“Youneed some answers fromme?” I was so baffled that I dropped my arms and sat down in the chair.
“Yes, concerning you and the King,” Gunrel said.
My eyes widened. “In what regard?”
“Regarding your relationship.”
“With the King?”
“Yes.”
“My relationship with King Shaleros?”
“Yes, human! What other king is there in Latur?”
“Sheesh, take a breath, Mr. Pushy. I'm just confused. What relationship are you talking about? Not an intimate one.”
“Yes, an intimate one. Has he fucked you yet?”
“Yet?” I lifted my brows. “You're assuming he will?”
Gunrel grunted.
“You're more confident than me,” I muttered.
“You made him smile,” Gunrel said. “Laugh. Do you have any idea how momentous that was?”
“A little. He told me it's been over a century since he laughed.”
“It's been one hundred fifty-seven years since I've seen the King smile. Laugh?” He shook his head. “I can't remember when I last saw him laugh.”
“One hundredfifty-seven?” I asked. “That's how long he's been without his mate?”
“Yes.”
“He's been celibate all that time, hasn't he?”
“I assume so. No one has seen him take a lover.”
“That's a long time to go without sex,” I whispered.
“Sex isn't the issue.”
“No, it's love. He told me that too.”
Gunrel went still. “He told you what exactly?”
“That he's . . .” I trailed off. “You know what? I'm not sure if he'd want me to repeat it. It was spoken to me in confidence.”
Gunrel's face twitched. “That's both annoying and admirable.”
“Thanks.” I grinned.
“So, he hasn't bedded you?”
“I thought you just said it wasn't about the sex?”
“It's not, but that would be an indicator.”
