the speculation about my brother having a relationship with a pre-TNIT citizen. The speculation must be stopped. Harry needs to be reintroduced back into society, and there’s no better opportunity to show that he’s fine with my marrying his former bondmate than to have him present during our marriage ceremony.”
Seyn could barely process his words, his mind still stuck on the fact that in less than a month, Ksar was going to marry Leylen. It seemed unthinkable. Wrong.
Seyn bit the inside of his cheek, hard.
“So Harry is coming back?” he said at last, turning away so that Ksar couldn’t see his face.
“Yes. The rumors are getting worse. His continued absence is causing rumors worse than the reality. The sooner he is reintroduced back into society, the better his chances of being able to ever return home without being shunned.”