Sovele sweeping towards them had Basren frozen. He only just managed another sip of wine, though it was only for appearances. He knew how to keep his face into a mask of relaxed unworry. All of this was supposed to be approved already, and to make it even more of a scandal would be worse.<br/><br/>But he could tell. Sovele didn't look happy at all. It was in the minutiae of his expression, and the way his gaze slid over Basren before it landed on Alaras. Everyone held their breath as one, but instead of lifting his hand to strike Alaras, he held it for Alaras to take, and led him onto the ballroom floor. Basren's heart stuttered in his throat.<br/><br/>There was no reading Alaras, who had gone stiff in Sovele's arms from the start. Whatever Sovele was saying, it didn't make him relax, but Basren didn't know Alaras well enough to know if<i>anything </i>Sovele would say would help. It wasn't as though Sovele couldn't wait, though. There had been plenty of those, in the early days of Basren joining court, who had shown their interest in more subtle ways who would suddenly avoid him after a few days. What happened to them Basren never knew. He had never asked, either.<br/><br/>After the dance, he was left stranded. Since neither Alaras or Sovele deigned to go near him just then, the rest of the court converged on him. Basren had to artfully dodge questions--because<i>did </i>Sovele approve? If he said so now, he would make things worse--and only place hints. Everyone was understanding, of course, but that didn't stop anyone from trying to trick him into saying what he would rather not.<br/><br/>They scattered, though not far, as Sovele swung back around to him.<br/><br/>He slipped his hand into Sovele's, the brush of his bare hand on the kidskin gloves Sovele wore. He was lightheaded already, his steps feather-light on the soft marble under his boots.<br/><br/>When he looked up, expression open, seeking, he saw that Sovele had a slight smile at the corners of his mouth.<br/><br/>"I was... encouraged," Basren said, his words slow and careful. "Since last we spoke, you had said you were considering him for me. Perhaps just as a means to an end."<br/><br/>The sick feeling in his stomach didn't quite go away. Was he lying? He had suspected Anis, of course. Had he known she was lying, and just believed her willfully, because it<i>was </i>what he wanted? That seemed clear now. He didn't think Sovele would appreciate the explanation.<br/><br/><i>Do you like him?</i><br/><br/>"He--" He shivered down the violent urge to flinch as Sovele's nose brushed his ear.<br/><br/><i>Do you think he's the sort of man that will give no complaint if I ask him to my bedchamber so that he can watch while I fuck you?</i><br/><br/>The reaction Alaras had that Sovele had fucked him at all didn't speak well to that. If he could convince Alaras it was just until they moved away, would that work? Would he still be disgusted? But of course Sovele wouldn't let him go. Of course he would stake his claim. How to convince Alaras to tolerate that?<br/><br/>He wouldn't tell him, perhaps, until after they were married.<br/><br/>Which was horrible. He wasn't sure he could do it, and yet... How else was he going to get married, have the children he was meant to have, and the home to manage. He would age. Sovele would not consider him so pretty past a certain age, and then what would he do? He needed a place. If Alaras didn't love him, their children would. It would be worth it, wasn't it, even if he felt like a bastard for it.<br/><br/>"I don't know if he would. But even if he didn't, Sovele, it would stop the rumors. It would give--it would give us the chance to meet however we liked. If<i>you </i>wanted a child from me... Who would question it?" His voice had gained momentum, even if he'd dropped it to a whisper. "If you taught me, it<i>would </i>be yours. I could make sure. Even the queen wouldn't dare say otherwise. You see?"