“Yes, that's true as well. He even mentioned it. We had issues before we began.”
“And you still ended up in his bed.”
I sighed, knowing that if I told him this, he would share it with his friends. Despite what he said about not betraying my confidence, this was a secret too succulent to keep. But we'd been seen holding hands. The court probably assumed Shale had bedded me.
“Yeah,” I said. “And he wasn't ready for that. He thought he was, but he wasn't.”
Casu nodded, ate, then pondered the view. “Just because he's broken, it doesn't make him a child.”
“What does that mean?”
“You're not giving him enough credit. You act as if you are responsible for everything that happened between you. As if you're the adult in the relationship. He is a grown Dragonman. He has loved and lost, something rare but not completely unheard of among Dragons. And he—”
“What do you mean? Dragons have survived losing their mates before?”
“Oh, yes. Usually with a bit of magic.”
“Magic? You mean there are spells to save Dragons from the death of their mates?”
“Certainly. Although, they're not specifically for that. My people have several spells that will dampen love.”
“Why would you want that?”
He shrugged. “Many people would prefer to not be weakened by that emotion. Granted, the only time a Dragon seeks such spells is when their mate has passed.”
“Do you think that's what King Shaleros did?”
Casu shrugged again. “I have learned enough by others assuming things about me to never assume things about another.”
“But it's possible?”
“Certainly. I would venture to say that it is more likely that a spell saved our king than his Eljaffna blood.”
“A spell,” I whispered. “Yeah, that makes sense.”
A memory of Shaleros popped into my head—of him saying that everyone assumed they knew how he had survived. And that their assumptions were wrong.
“Why do you care?” Casu asked. “Has he gotten under your skin already? Is it because he's broken?”
“Because he's broken?”
“Some men like to save their lovers. It makes them feel powerful. Heroic.”
“I do want to help him,” I admitted. “But not to make myself feel powerful. And that's not why I'm attracted to him.”
“Then why?”
“He's handsome and funny and damn good in bed.”
Casu burst out laughing. Some of the other diners winced and glanced at us warily.
I looked around at them, then at Casu. “I thought there were similarities between the way our people get treated. But I was wrong. There's a huge difference between scorn and fear.”
“Ah. Yes. Humans are magic-less, but we are monsters.” He grinned. “I much rather be a monster.”
“You know, I would too. At least you can get into all the nice restaurants.”
Casu burst out laughing again.
