Jason smirked at Leo. “He doesn't want to offend me.”
“Yeah?” Leo countered. “Well, he's the only one, so I'd stop smirking if I were you. The rest of us know you're a dope.”
Jason made a face at Leo before saying to Braxis, “As I said, it's all good, man. No offense taken.”
“I'm greatly relieved.” Braxis resumed his seat.
“Who wants some cheese puffs?” Kyrian asked brightly as he strode into the room with a platter of steaming golden pastry puffs. Then he frowned. “Where's Davorin? Did I miss something?”
Chapter Sixteen
I think my friends expected Braxis to eat like a caveman. Once we were at our excessively long dining table, with half of the seats empty but our plates full of the delectable offerings Kyrian had whipped up, they kept glancing at the Bleiten duke surreptitiously. Braxis's table manners might not have been fit for tea with the Queen of England, but they were fine for a casual dinner. There was no grunting, and he used his utensils like a civilized person. My friends turned their attention back to their food with various degrees of disappointment. I guess they were hoping for dinner and a show.
“How did the tour go today?” I asked Cyprian.
As promised, Cyprian had taken Braxis to Dirty Nothings with him that morning for a tour. They'd spent the entire day together—something that shocked me and made me curious. Frankly, I'd expected Braxis back in an hour.
“It went well,” Cyprian said. “When Braxis wasn't fighting off flirting Faulin, that is.”
I lifted a brow at Braxis.
“My size appealed to them.” Braxis shrugged. “I was a novelty, nothing more.”
Cyprian snorted as if he were understating things.
“I admit that I wasn't prepared for the male attention,” Braxis went on. “Men aren't usually attracted to me.”
Jason snorted in his wine glass, then coughed as Leo smacked his back.
“Many of my people are bisexual or homosexual,” Cyprian explained to Lily's raised brows.
“Can't choose, eh?” Lily shot back with a grin. Then she looked at Braxis. “Do you have homosexuals on Hell?”
“Of course.” Braxis frowned as if the question was ridiculous. “Some of our greatest warriors have preferred the company of men.”
I looked at Malik for confirmation, and he nodded.
“Why do you look so surprised, Mvarra?” Malik asked. “It's a type of sexuality. Even some animals are homosexual.”
“But your culture is so...”
“So?” Malik prompted with a smirk.
“Alpha-nistic,” Lily supplied.
“Alpha-nistic?” Braxis scowled. “I don't know that word.”
“Because it's not a real word,” I explained. “I believe Lily is trying to combine alpha with chauvinistic.”
“We are not chauvinists!” Braxis protested. “We cherish our women.”
“That right there.” I waved my hand at Braxis but looked at Malik. “Thatis why I'm surprised there are gay Bleiten.”
Malik chuckled. “I'll admit it's not that common, but it does happen. Especially during war.”
Braxis grunted in agreement. “Warriors can get very close. Brothers become lovers.”
“Do tell,” Lily purred.
