'Technically, in the eyes of the law, you're not married,' I told them flatly, but it was hard to suppress a smile. Kiggs sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, shaking his head.
'I agreed to this because I was already married to Goredd,' he said. 'I didn't intend to have anything to do with consummation. This is an entirely political marriage.'
I shrugged. 'There still has to be a royal heir at some point. A royal heir,' I added, anticipating Kiggs' counter argument. 'It wouldn't do to have an ityasaari, who was not even the offspring of the true queen, ruling.'
'But what if it's a boy,' Kiggs said. He had a point. 'What if we don't...conceive...the first time?'
Selda nodded shrewdly. 'It has to be done, Lucian,' she said. 'Just try hard and pretend I'm Phina.'
The prince raised his eyebrows. 'And what will you do?'
He caught the glint in her eye. 'The same,' she replied, studying her hands. I wasn't sure whether to feel honoured or mortified.
'I can't mate with myself,' I said, intending a joke. Kiggs saw the double meaning before I did, and gave me one of his smiles. I blushed from the top of my neck to the roots of my hair, knowing what he had left unsaid. You don't need to.
Selda took a deep breath, and straightened her back. 'Well then, when should the conception attempt happen?' She looked from Kiggs to me, and back to Kiggs, expectant.
'Tomorrow's as good a day as any, I suppose,' he said, sighing. I looked down into my teacup. Kiggs noticed my dejection, and brushed my hand with his fingers. I held onto them tightly, taking comfort from the warm, firm grip. Selda quietly excused herself, saying she needed to powder her nose, and me and Kiggs were left alone. I moved involuntarily towards him, and this time, I didn't have to worry. He kissed the top of my head, and then my lips, and I kissed him back, dizzily thirsty for it. I didn't know whose arms encircled whom first, but his hand was on the small of my back, feeling the scales beneath my chemise.
'Kiggs,' I said, but at first he didn't notice. 'Kiggs,' I said again, putting a hand to his lips to stop him kissing me again. 'Maybe we should take this into the other room.' He gave me one of his smiles, and my heart ached with love for him. I led him, between kisses, into the bedroom, and we shut the door.