Chapter Thirty-Five

Later that night at dinner, King Vaxarion said, “I don”t think Ha”tezan should count. We were only there for battle. So that makes Latur the first kingdom above water that I”ve visited, and it”s perfect, King Shaleros. So similar to mine and yet not. It”s easing me into this land living. ”

“You”re welcome here anytime, King Vaxarion,” Shale said.

We had spent hours in bed, hours of Shale driving into me with fierce and strange determination, then holding me with such tenderness that I forgot who we were and what we couldn”t have. Nothing seemed impossible in his arms.

After Shale was finally sated, we bathed, dressed, then went down to the dining hall for my celebration feast. And how thoughtful was that? A feast in my honor. It was the perfect end to the day. And with Shale calm and charming our guest, it was even nice to have someone dining with us at the King”s table. I, of course, sat on Shale”s wide couch with him, to his right, while King Vaxarion sat on a separate couch to Shale”s left. My lover may have been calm, but he wasn”t about to seat me next to the handsome Sea Dragon.

Another thing that pleased me greatly. Yes, I admit it. I loved seeing Shale jealous. It gave me hope.

“Perhaps I”ll return after I visit the other kingdoms that border mine,” King Vaxarion said. “It will be a while since there are many lands that lie on the shores of Morilren. Would that be all right, King Shaleros?”

“Of course. You can tell me about your adventures. But let me give you a piece of friendly advice before you visit the other Dragon Courts.”

“Oh, I would appreciate that.”

“Send messages to the Kings you”re planning on visiting. Ask if you may visit them. Your reception will be warmer, I guarantee it.”

“Ah.” King Vaxarion grinned and nodded. “I committed a social offense, I see.”

“I was a bit . . . perturbed. But Sebastian pointed out that you may not have the same traditions as we do on land.”

“Then I”m grateful to your consort for smoothing my way. And I apologize—”

“No, please.” Shale lifted a hand and cut off the apology. “I didn”t say it to make you feel bad. I just wanted to help your next visit go better. Now, let”s celebrate our good fortune. To your crown and my consort.” He held up his glass to King Vaxarion. Not to me, mind you.

“To us!” King Vaxarion clicked his glass against Shale”s.

I rolled my eyes. There was something annoying about two powerful Dragons toasting each other”s good fortune. Yeah, maybe I was having a moment of bitterness over my race, but I think I was allowed. This was supposed to be my feast, King Vaxarion had even bowed out of any honor, but Shale had just made it about them. As if I was property, something he had won as King Vaxarion had won his crown. Maybe that was kind of sexy, the whole winning me part, but the property part not so much.

“I don”t think I shall take consorts,” King Vaxarion said.

“Oh? Why not?” Shale asked.

“Hold on.” I leaned forward to look at both men. “A king can take multiple consorts?”

“Well, I don”t know how it is on land, but Sea Dragon Kings can do anything they wish. Currently, I have twenty-three bed slaves, all given to me as tribute when I took the throne. But I”ve considered—”

“Twenty-three?!” I shouted.

The dining hall went silent.

I flushed as I looked out at the courtiers.

“Return to your meal,” Shale said to them.

The court looked away.

Meanwhile, King Vaxarion laughed his ass off.

“Sorry, Your Majesty,” I muttered.

“Not at all.” King Vaxarion waved it away. “I”m interested in why you found that so shocking. Do you not have bed slaves, King Shaleros?”

I slowly turned to look at Shale, my expression one of you-had-better-give-the-answer-I-want-to-hear-motherfucker.

Shale”s lips twitched.

“Shale!” I snarled.

He lifted his brows at me.

“I mean, Your Majesty!” I corrected but used the same tone.

Shale laughed as he took my hand and rubbed it reassuringly. To the Sea King, he said, “No, we don”t take slaves up here. Not bed or otherwise. And in Latur, we take only one consort.”

“Really?” King Vaxarion”s eyes widened. “But how do the other races show respect?”

“They obey my laws,” Shale said. “We don”t believe in enslavement.”

“Oh, it”s all willing and only lasts a few years,” King Vaxarion said. “It”s seen as an honor to serve Sea Dragons, especially if they”re chosen as bed slaves. Especially if they”re chosen as bed slaves to a king.”

“An honor,” I muttered.

“That”s fascinating,” Shale said.

I glared at him.

He winked at me.

“So, you only take one consort?” King Vaxarion asked.

“That is up to the individual king,” Shale said. “As I said, in Latur, we take only one consort. If I wanted to take multiple lovers, I would refer to them as my concubines.”

“Ah, I see. So, this is a great honor for you, Sebastian.”

I grimaced at the Sea King. “Better than a bed slave, I suppose.”

Shale laughed at my sour expression. “I did give you the option. And you know there will be no other.”

“I do?”

“Sebastian,” he said in a chiding tone.

“All right,” I gave in.

“You are so doting, King Shaleros,” King Vaxarion said. “It”s adorable. But I”m not ready for that. As you said, we”ve only just awakened from our forced hibernation. I want to enjoy myself before I take a consort. And then, maybe, the magic will bring me my mate. But I hope I have a few years before that happens.”

