“It was our greatest pleasure to see to your comfort, Your Majesty.” He bowed again. “If there's nothing else you need, I'll leave you to enjoy the play.”
“Thank you.”
The man left with a huge grin and my knight followed him to the door, but only to shut it and then stand before it.
“Take a post outside,” I said.
Sir Alfain didn't argue. Probably because he didn't care. My knights guarded me because they were bound by our laws to do so, but they didn't put any extra effort in. So Alfain just bowed and left. He was from one of the wealthiest families in the Vacrond Enclave. The same enclave I was from. I distinctly remember him throwing rocks at me while I fought one of his friends. The rocks did nothing to stop me from killing that friend. I'd often wondered what Alfain felt when he looked at me. Was it pure rage or was there some embarrassment in him as well? After all, he personally knew how hard they had tried to keep me off the throne. And despite those efforts, I won.
Aras looked from the departing knight to me. “Ex-boyfriend of yours?”
I was so shocked that I just stared at him for a second. Did he not remember what I'd told him about . . . oh. Right. A joke. As soon as it registered, I burst out laughing. My delayed reaction made Aras jump, which made me laugh even harder.
Aras grimaced, then smirked at me. “You need to laugh more. You're very handsome when you laugh.”
“Maybe I prefer to look menacing.” I waggled my brows at him and headed for the mini buffet. That Deldin really had gone all out. There were eight savory appetizers, two trays of mini desserts, and three baskets of assorted bread and crackers to go with the many pots of butter and spreads. “What would you like?”
Aras joined me but didn't say anything. I looked up to find him grinning at me.
“Let me clarify. Whatfoodandwinewould you like?”
“Oh.” He feigned disappointment. “Honestly, I don't care as far as wine goes and the food all looks good. You choose.”
I glanced at him. The edges of his eyes twitched. This was part of establishing how we'd be together. Aras wanted me to take control, even when it came to food. Fascinating. Well, if that's what my mate wanted, I would provide it.
“That's my favorite.” I pointed at a bottle of white. “Why don't you pour the wine while I select the food?”
“All right.” Aras opened the bottle and poured two glasses while I made several little plates of food for us.
Balancing the plates on my arm, I took them to the couch and set them on the low table before it. Aras joined me, handing me a glass before he sat down. Then we gorged ourselves on tinyfood, refilling our plates several times even though I'd brought a lot to the table.
“These theater people know how to cook,” Aras said after the third round.
The lights blinked.
“But they don't know shit about lighting,” he added.
I burst out laughing.
“What? Didn't you see that flicker? They need to new light spheres.”
I laughed harder.
“What the actual fuck?” Aras growled.
“Give me a moment,” I gasped, trying to get my laughter under control. “I'm sorry.” I wiped at my tears and leaned forward.
“That was supposed to happen, wasn't it?” Aras drawled.
I nodded, let out one last chuckle, and said, “It's the signal for everyone to get to their seats because the performance is about to begin.”
“Oh.” He tucked a length of midnight hair up and around his perky ear.
I stared at that ear. Funny how something as simple as an ear could hold my rapt attention. It was a perfect ear, unique to his race. I suppose it was one of the things I enjoyed about him. Aras was from one of the races that didn't resemble Dragons. Not fully. So many others did—Raltven, Humans, Eljaffna—they all looked very much as we did, just smaller. Then there were theraces who were similar to us but with wings or metallic skin or gills—the Okon, Ricarri, and Neraky. But the Hulfrin, although Dragonoid—with several Dragon features such as eyes, lips, and noses—were part of the third class of race on Serai. They, like the Deldin, were more unlike Dragons than the opposite. And that ear was a perfect example.
The inner ear was pale pink skin, but it transitioned to fur at the rim, and that fur tufted at the tip of the ear, the black blending with Aras's horns, located just a little above and behind his ears. So pretty, but I couldn't stay fascinated with his ear for long, not with those cheekbones nearby. Under the thin layer of fur on Aras's face laid a bone structure that any Dragon would envy. High cheekbones, a stubborn jaw, and a regal nose.
Aras turned to face me. “So, should we change seats?”
