Page 82 of The Crown’s Temptation

He nodded. "I am not stupid, Ivanoxa. You have clearly let me see it intentionally. Just as you clearly have something in mind, tending to me each day like this. Speak plainly."

She gave a small smirk. "Do not flatter yourself, weak king. I am here in Briavar to strengthen myself so that I can take what I want. The only castle available for such a thing is Kelsey Castle because it connects directly to the Bloodhaven and because it is always where—" She stopped herself. Then continued. "It is where Axar has always permitted me to stay." A pause. "But it is a Rathmor castle. So we must share it."

Sevrin said nothing. She spoke as though Axar were king of Morrath and not him. A different problem for a different day.

"And what are you after? No one here told you to tend to me like a common servant."

She smiled. "To get to know you, Majesty. I looked at your cock while you were sleeping. It is barely acceptable but sufficient enough.”

His eyes widened. He could not tell if she was joking or not.

"Enough with the mind games." His voice sharpened. "Every few seconds I am His Majesty and then I am a weak king. Make up your mind."

"Fine. Weak king it is," she said calmly.

"What do you want?"

"To marry you," she said. "And take the Rathmor throne as its queen."

He laughed hard enough that his chest seared with it.

"Why would I make you my queen? Was it not some time ago that your father tried to arrange such a marriage and you declined?"

She smiled. "Perhaps. Though you cannot believe everything my father says."

She stood and crossed to the vanity and pulled out a comb and began to work it through her hair. As though the room were hers. As though the comb were hers. As though the position of Rathmor queen were already decided and she could move through these chambers however she pleased.

"Get out," he said. His voice came out quieter than he wanted. The pain in his chest would not allow otherwise.

She set the comb down. "Do not be stupid, weak king. You may want your precious Asharin, but she does not want you. And worse yet, your brother has given the court the greatest show of power a Rathmor king can give."

"Heirs," Sevrin said.

"Yes." She turned to him. "I have the mark. I am your best chance at producing one."

He opened his mouth.

"Even if your goal is to marry Asharin one day and crown her, you cannot do it in your current state. Colsar will take the throne before you get near her and your council will follow him because he, unlike you, has secured the kingdom's future."

"Fiorakis is my heir," Sevrin said.

"She is his daughter. Do not be naive."

The room was quiet.

"I do not want you," he said. "I want her."

"Yes. But you are weak. I am strong. And let us not forget that you were willing to marry that whore of a sister."

"Yvara," he said. That was a mistake, he wanted to add, but thought better of it.

"You are no use to her if you cannot keep your own kingdom." A pause. "And moreover, I am the closest thing to her that exists."

He grimaced. "You⁠—"

"We share blood," she said.

"What?"