“I thought you were eager for a mate?” Shale asked, surprising me with the ease in which he spoke of it.

But then, he wasn”t speaking of his mate, was he?

“Why would you think that?” King Vaxarion asked.

“You had mentioned reading about mates.” Shale shrugged. “I assumed you were interested in finding yours.”

“I am. Just not right away. One of our sea kings has found his mate, and he is utterly consumed with the man. A human, no less.”

“A human?” I asked.

“Yes, did you not know that Dragons could mate humans?” King Vaxarion asked.

“Uh, no. I assumed it was only immortals. What happens when the human dies?”

“Oh, they don”t,” the Sea King said. “When a Dragon mates, they share a piece of their soul with their mate. With two Dragons, it”s an exchange. But when the mate is of another race, only the Dragon gives of themselves. In the case of a human mate, the Dragon”s essence shares its immortality.”

“The human becomes immortal?” I whispered.

“Yes, exactly,” King Vaxarion said.

Shale glanced at me, his look heavy. He didn”t have to say anything. I could feel his guilt. He would never be able to give me that. And when I died, if we were still together, he would blame himself. Just as he had with his mate. Fuck.

“Anyway,” the Sea King went on brightly, “King Asmar is besotted with his little earthling. I don”t know if I want that. It seems . . . well, it”s almost as if the magic has made a king into a slave.”

“It does enslave you,” Shale said grimly. “But in the best possible way. You will not regret it. And you will wonder how you survived before it.”

My heart plummeted. It shouldn”t have mattered. I knew a Dragon mating was magical. It was what they all hoped for, so great that losing it was supposed to kill them. But hearing Shale speak of it like that, in that cold tone and yet with such intense words, hurt me. I knew then that this was what life with him would be—a series of ups and downs. Pleasure and pain. But could one exist without the other? No, that was all life, wasn”t it? It would simply be exaggerated with Shale. Everything was extreme with him.

“You speak as if you have experience, King Shaleros,” King Vaxarion said softly.

“I have,” Shale said. “I lost my mate.”

King Vaxarion”s eyes widened. “But I thought that losing a mate kills us?”

“Not all of us.”

King Vaxarion stared at Shale for a few moments, then nodded. “I understand. And I”m very sorry for your loss, Your Majesty. Now I see why you were so adamant about Sebastian not being your mate. But it”s good that you”ve found him, even if this is all you have. And you never know, my friend. Your Goddess can be fickle, but our God is merciful, and he knows the power of love. Perhaps—”

“I stood with Karadas against the Goddess,” Shale said. “But I don”t believe she is fickle or evil. You say our God knows the power of love, but it is Ensarena who gave us the mating magic. She wanted love for us, still wants it, and uses her divine power to draw our mates to us. That is something I will always be grateful to her for, even after losing my mate.”

“She imprisoned Karadas and sent us into hibernation.”

“Because he betrayed their love,” Shale said. “He took other lovers, then gave his heart to one of them. Yes, she reacted badly, very badly. She lashed out at him and us. But she”s a goddess, and we are her children. She deserves our respect, even when we stand against her.”

A chill ran over my arms and through my body, and for a second, I thought I saw Shale glow. Just a second and then it was gone, but it was so bright and beautiful that I was physically affected by it. It flashed through me, bringing a wave of calm and warmth that comforted me. Of course, it was all in my mind. His speech had moved me, that”s all. I was softened by his loyalty to his creator, a goddess who had turned on her children. And still, he worshiped her.

“I respect your loyalty,” King Vaxarion said. “But she is not my Goddess. Karadas made us. Ensarena only offered a touch of her Fire to give us life. She wanted nothing more to do with us. We were and always will be his children alone. I don”t owe her anything.”

“Fair enough,” Shale said. “But you will not besmirch her name in my presence.”

King Vaxarion held up his hands. “As you wish.”

“Thank you.”

“Phew,” I said. “That got heavy. Can we move on?”

“Yes, I”d like that.” Kin Vaxarion chuckled. “Let”s find a lighter topic.” He speared a piece of meat with his fork and stuck it delicately into his mouth.

Something he had said earlier came back to me, and I asked, “What”s an earthling?”

“What”s that?” King Vaxarion asked, lifting his brow. Then his face cleared. “Oh! You mean Kaleb, King Asmar”s mate. He”s from another world, a world without magic, inhabited only by humans. It”s called Earth. So, King Asmar calls Kaleb his earthling.”

“What?!” I shrieked.

The room went silent again. This time all Shale had to do was glare at his court.

After another bout of laughter, the Sea King told me all about the men—two of them—who had come through rifts between worlds made when the Dragon Gods fought. I spent the rest of the night reeling over the news that there was a world where humans ruled. Where there were no Dragons or Eljaffna or anyone else. Just animals and us. Would that be wonderful or dismal? I couldn”t decide. Not until I laid down beside Shale later that night. Then I knew. No world without him in it could be wonderful. Not for me.