Chapter Twenty-One

I didn't see Aras until dinner that night. Even though I was distracted by my parents and Ellas, my stomach twisted with anxiety over my mate all afternoon. I wavered between seeking him out and letting him cool down. Then Aras appeared, joining me at the royal table as if nothing were amiss.

I had to smile and make a grand speech for the Dragons filling every table before I could speak to Aras. Yet another price of being king. I motioned for the feast to begin and music immediately filtered down from the musician's gallery above.

Only then could I take my seat and whisper to my mate, “Where have you been?”

“I went to take care of a few things on the Tiger's Claw,” Aras said stiffly.

“Aras,” my mother called from my right, where she and my father sat. “We missed you earlier. Is all well?”

“I was just telling your son, Your Grace,” Aras said. “I had to see to my ship.”

“Oh, do you own the ship you captain?” my father asked.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Ah. We assumed you were an employee, but you are the owner. How impressive.” My father grinned at me. “He's a good match for you.”

“Father, please,” I said under my breath.

My father only grinned at me.

Everyone was having fun at my expense. Mine and Aras's. The former, I could abide. The latter, I could not. I narrowed my eyes at my father.

“So, how long are you in port for?” Ellas, who was seated on Aras's left, asked.

I spun to face them, transferring my glare to my best friend. A best friend who was quickly becoming my nemesis.

“Uh.” Aras looked at me.

I softened my expression for him. “Aras, I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't . . . I know it's not a laughing matter. It's important to me too.”

“Oh-h-h, what's important?” Ellas asked.

“Ellas, could you, please, kindly, fuck off?” I growled.

Ellas chuckled, then declared, “Ah, the first course!”

Platters of warm bread, cubed cheese, and potted butter were set on the table along with bite-sized pieces of grilled meat and bowls of lentil soup. They also filled our glasses with water and wine. I nodded and thanked the servers. But when they left, I instantly turned my attention back to Aras. He was busy buttering a piece of bread.

Absently, I filled my mate's plate with the best bits of food as I said, “I want you whether you're my mate or not.”

Aras froze. Then he slowly looked up at me. “What does that mean?”

“You know what it means,” I hissed. “We are good together. I—”

Do not! the Eye shouted. You cannot vow your love. Nor can you elevate him to any status. Do not make him your consort or even a concubine.

Gods damn you!

I am only trying to save you, Lyrandir.

Fuck!

“Ly?” Aras asked.

“Never mind,” I snarled and turned away from him.

Aras gaped at me. I saw it from the corner of my eye. But my heart was crushed and caged in fear. Too much depended on my winning this war now. So many lives were at stake, including Aras's. I had to get the Eye. And she was right. If Aras already thought he could walk away from me like he had earlier, he was getting too comfortable with me. I had to put him back in his previous place. It was no longer his place, but I had to make him believe it was.

“If you are needed on your ship, Captain, perhaps you should go there now,” I said.

My mother gasped.

“Whoa. Lyran, what the fuck—” Ellas said.

“Stay out of this!” I snarled at my friend.

He sat back and held up his hands in surrender. “Sure. You go on and fuck up your relationship if you want. I'll just be over here, watching it crumble.”

“Are you telling me to leave, Ly?” Aras asked, his tone clipped.

“Your display earlier has shown me that you've forgotten your place, Aras. You are my lover, but you are also my bonded man, contracted to obtain an item for me. Do not forget that.” I speared him with my stare. “My affection for you will not save you if you fail to uphold your end of our arrangement.”

“Holy fuck,” Ellas whispered.

“Son,” my father said.

I couldn't form the words. I was so angry at myself, the situation, The Eye, and the sudden lack of support. My parents and Ellas knew why I was doing this and still, they were against me. So, I bared my teeth at my father and snarled. He sat back, his expression gone grim and disappointed. That hurt, but not as much as what I had to say next to Aras.

With a hard stare, I asked my mate, “Have I made myself clear?”

“Oh, yes, Your Majesty,” Aras said as he pushed his seat back. He started to get up. “I think—”

I slammed a hand on his thigh. “Do not get up, Aras.” I squeezed, claws popping forth to slice through his pants. “You are mine. I believe I've made that clear as well. Now, you will sit here and smile while you eat your dinner. You may even dance later if you wish. With me. And when the feast is over, you will accompany me to my bedroom where I will punish you for your insubordination and this current attempt at rebellion.”

Aras's eyes shut on a full-body shudder as blood stained the leg of his pants. His breath caught and his cock hardened, pushing at his breeches. I breathed in his arousal and grinned, though it was a wretched grin. Sardonic. This was the way to keep him by my side and under my thumb. I didn't want to play this role, not like this, but to save my people, I had to.

My heart withered as I leaned in to whisper in his ear, “Do you understand now?”

“Yes,” he whispered back.

“And do you admit that you're mine?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” I withdrew my claws and leaned back in my seat.

When Aras opened his eyes, I met his stare and licked his blood from my claws. Only then did I banish them, becoming civilized once more.

“Dear Gods,” Ellas whispered. “You're both fucked in the head.”

I ignored him and put more food on my mate's plate. At least, in this small way, I could do my duty by him. “Eat, Aras. You will need your strength.”

My mate shuddered again and a stain spread across his crotch.

I put a napkin over his lap and stroked the hair back from his face, brushing his ear in the process. “That's better now, isn't it?”

The look Aras gave me was conflicted—lusty but also hurt.

I knew exactly how he felt. Fuck this day.