“I . . .” He grimaced. “I'm ashamed to say I do not.”
“You should be ashamed,” I teased in a mock-chiding tone. “What kind of king doesn't know the name of every person in their kingdom? It's embarrassing.”
Shale snorted. “I should at least know the names of those who serve me daily. But to be honest, humans pass through here so quickly. I've never bothered.”
I frowned. So quickly? “I suppose my life will be over in the blink of an eye for you.”
“Don't say that.” He took my hand and kissed it. “I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean you.”
“But you did.” I shrugged. “It's all right. I told you before, I have no illusions about us.”
“Let's not worry about this now.”
Before I could reply, the food arrived, and then Shale was filling my plate instead of his own, choosing the best cuts of meat and plumpest vegetables for me. This was shocking enough that a whispering circled the room, eyes shifting our way and away. Even Shale's guards glanced at us several times.
“Thank you,” I whispered when Shale moved on to his plate.
“You're welcome.” He glanced at me. “I'll learn your favorites soon enough. Until then, you don't have to eat what you don't like.”
“Learn my . . . uh, thank you, Your Majesty.”
The King frowned at me.
“What?” I asked.
“You don't have to use my title. You know that.”
“We're in public,” I whispered. “You said I had to when we're in public.”
“But now you're my consort.”
“I'm yourwhat?”
Shale frowned. “I suppose you're my concubine since I haven't asked you to be my consort or made an announcement. But you will be my consort.”
“I don't know what either of those are.”
“You don't know what a concubine is?” He grinned.
“I mean, I know what the words mean, but I'm not sure what the titles mean here. With you.”
“Being my concubine means you're committed to me,” he said. “You're mine alone. But I could take other concubines or even lovers.”
“I don't think I like that option.” I crossed my arms.
Shale chuckled. “Then would you like to be my consort?”
“And that means?”
“We are committed to each other. You also get more respect as my consort than you would as my concubine.”
I dropped my arms. “Like I'm your boyfriend?”
“It's a little more serious than that.” Shale leaned in. “Sebastian, if you betray me as my consort, I can execute you.”
“Shit. That went dark.”
He grinned. “I don't expect you to betray me.”
