“What?”
“You're hearing the cries of your mate.”
“Geris, I swear to Fulgark, if you don't tell me in simple terms what the fuck is going on with Rian, I'm—”
“He let you go!”
I flinched back.
There was a rattle of dishes inside the cafe, Alice doubtless startled as well. But I couldn't look away from Geris. And he didn't stop there.
“Rianvar said something about treating you poorly and your welfare being more important than his.” Geris growled in his throat and shook his head. “He said as your mate, he had to do what was best for you. But his dragon fought him. He fought hard. So the King imprisoned himself below his castle.”
“No,” I whispered.
“Oh, yes. And every day without you has sent him further into horror. He barely eats. Only accepts water. He prowls his cage, shaking the bars and screaming. It's so bad that the dread will be meeting in a week to discuss replacing him.”
“What?!”
“A mad king cannot be allowed to rule. His advisers have been covering for him, but that can't go on for long.”
“Rian,” I whispered.
“You did this, asshole!” Geris pointed at me.
“He hurt me!”
Geris pulled back. “No. No fucking way. Rianvar would never hurt his mate. He'd never hurt any lover. It's not possible.”
“Not physically. Emotionally. He did things.” I looked away. “I didn't want to leave. It was the only way to protect myself.”
Geris sat there silently so long that Alice came by with the rest of our meal—a plate of thin cakes slathered in berries and butter with two sausages for each of us.
“Is everything all right?” Alice asked.
“I've just had some bad news about an ex-lover,” I said. “Sorry for the outbursts.”
“Oh, that's awful.” She patted my shoulder. “It's all right. The cafe is empty. Shout all you want.”
“Thanks, Alice.”
“Will you be going back to your lover in his time of need?”
My jaw clenched.
Geris went still, his intense stare on me.
“I . . . think I must.”
“Thank the Gods,” Geris whispered.
Alice looked back and forth between us, then said, “I thought so. You're a good man, Galin.” With that, she left.
“A good man,” Geris muttered, then snorted.
I stared down at my plate as Geris started to eat voraciously.
Vashana whined.
