Chapter Sixteen

Before I could react to Lord Verall”s glowing attraction and use it to tease the King”s race out of him, someone joined us. Someone who made Verall bow and his eyes go wide.

“Your Majesty!” Lord Verall declared. “I”m so sorry. I didn”t see you enter the hall.”

“You were distracted,” King Shaleros said in a clipped tone.

I turned as casually as I could, thoughts racing in my head. Was the Dragon King jealous? If he was, my erotic display had worked. Which meant he wanted me. Which meant, I might just turn this straight Dragon gay. For a little while, at least. We”d see how long it lasted. But I”d take whatever I could get.

“Your Majesty.” I inclined my head since he stood too close for me to bow.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Verall”s markings wink out.

“Sebastian,” the King said, his tone warming though still tight. “I”m glad you”ve joined us for dinner tonight.”

“Well, after Gunrel explained why I”d been shunned, there wasn”t a reason to sequester myself.”

“And there was my invitation, of course.”

Verall literally slunk away with his tail tucked between his legs, as quiet as sap leaking from a tree, and about as slowly. As if he didn”t want to make any sudden movements.

“I didn”t think that invitation was still valid,” I said.

“Gunrel explained.”

“Did he?” I cocked a brow. I wasn”t about to let him skirt an apology.

“Yes,” he said.

“So, you know that there”s nothing sexual going on between us?”

The King”s stare shifted away, then returned to me. “He convinced me there is not.”

I followed that eye shift. The court was watching. I glared at them. They immediately turned away and started up loud conversations.

I looked back at the King. “How about you take me out for dinner?”

“What?” Both of his blonde brows popped up. “Out where?”

“I don”t know. I”ve only been here a little over a week.”

“Two weeks.”

“What?”

“You”ve been here exactly two weeks today.”

“Oh. Well, then I”ve only been here two weeks. I haven”t left the castle much. So I don”t of any good restaurants. Besides, if there”s going to be something between us, you”ll be the top. Tops aren”t always dominant, but I prefer that you are. So, it”s up to you where we dine. But you”ll need to ask me nicely because I”m still mad at you.” I paused and added, “Your Majesty.”

“You . . . I . . .” He cleared his throat. “I”m not taking you on a date. There won”t be anything romantic happening between us.”

I gave him the look that deserved.

The Dragon King cursed. “You”re going too far, Sebastian.”

“Oh, just stop,” I huffed and shook my head at him.

“Excuse me?”

“Stop it. Stop pretending you don”t want me. You wouldn”t have gotten so upset about Gunrel if you didn”t. And you certainly wouldn”t have scared poor Lord Verall just now.” I leaned in. “You”re not sure, I get that. But let me tell you a secret, Your Majesty. None of us are. You can”t be certain about any relationship at the start. You have to take a risk. Maybe I won”t make you happy. Maybe you”ll make me fucking miserable. Maybe we won”t be sexually compatible. Maybe you”ll take one look at my dick and yours will go limp. All kinds of maybes could hold us back. And that”s completely normal. But I”m human. I don”t have the time for this shit. Make up your mind on whether you want to take that risk with me, then act upon your decision. Be a fucking man.”

It was a good thing the court had moved to the sides of the room, giving us a significant amount of space and therefore, privacy. Because if any of them had overheard what I just said to the King, he wouldn”t be able to react honestly. He would have had to reject me simply because of my disrespect. But I deliberately kept my voice low, practically a whisper, so not even those with amazing hearing would be able to eavesdrop. And the King was able to show me how he truly felt.

The Dragon King straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. “Very well. I”m not interested.” He turned away, leaving me gaping after him, but then looked over his shoulder. “You deserved that. Now, come.”

He headed for the dining hall”s main doors.

“What the fuck just happened?” I whispered.

The King kept walking.

I broke into a fast walk and caught up with him. “Does that mean—”

“We have caused enough of a scene,” he cut me off. Just outside the doors, he paused to tell one of the doormen, “Tell the kitchen staff to serve dinner and the court to proceed without me. I”m going out.”

The man”s eyes widened before he bowed. “Yes, Sire!”

Then the Dragon King strode down the hallway, and two of his knights—men I hadn”t even noticed were with us—fell into step behind him. I had to double my pace to catch up to them, then dash around one of the knights to resume my place at the King”s side.

I remained silent as we passed through the castle corridors. But when we emerged into the main courtyard, and the King ordered a carriage, I had to speak up.

“Your Majesty!” I stepped in front of him.

“Yes?”

“You haven”t apologized! Nor have you asked me to dinner.”

He lifted a brow.

I lowered both of mine.

He grimaced.

I crossed my arms over my chest.

“You said you wished me to be dominant,” the King said as if this explained everything.

“Dominant, not an asshole.”

His eyes widened. “Did you just call me an asshole?”

“No, I said you”d be one if you didn”t apologize. And I want to be asked out!”

“You”re the one who suggested the outing.”

“And I also suggested you ask me because you”re the top.”

“I”m not anything sexual to you yet.”

“Well, at least you added yet,” I muttered.

The royal carriage rolled up to the base of the castle steps and one of the footmen raced over to open the door. The King”s knights got on—one standing on the back ledge and the other going to sit beside the driver. I still didn”t move.

“Get in the carriage, Sebastian,” the King said.

“Nope.”

“Get in, and we can have a private conversation.”

I grimaced. “That better be code for an—”

“Don”t speak that word to me in public again or I will end this right now.”

A shiver ran through me. A good one. I loved a dominant man. A man who took control. And this man controlled a fucking kingdom.

I got into the carriage.

“Good decision,” the King growled as he got in after me.

The footman closed the carriage door, then, with the clatter of hooves on stone, we rolled away from the castle. I glanced out the window, the shine of moonlight on water catching my eye, but then something occurred to me.

“You didn”t tell the driver where to take us,” I said.

“Yes, I did. When I ordered the carriage.” He leaned back and regarded me coolly. “You were distracted by your tantrum.”

“I was not having a tantrum!”

He lifted a brow.

“I”m not wrong to want an apology for your bad behavior. I apologized when I behaved badly.”

“And yet, I”m not wrong to withhold one,” King Shaleros said smugly. “I am the King, Sebastian. I don”t have to apologize.”

“You do if you want me.” I crossed my arms over my chest again.

He snorted a laugh.

“That was not funny,” I said.

“You”re just so adorable.”

I dropped my arms. “I am not adorable!” I paused. “Well, I am, but I”m also mad at you.” I sighed, my shoulders dropping. “I know this is hard for you. And I know how it looked when you found me with Gunrel. I understand that it must have been infuriating, especially since it had taken a lot to bring you to my door.”

“You have no idea what it took to get me there,” King Shaleros said softly. “And then I found you with someone else. Half dressed.”

“I”m often shirtless when I work in the garden.”

He gave me a hard look.

“Yes, all right, I just said I understood.” I stuck my tongue out at him.

The Dragon King chuckled. Then his expression softened. “I”m sorry I overreacted, Sebastian.”

I went still. Those words meant so much more now. I was glad he hadn”t given them to me right away. Making me work for them made it momentous. We had taken another step. And that”s when it hit me. I was in a carriage with the Dragon King, off to a private dinner with him. A real date. I had a chance with him.

I whispered, “Thank you. Apology accepted.”

He smiled at me. I smiled back.

Then I asked, “So, where are you taking me on our first date?”

“For once, just be still and enjoy what”s coming.”

I grimaced. “Do I strike you as that sort of man?”

The King laughed. “No. You are rarely still. Thus, the addition of ”for once.””

I stuck my tongue out at him again.

“If you keep sticking that at me, I will put it to better use,” he said.

My face went slack.

The Dragon King burst out laughing. He laughed until he fell forward with it. Then he saw my grimace and laughed some more.

“You certainly have gotten the hang of it quickly,” I muttered.

The King finally ceased laughing and asked, “The hang of what?”

I felt my stare go tender. Fuck, my whole being melted. “Life, Your Majesty. Welcome back to it.”