“These are pancakes!” I exclaimed.
Kaspian chuckled. “They are sweet flatbread. We eat them at all times of day, but especially the first meal. And yes, they are similar to your pancakes. That's why I ordered them for you. Look, we have pastries too. This one is filled with a thickened cream and jam.”
“Like a donut.” I grabbed the pastry, which was flaky, so not a donut. It was heavy with filling which I thought was promising. I took a bite. “Oh, my God,” I said with my mouth full. “This is wonderful. The jam tastes almost like strawberry but with a hint of pineapple.”
“It's a mixture of berries.” Kaspian cut into his steak and took a bite, but I noticed he had a pastry set to the side for himself.
I cut into my stack of pancakes and found a creamy, nutty filling between each one. Pistachio? Maybe cashew. I couldn't tell. It was probably neither—a nut of Serai. Whatever it was, it was amazing, and it made syrup unnecessary. I did need something savory though, so I was glad Kas had ordered a plate of sliced meat and stewed vegetables for us to share. I speared a slice of meat along with some dripping veggies, and tried it. Again, delicious.
“I'm glad you're enjoying your meal,” Kas said.
“Me too. Food is a big part of my life. I'm one of those live-to-eat guys. If your cuisine hadn't appealed to me, it would have been rough.”
“If that had happened, I would have searched Serai until I found food that pleased you.”
He said it so casually that I almost didn't catch how big a declaration that was. I sat back, chewing, and stared at the King of Aravult. He was mine. Kas was so mine that he would have literally gone to the ends of his world to make me happy. And he liked to kiss my hand. After getting over my residual straight-issues (probably inherited from my father), I admitted to myself that I liked it too. We were quickly becoming something more. But he didn't love me.
Not yet. Kas said it would happen. But love can't be predicted. Maybe when you have a bond like ours, it could. I wanted to believe that. Because I knew I was already halfway there. Even with his vanity and arrogance, