Downworld

Chapter 20

I woke early to find Malik wasn't in bed with me. I'd half expected that, since it was Tinder and Kean's third wedding anniversary, which Malik had decided was also our anniversary since it was the date I'd asked him out. He liked to celebrate. I didn't -- it felt a little too much like counting the years to see how long I could last in a relationship, like this was a game of emotional chicken and we were marking the time to see when I'd turn -- but I didn't stop him. I was just grateful he hadn't chosen the day the Black Bear had died.

I lay there until he returned, trying not to think about things. I was most succeed by focusing on trivial things, like calculating how much money it would take to cable electricity and internet down from the Gateway, which had become an obsessive dream of mine since moving back down.

When Malik did come back, he'd brought a tray of food that I assumed was breakfast, and probably lunch as well, considering the amount.

He pouted at me. 'You're not supposed to be awake.'

'You wanted to wake me up?' I said. 'That seems kind of mean. What's the occasion?'

He sat on the end of the bed and settled the tray in front of him. 'I know you remember. Don't tease the man with the pancakes; he might decide not to give you any.'

'I don't think there's any danger of that.' I sat up and leaned forward. 'If so, I'll just have to lick syrup off you until you change your mind.'

I don't think he'd considered that possibility, because he gave the syrup a look that told me he was thinking about it. 'That'd be sticky.'

'Cream?'

'I didn't bring any.'

'I'm certain one of your servants wouldn't mind bringing us some.'

'Stop it. Eat your pancakes.' He shoved a plate at me, before attacking his own.

'Happy anniversary,' I said. He just smiled and went back to eating, but he had a smug look about him that told me breakfast was not the only "surprise" he had planned.

'I got you a present,' he said after while, when we'd both had more than enough to eat. 'I know you don't like presents, but it's for me too, okay?'

With a flourish, He produced a small box that thankfully wasn't wrapped. I opened it, trying not to let it show how suspicious I was of this situation.

I don't know what I'd expected to be in the box, but the two rings I found were not it. They were of a dark colored metal and I figured he'd probably made them himself. The Red King had a forge under the castle where the idle fire elementals like Malik often spent their time making things, with their bare hands and inborn fire, to rub under the noses of other people. I didn't blame them, if I could do that I would probably have rubbed it everyone one else's fucking face in it too.

I looked at him in confusion. I wasn't trying to be coy; it's just that the sight of those rings brought so many things to mind that it was difficult to focus on just one.

'Marry me?' Malik asked, that goofy grin on his face.

I didn't answer for a long moment. 'You want to get married?' Not my most intelligent response.

He nodded, smile fading.

'Like a big party? With everyone we're even remotely related to? And a bunch of other people who we'll have to invite for political reasons?'

'Yes?'

'You do know that most of the people I'm related to are incubi and succubi? We might as well have an orgy.'