“He can't be,” one of them said.
“How does he know Yavess then?”
“Because the last time I entered this palace, it was from above,” I said. “Held in the talon of your king.”
“You'rethatNeraky?” one of them asked.
“Yup,” I said. I mean, how many Neraky men had Vax brought home that way? It had to be me.
Then an image popped into my head—all those men dressed in barely anything, housed in a room within the King's quarters. His bed slaves. There had been a lot of them. Twenty-six, to be exact.
Shit. What if Vax was on a fuck-bender to get over me? He could, at that very moment, be balls-deep in another Neraky ass. The thought made my cold blood run hot.
“You look like a pirate,” one of the guards said.
Irritated by the mere possibility of Vax fucking another guy, I started to snap at the guard that I looked like a pirate because I was one. But then someone shouted.
“Let him through!” It was Yavess.
“Fuck!” one of the guards said.
“Go on through, my lord,” the other hurried to add, lifting his spear. “Sorry about the misunderstanding.”
But I wasn't looking at him. I was staring at Yavess and his anxious expression. What was I doing? Come to grovel? I didn't want to grovel. I was not a groveler. I may have confidently thrown the word consort in the faces of these two Sea Dragons, but I didn't feel that confidence. I had turned Vax down. I was most definitelynothis consort. But I had come all that way to see him, and my luck was about to get me through the gates. I couldn't lose my nerve now. I loved Vax. He was worth groveling for. Fuck, he was worth dying for. I stepped past the guards and headed for Yavess.
Yavess met me halfway across the courtyard. He clutched at my wrist as if he'd sooner break it than let go. “My lord! You've returned! Thank the Dragon Gods! You've returned!”
I blinked. “Uh, I was hoping to speak to the King.”
“Oh, you will!” Yavess yanked me toward the palace. “You will indeed.”
“What's going on, Yavess? You seem upset.”
Yavess shook his head. “I shouldn't have let you leave. But the Gods have smiled upon me. They've sent you back to him. Thank you!”
And he wasn't thanking me. Yavess was looking up when he offered his thanks. What the fuck?
“Yavess!” I jerked him to a halt just inside the palace. “What's going on?”
Yavess collected himself and faced me, though he still didn't release my wrist. “The King. He, uh. You left and he . . .”He looked around at the courtiers who were staring at us. “Come with me, and I'll explain.” Yavess jerked on my wrist again, racing down the corridor.
We were getting close to the royal apartments. I recognized the paintings. But before we got to the doors, Yavess pulled me into a sitting room and slammed the door.
Finally releasing my wrist, Yavess spun to face me and said, “He is not himself. The King went into a rage when you left. He tore apart his bedroom, burned his pleasure garden, and now refuses to eat. He won't let anyone up to see him. He even sent all his bed slaves away. The royal apartments are empty of all but him.”
“He sent all of them away?” I grinned.
“Are you fucking listening to me?!” Yavess shrieked. “He burned his garden! He lies among the ashes in his beast body, snapping at any who dare approach, even those who bring him food. I fear for his sanity.” He paused to glare at me. “And it's all because of you!”
“He told me to leave!”
“Why? Why would he do that if he so desperately wants you here?”
I pressed my lips together.
“Something happened,” Yavess concluded. “He felt compelled to send you away, didn't he?”
“Maybe,” I admitted.
