Chapter Fifteen

“Hi, I”m Sebastian,” I said.

The group of courtiers gaped at me.

I had decided to go to dinner that night and make some new friends. Push myself on them until they accepted me. Gunrel”s order had forced me to be as alone as the King, maybe even more so. But I was not a man accustomed to solitude.

“You can talk to me now. The King isn”t interested in me,” I said.

They looked at each other, then shrugged.

“Thank the Gods,” one of the Litoto, a woman, said. She lifted a wing, curled it behind my back, and leaned in to whisper, “I”ve been dying to speak with you.”

“You have?” I asked, brows lifting.

“Yes, of course!” She glanced at the King”s table, made certain it was empty, then leaned back in. “You made him laugh. How did you do that?”

I shrugged and grinned. “I just spoke to him like a person. He”s actually very funny.”

Everyone gaped at me.

“You people need to loosen up. It”s been over a hundred and fifty years. It”s time for the Dragon King to move on. Help him. He”s your king.”

“Help him?” one of the Litoto men asked. “How can we help?”

“Maybe talk to him,” I suggested. “You”re his courtiers. You”re supposed to support him. He”s not a monster, just a man.”

The man snorted. “He survived the death of his mate. That alone is monstrous.”

“Only because he”s a half-breed,” the woman said.

“Wait. What?” I asked. “What do you mean a half-breed?”

“You don”t know?” Her eyes went gleefully wide and her wing pulled me closer, bright blue feathers against my plain black tunic.

“Know what?”

“Elassa,” her friend said in a warning tone.

“It”s common knowledge, Rantu,” she shot back. “He doesn”t hide it.”

“But he didn”t tell, Master Sebastian.” Rantu nodded at me. “So perhaps we shouldn”t either.”

“Why would he?” Elassa rolled her green eyes. “As if he”d bring that up.”

“Bring what up?” I asked.

“It”s not for you to tell him,” another Litoto man said.

“Tell me what?!” I growled.

“Relax, Sebastian,” Elassa said. “May I call you Sebastian?”

“Sure. I introduced myself as such.”

Elassa grinned, her lean face going even sharper. “Have you noticed the King”s fangs?”

“His teeth?” I asked, baffled. “Yeah. All Dragons have fangs.”

“Not all of them, and not like his. His are sharper.” She leaned in.

“Elassa, stop being such a bitch,” a male voice said from behind us.

Elassa grimaced, folded back her wings, then turned to look at the speaker. “Excuse me, Lord Verall? You”re one to talk. Mind your business and your manners.”

I would have complained about the interruption, but the newcomer was a Zaknir, and I was nearly as fascinated with him as I was with the Litoto. As he exchanged barbed comments with Lady Elassa, I stared at his pointed, double ears and admired his ebony skin. There were markings on his face and along the sides of his throat, barely noticeable as they were. But I knew they would shine when he wanted to attract a mate. How fucking sexy was that? Literally making a man light up to see you? Yes, please. After dragging reactions out of the Dragon King, a clear visual sign of interest sounded like paradise.

“Master Sebastian?” the Zaknir asked.

The conversation continued, but I hadn”t paid attention. I didn”t care about the animosity between courtiers. I preferred to focus on positive things. So, no, it wasn”t merely the Zaknir”s exotic appearance that had distracted me. I was just using it as a way to focus on something better. But it appeared that I”d been spoken to and had missed it.

So, I eloquently said, “Huh?”

“You two have bored him with your bickering and put him into a stupor,” Rantu declared.

“I was introducing myself,” the Zaknir said. “I am Lord Verall.”

“Yes, I caught that much at least.” I grinned, utterly unashamed of my distraction, and shook his hand. “Very nice to meet you, Lord Verall. Are you done arguing with Lady Elassa now?”

Verall snorted a laugh. “Indeed. Now, come with me, and I”ll introduce you to the rest of the court.” He handed me a glass. “I brought that for you.”

I took the drink. “Thank you.”

I could barely believe that this was all it took to be welcomed by the Dragon Court. It was such a stark difference from my initial reception.

“We were having a conversation, Verall,” Elassa huffed.

“He”s gay, Elassa,” Verall said. “Not bisexual. Gay. Leave him be. You don”t have a chance.”

She pouted and pulled in her wings. As she did, Verall took the opportunity to lead me away from the Litotos.

“Damn birds,” Verall muttered to me. “Always squawking. Pay them no mind. And take everything they say lightly.”

“They said the King is a half-breed.”

“Shh!” Verall hissed and looked around.

“What? They said it wasn”t a secret.”

“It”s not, but that word is not acceptable. It has negative connotations.”

“Oh.” I frowned. “Shit. What is acceptable?”

“Of mixed race,” he said. Then he grimaced. “Racially mixed children are so rare, you”d think they be treasured.”

“They”re not?”

Verall paused with us between groups. “They are by many.”

“I”m assuming Dragons are not included in those many.”

He inclined his head. “I”m sure you know how Dragons feel about themselves.”

A rush of fury surged through me, shocking in its intensity. “Was he mistreated by his own people?”

Verall shrugged. “Some say he was. They say that is what inspired him to seek the throne.” He dropped his voice to add, “They also say that the crown tourney King Shaleros fought in was the most brutal this kingdom has ever seen.”

“Because they hurt him so badly for being of mixed race?”

“No. Because he tore them apart. When our king wants something, he won”t stop until he has it.”

A shiver ran through me.

Verall started walking again. “I think they underestimated him. They thought his mixed blood made him weaker. One look and you can see that he doesn”t have the musculature of most Dragon warriors. But his mother”s people have always surprised the other races with their strength. To underestimate them can be fatal.”

“Who are his mother”s people?”

“You will learn that if he wishes to share it with you,” Verall said. “I”ve said enough. I don”t want you dissuaded by something he cannot help. We are who we are.” He held his arms out.

“What are you talking about? Dissuaded? I”m a human.” I waved at myself. “We”re looked down on by all of you. It doesn”t matter to me what race the King is. Whatever it is, it”s better than human.”

“Better in some ways. But you, especially as a human, might be . . . put off by what he is. And I respect our King. I want to see him smile again. I want to hear him laugh.”

“I want that too, but there”s been a misunderstanding between us, and I don”t think he”s going to speak to me again. He”s the one who”s been dissuaded, not me.”

“Ah, I see. Thus your bold entry tonight.” Verall frowned. “Then come along, Lord Sebastian. I”ll make those promised introductions.”

“Wait. You haven”t told me what his other race is.”

“Does it matter? If you are not to be his lover, you don”t need to know.”

I growled in frustration. “So, you won”t tell me if there”s a chance we could become lovers, but neither will you tell me if we aren”t? That”s ridiculous.”

“Perhaps.” He grinned. “But there”s something I will tell you if you”re certain you won”t become the King”s lover.”

“What”s that?”

Verall”s markings started to shine. “I find you very attractive, Master Sebastian.”