“You can't hire your own people, can you?” I asked after we had explored his shop, and I placed an order. A large order. Damn, it was fun to shop with someone else's money.
Casu led me to the shop's main door, past displays of shining shears, clippers, and other cutting tools. “No,” he admitted. “That upsets me the most. But my income would drop if I had Eljaffna salesclerks.”
“Fucked up.”
“Yes, indeed.” He opened the door for me, then cocked his head as I passed by. “How about some lunch?”
“Sure,” I said.
“Do you like seafood?”
“I love it.”
“Wonderful.” He waved me into his carriage as he told the driver, “The Hooked Fish.”
“Yes, Sir,” the driver said.
Fifteen minutes later, we were sitting at a table with an ocean view, dining on succulent crab legs and grilled fish.
“This is amazing,” I said. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
“It's the least I could do after you spent so much of the King's money in my shop.” He winked a blue eye at me.
Suddenly, he reminded me of Shale. His hair was too golden, his eyes too dark, his body wasn't big enough, and his skin was too pale. But there were enough similarities to remind me of the Dragon King. Enough that I could see where the King took after his mother. But it also showed me the ways he did not. His Dragon side had given him more bulk than your normal Eljaffna man. He was lean for a Dragon but large for an Eljaffna—his shoulders broad and thighs corded with muscle. But he had the teeth, didn't he? The sharp Eljaffna fangs and the need for blood.
“I think we've become friends now, haven't we?” Casu asked.
“Sure. Why?”
“Are you comfortable telling me what happened between you and the King? We all saw you leave with him, and someone saw you two in the castle later that night, holding hands. But now, he glares at you. And you sat with us.”
“You noticed that glare too, did you?”
“How could I not? He was glaring at me too.”
“And yet you still dined with me.”
Casu snorted. “I'm not afraid of the King.”
“Right. Cause you're a wicked Eljaffna just like him.”
He snorted a laugh. “Just so.”
I paused, took a bite of food, then said, “I fucked up.”
“How?”
“I let things go too far too soon.” I shrugged. “He's . . .”
“Broken. Go on. You can say it. It's just us here. And I meant my offer of friendship. I will not betray your confidence.”
“Thank you, Casu. And yes, he's broken. I knew I had to proceed carefully with him. Not only is he still affected by the death of his . . . well, his family, but he's never been with a man.”
“And you're human.” Casu pointed at me with his fork.
I grimaced at him.
“I'm just saying that if he started a sexual relationship with you, he would do so knowing that there would be an end. You will die, and he's already lost a mate to death.”
