“Yes.” I grinned and stood up. “And don't be embarrassed. I thought that was adorable.”
Aras grimaced and got up as well. “I don't think I've been called adorable since I was little.” Then he smiled. “But I'll take it as a compliment from you.”
“You should. It's such a contrast to your normal persona.” I grabbed my plate and glass, then took them to one of the grand chairs near the railing. It was upholstered in red velvet. It seemed as if everything was red. An odd choice. You'd think they'd want a more calming color. But I suppose an excited audience was a good thing.
“Persona?” Aras sat down next to me and set his plate down on the little table between us, keeping his glass. “That makes me sound like an actor.”
“I mean your personality.” I waved at him. “All this. It doesn't look as if you'd do something adorable. And that makes the moment all the more precious.”
“Ah, like when you, the big bad King of Gavemor, throw a temper tantrum?”
I snorted. “I did not throw a temper tantrum.”
“Oh, yes, you did.” He sipped his wine.
“You were kissing another man after we had exchanged promises of fidelity.”
Aras lifted a brow at me.
Before I could get into a childish argument that would only have proved my immature tendencies, the lights dimmed. I had a few moments to glance around the crowded theater and see that most of the stares were on me instead of the stage. I didn't hide in my castle, but I didn't attend a lot of public events either. My appearance was of note. I understood, but it also made me uncomfortable. Especially after everything the Eye had said.
So, as the lights went out, I swung a look behind me at the door. I'd have to keep my senses alert and not get lost in the performance. Goddess knew I couldn't count on those assholes to watch my back.
Chapter Ten
Half an hour into the show, I was completely engrossed. In Aras. I kept glancing at him, drawn by his expressions. They were so very, well, expressive. His eyes widened in amazement, his whisker pads wrinkled and lifted with delight, and when he was shocked by a plot twist, he would grip something and gasp. Aras used the glasses a few times, but mostly, he leaned on his knees, sometimes with his furry chin propped in his hands. We were so close that the glasses weren't necessary.
Aras kept sweeping the stage with his stare, taking it all in. The backdrops that kept changing. The props. The costumes. Nothing escaped his notice—nothing too small to gain his interest. But at the same time, he was enthralled by the story. He laughed and scowled and even shed a few tears. And I found all of it pleasing, even his tears. It filled me with pride to know that I had given this to him. No one else had done this for Aras. I had opened his eyes to a new experience.
The acting was good, and the play was interesting. I was relieved that it had indeed been a good choice for our first date. First date. That implied there would be others. And there would be. I'd see to it. Many, many more nights like this one. I'd get to watch Aras enjoy all the delights my wealth and status could offer him. Things I wouldn't have been able to give him in my old life.
All of my suffering and hard work had been to get me the crown, but I hadn't truly appreciated it until that moment. It had been more about revenge and pride than enjoying the perks of wealth. I was never a man who needed the finer things. The coin that came with being King was just a bonus for me. Yes, I did enjoy hiring workers for my parents' farm and buying them a luxurious manor. They would never have to till a field again, and there was great relief, joy, and pride in that for me. But none of that came close to the feeling I got knowing that I could give my mate status above all but myself in my kingdom and wealth that he had probably never dreamed of.
Great Goddess, I wanted to tell him so badly.
“Yes!” Aras shouted and launched to his feet along with many others in the audience.
I blinked, refocused on the stage, and realized that the play had ended. Ah, yes, there was the happy couple, embracing. Love had overcome all. As per usual onstage. The actors parted and bowed as the curtain came down behind them. I stood up to clap beside Aras, who glanced at me to grin. Oh, there it was again—that joyous feeling. I felt as if I could rule the world.
Then I remembered that the Eye had promised me that very thing, and I sobered. Did I want to rule Serai? Fuck, no. It was hard enough to keep control of one kingdom. My life would be a constant flow of meetings, battles, and who knows what else if I tried to rule the world. I didn't like trusting others to watch over things for me.
I had assigned the government of the dread's enclaves to my old friends, making them nobles so that they'd outrank the people they governed. All but my parents, of course. Most of them had to move their families to new enclaves to take thosepositions, but they'd been happy to do so. It meant a new start in a city that didn't know they had been commoners. The worst position had been the governorship of the Vacrond Enclave, but I'd given it to my closest friend, Ellas.
Poor Ellas was in a constant battle for control and respect. All the nobles knew he used to be a cobbler, and they did not think he was fit to run an enclave, much less give them commands. He was living my life on a smaller scale, and that weighed on me. But Ellas was the only one I could trust to keep those motherfuckers in line and watch over my parents.
If I ruled the world, I would have to assign Dragons to look after entire kingdoms for me, and as much faith as I thought Ellas could handle it, I didn't think the others were up to the task. No, ruling the world sounded like a terrible idea. Besides, my priorities were shifting. I grinned and took my mate's hand.
It was only as we headed out of the private box that I realized we hadn't made use of that couch. Aras had been enjoying the performance too much for me to take him away from it. And I had been enjoying his enjoyment too much to even think about sex. Holy shit, Iwasfalling in love. Nothing else made sense.
My knights fell into position ahead and behind us as Aras and I strode down the corridor. The theater manager met us at the bottom of the stairs, in the grand foyer, his hands held before him and a hopeful expression on his face.
“Sire, did you enjoy the performance?” he asked.
“It was spectacular,” I said. “I look forward to your next production.”
“Oh, thank you! I can't wait to tell the others. They'll be thrilled!”
“Please pass on our congratulations on a brilliant play.”
