They blessed my womb, I thought flatly. In front of Soren. While chanting about seeds and fertility and spring thaws like we were planting crops instead of... I cut myself off before I thought of something even more mortifying.
"This empire has terrible traditions."
"I thought the spring thaw metaphor was particularly poetic," Soren replied, his tone absolutely serious except for the laughter lurking underneath. "Very evocative. Really painted a picture."
"I will burn you."
"You keep threatening violence. It's starting to feel like affection."
"It's not."
"If you say so." He pushed off the wall, moving closer, and I held my ground even though every instinct screamed at me to either retreat or attack. "Though I have to admit, watching you try not to set everything on fire while priests chanted about fertility was absolutely the highlight of my evening."
"Get out," I said, pointing at the door.
