Wed to the Wild God (Aspect and Anchor)

I thump down into the chair across from him and steal one of his pastries. It melts into my mouth, a sugary-sweet concoction filled with fruit and flaky pastry, and I moan at how delicious it is. "I'm starving," I admit. "Have you been waiting long?"

He shrugs, petting the falcon. "What is time when you are endless?"

Okay, fair point. I smile my thanks at the women as they set another tray on the table nearest to me and fill it up with food—all vegetarian from the looks of it. There's a thick bean-like paste, chopped vegetables, bowls of nuts, crackers, breads of all kinds, and so many different sweets that it makes my head spin. I shove some of the bean paste onto a cracker and bite down. It's heavily spiced and salty and delicious and I immediately want to eat the whole bowl. "What happened while I was asleep?"

"Not much. I did not stray far because I did not wish to pain you. You needed your rest." He watches as the two servants leave and we're alone. Kassam gets to his feet and opens one of the windows, murmurs something to the falcon, and then watches as it flies out into the night. "It is barely past sunset, so you did not sleep for too long."

I yawn between bites, then steal one of his goblets of wine. "I'll be honest, I could sleep again." Oh man, the wine is delicious, too. I chug it, then stuff a cut length of raw vegetable into the paste and eat it next. "Any sign of our good buddy Seth or Margo?"

Kassam shuts the window, giving me a curious look. "He is not my good buddy. And no. I did not look for him, and I imagine he is hiding her for his own protection. If Riekki has faithful here in this city, they will quietly go after him for daring to challenge her for her position."

Makes sense. I pick up another goblet of wine—different blend, equally delicious—and glance up at him. "So what's the plan, then?"

He shrugs, moving to my side. He pulls my hair over to one shoulder and then leans in, kissing my neck as I stuff my face. "There is a celebration tonight in my honor."

I groan at the thought. A party. I'm sure he wants to go—he's thrilled at all the attention after being forgotten for so long—but I kind of just want to crawl back into bed with a plate of pastries and call it a day.

Kassam chuckles, grazing his teeth over my neck in a way that sends prickles of awareness through my body. "It is probably wisest if you hide away."

"Awesome. I love that idea." I tilt my neck a little more, setting down the food to focus on him. I'm suddenly less hungry for pastries and feeling a different sort of craving. "Are you…going to stay in bed with me?"

He nips at my ear, sending shivers up my spine. "Alas, I must go. But the conmac will remain at your side. I shall keep you safe and protected, never fear." He presses another kiss to my neck. "Perhaps Seth has the right of it, hiding Margo away in his bed and not letting anyone gaze upon her. Letting her serve him and only him."

I moan, because this is sounding less like we're talking about Margo by the minute. "Is that what you want to do? Have me in your bed, waiting to serve you?"

He chuckles, the sound low and sending aching pulses through my body. "Among other things. Can…I kiss you, my little light?"

As long as you don't call me your “little light,” I want to grumble, but I don't bring it up. Just like I don't bring up the whole declaration of love he made in the courtyard. I'm almost positive he was lying to make people feel better about my presence. He's told me before that gods don't feel things that mortals do. But…I also don't ask about it, because I don't want to know the truth. I'm going to bask in the lies for a little while longer. "You can kiss me as long as it means something to you."

He takes my hand and pulls me out of my chair, and when I face him, he's smiling. Kassam has been so filled with joy all day long that it makes me ache to see him so happy. It's like being back here is filling all the hollow parts inside him and making him who he was meant to be all along. And I love it, because I love it for him. I want this to go perfectly for him. I want people feasting his return and celebrating for days that someone as awesome as Kassam has returned. Because in my eyes, he deserves the world.