Page 44 of Shadowing Bright
“Because she saw us all standing together, power whipping, she has a child, and there is a dragon standing with her.”She paused.
“And...”
“And we have two kids by then.You have one little girl on your arm, and I am holding the second.”
His eyes glowed.“So, I am a shadow king with a little family.”
“Yup, and growing rapidly.”
“You do realize what is going to happen when you threaten me with another daughter?”
“I am gonna be sore.”
He laughed.“Not until you are receptive, but yes.”
She smiled.“Good.In that case, get off me before I see if my shadows can put teeth where no teeth should be.”
He sighed and backed out of her.
She gave him a bland look.“All of you.”
He chortled and pulled the shadows out of her.She huffed and used her energy to shove him backward.“Comfortable bed.”
He laughed.“I find folks are more likely to want to stay if they are comfortable.”
“Ah.Well, this is only going to work one way.If there is another woman where I should be, I don’t come back.Ever.”She looked at him calmly.“I have other places I can make a home in.”
“But what about sex?”
“I have lived without it this long.Once we are no longer in contact, the urge will fade.”Hura smiled.“Basically, I will not have my children growing up in a place where their mother is considered disposable, disrespected, and not honoured for her presence in their father’s life.”
He paused.“I see.”
“You haven’t had the same woman on your lap in the last ten years I have been entertaining at your parties.It was not my business then, but it would become my business the moment you were trying for a child with me.”
“You sound like you speak from a wound.”
“Sure.I was born near the gateway.My father was delighted that he had spawned on a demigoddess.She was quiet, shy, and happy to be at his side while he kept her at his side during the pregnancy.When she was in labour, he brought his next mistress to show her what awaited her if she quickened with his seed.Of course, he had no idea that my mother had been a fertility goddess and had done more than her share of the heavy lifting to bring me into the world.Her labour stalled, and she cursed him for his infidelity, his cruelty, and said that this was the only child he would ever have.Then, she disappeared.”
“What?”
“Oh, yeah, she bore me next to the gateway, encouraging me to embrace all the power it had to offer.She lived another fifty years, but then she was done with life and decided that it was time to leave the earth.I buried her and then sought out my father.He was sitting amidst a hundred unhappy women, and his eyes lit up when he saw me until I let my shadows flare.I told him I was here to congratulate him on his enormous family.His eyes got huge.I told him I was desperate to meet my new brother or sister.The one he had been so desperate to meet that he had degraded my mother in the most vulnerable moment a woman could have.He stared as the last fifty years of denial swamped him, so I simply pulled all his power and walked away.He died two days later.”She smiled softly.
He looked at her.“You are theScourge of Corvenyn.”
She beamed.“I am.So, before you turn gardener, be very, very sure that you can be happy with a single partner.”
He frowned.“It will work for me.I haven’t done more than play with anyone in the last ten years.I do enjoy watching those who wish to experiment come to me for instruction.”He paused.“But will you be able to handle being without me while I go to a variety of councils and courts across the year?”
“Probably.”She wrinkled her nose.“I will get peckish close to the end of the pregnancy.”
“I would like to set up a backup snack for you.I have a few names that I have pulled together.All are willing.”
“Wait.What?”
“I do not expect you to live between, but I am going to set you up with a bed that I am comfortable under.Be prepared to be visited often.”
She laughed.“Formal arrangement?”
