“You have?” I asked, brows lifting.
“Yes, of course!” She glanced at the King's table, made certain it was empty, then leaned back in. “You made him laugh. How did you do that?”
I shrugged and grinned. “I just spoke to him like a person. He's actually very funny.”
Everyone gaped at me.
“You people need to loosen up. It's been over a hundred and fifty years. It's time for the Dragon King to move on. Help him. He's your king.”
“Help him?” one of the Litoto men asked. “How can we help?”
“Maybe talk to him,” I suggested. “You're his courtiers. You're supposed to support him. He's not a monster, just a man.”
The man snorted. “He survived the death of his mate. That alone is monstrous.”
“Only because he's a half-breed,” the woman said.
“Wait. What?” I asked. “What do you mean a half-breed?”
“You don't know?” Her eyes went gleefully wide and her wing pulled me closer, bright blue feathers against my plain black tunic.
“Know what?”
“Elassa,” her friend said in a warning tone.
“It's common knowledge, Rantu,” she shot back. “He doesn't hide it.”
“But he didn't tell, Master Sebastian.” Rantu nodded at me. “So perhaps we shouldn't either.”
“Why would he?” Elassa rolled her green eyes. “As if he'd bring that up.”
“Bring what up?” I asked.
“It's not for you to tell him,” another Litoto man said.
“Tell me what?!” I growled.
“Relax, Sebastian,” Elassa said. “May I call you Sebastian?”
“Sure. I introduced myself as such.”
Elassa grinned, her lean face going even sharper. “Have you noticed the King's fangs?”
“His teeth?” I asked, baffled. “Yeah. All Dragons have fangs.”
“Not all of them, and not like his. His are sharper.” She leaned in.
“Elassa, stop being such a bitch,” a male voice said from behind us.
Elassa grimaced, folded back her wings, then turned to look at the speaker. “Excuse me, Lord Verall? You're one to talk. Mind your business and your manners.”
I would have complained about the interruption, but the newcomer was a Zaknir, and I was nearly as fascinated with him as I was with the Litoto. As he exchanged barbed comments with Lady Elassa, I stared at his pointed, double ears and admired his ebony skin. There were markings on his face and along the sides of his throat, barely noticeable as they were. But I knew they would shine when he wanted to attract a mate. How fucking sexy was that? Literally making a man light up to see you? Yes, please. After dragging reactions out of the Dragon King, a clear visual sign of interest sounded like paradise.
“Master Sebastian?” the Zaknir asked.
The conversation continued, but I hadn't paid attention. I didn't care about the animosity between courtiers. I preferred to focus on positive things. So, no, it wasn't merely the Zaknir's exotic appearance that had distracted me. I was just using it as a way to focus on something better. But it appeared that I'd been spoken to and had missed it.
So, I eloquently said, “Huh?”
