Free The Nonborn King by Julian May Page A

don't love me, and I don't love you. So why pretend? And I don't need your pity, dammit!" He cast about desperately, to put her in the wrong. "Why haven't you ever let me pleasure you? Not once! Always ready to blast me into a coma, but never letting me touch you. Am I so disgusting?"
    "Don't be silly. It's the baby, I tell you."
    "When Nodonn was with you, the two of you fucked up a bloody hurricane, and no worry about the baby, then. And that poor bastard of an anthropologist had all the sweet houghmagandy he wanted from you The whole damn capital knew what you two were up to'"
    Her smile was easy. "Agraynel didn't mind then, in the second trimester But now she's all close-crowded and impatient to be born "
    "Don't give me that " He got to his feet, his face no longer alight and his voice metallic "You won't let me get into you because you're still mourning for Nodonn "
    "How could I not?" she admitted coolly She levitated and stood before him The pale chiffon of her gown seemed to npple in the sidereal concussions
    He shouted in fury "Mayvar told me all about your precious Sun-Face! A fine king he would've made' The Tanu ruler is supposed to pass on his superior genes to the people, but do you know that your wonderful Nodonn was damn near stenie? The great Battlemaster' He lived eight hundred years and had only a handful of children. And not a first-class power in the lot! Mayvar Kingmaker rejected him He was only declared crown prince because the Host of Nontusvel forced him on the Thagdal- Why do you think Mayvar was so glad to see me come along? Why do you think she named me Lugonn, after the real crown prince?"
    Mercy clasped his waving hands They stood face to face in bare feet and she was several centimeters the taller.
    Softly, she said, "It's true that you are the chosen ot the Kingmaker And perhaps you would have won your duel with the Battlemaster on the White Silver Plain . and perhaps not Nodonn is dead Drowned. But you're alive, Lord Alken-Lugonn, and master of Goriah m Nodonn's place Who would have thought that would happen, when we met all drenched and puking like puppies, adnft in a golden cauldron in the midst of the Great Flood! Less than five months we've been together, and yet I feel I've known you an age, you Lord of Misrule You'll be king! Don't doubt it I see, i know' There isn't a Tanu or a human gold in the Many-Colored Land with menial prowess to equal your own No other could have picked up the pieces of this shattered world as you did and begun the rebuilding That's why I'll stay with you, work with you And after I bear the Thagdal's daughter I'll marry you and be your queen. In May, at the Grand Loving, as we agreed As for your own children, we'll see what the good Goddess sends "
    The rage rushed out of him, leaving only a wayward thought:
    But if only you loved me. I'd be safe
    Her mind smiled back, changeable as the western sea. All during their time together they had played this game; and until now, he had believed himself the winner, immune to the enchantment that had bound the others to her.
    She said, "You fear me, and you hope to gain control through love But are you willing to love me in return, giving and sharing? Or would you only rule?"
    The deep barriers that hid the truth crumbled within him. "You know I already love you."
    "Enough to demand nothing of me in return? Unselfishly?"
    "i don't know."
    Her voice and mind-tone became fey and heedless. "And what if I won't return your love, you Hermes Chrysorapis? What will you do with me then?"
    He folded her in his arms, burying his face in the fragrant hair cascading over her shoulder, sensing the ironic tnumph behind her question. She knew She knew
    He broke away and stood alone The sky was graying with false dawn. The meteors diminished- He said, "I didn't really cause the star-shower. The meteors come every spring at this time. They mark the end of the rainy season. But I wanted to surprise you with them."
    "What will you do with me