The Dragon King waved me toward the table, and I scooted along the bench to sit facing the doorway. He wentaround the other way to sit beside me. When we were settled against the thick cushions, the host handed us some menus.
“Is there anything I could get you immediately, Your Majesty?” the man asked, his pale skin shining like the moon in the lantern light.
“Wine. Your best,” the King said.
“Nothing less will be served to you tonight, Your Majesty. I assure you.” He bowed and hurried away.
I stared after him. There was something about the man that made my brain tingle. What was it?
“Is the garden not to your liking?” The King asked.
I looked at him. “Are you kidding? This is wonderful. Thank you for bringing me here.”
King Shaleros grinned. “You're welcome.” Then he cleared his throat and opened his menu.
I smiled at his nervousness and opened my menu too. I was on a date with the Dragon King. Holy. Fuck. I could barely read the words on the menu, I was so excited. When our server came by, bringing our wine with him, I got flustered and couldn't decide on my main course. But the man took his time pouring the wine, giving me a few moments to figure out what I wanted. Of course, what I really wanted wasn't on the menu.
The King ordered most of the food, including several appetizers and sides, and once I made my choice, the server hurried away. Suddenly, I didn't know what to do. I busied myself gathering the cylindrical pillows they used as armrests in Enleran and setting them where I wanted. The King's lips twitched when I offered him one.
“Cease, Sebastian,” he said as he took the pillow and tossed it aside. “Drink your wine. It's very good.”
I sat back and did as I was told. But as I sipped my wine, I stared at the King, and it came to me. What was bothering me about the Eljaffna?
I put my glass down and looked away, processing the information. How did I feel about it? Verall had thought it would deter me. It didn't. Far from it. I was . . . fascinated. Would a man of mixed race still have the needs inherent to both races? The King had mated, which meant his Dragon nature had come through. But was his Dragon half dominant? Maybe all he got from his mother's people was superficial. But if it wasn't, he would need things from his lover that Dragons didn't.
My heart raced, and a flush warmed my cheeks.
“What naughty thoughts are you thinking now?” the King whispered.
I flinched and looked at him. “Um. All right. I'm going to be honest with you.”
The King frowned and leaned back. “I would prefer that.”
“Tonight, before you arrived, some of the courtiers told me about your mixed blood.”
His face twitched.
I hurried on, “They didn't tell me your mother's race. But they hinted at it. It sounds as if they believe you survived because of it.”
The King's throat worked roughly before he said, “That is what most believe, yes.”
“But it's not true, is it?”
“What part?”
“You know what part. You didn't survive because of your ancestry.”
King Shaleros stared at me a long time before saying, “No. Not exactly.”
Before I could ask, the server appeared with our appetizers. The King and I sat in tense silence, waiting for the man to leave. It took a while since he insisted on putting a few selections on our plates.
Once he was gone, I asked, “How did you do it?”
“I'm not ready to talk about this with you,” he said stiffly.
I held up my hands in surrender. “I understand. You barely know me. And it's none of my business. Not yet.”
His expression softened. “If it becomes your business, I will tell you, Sebastian.”
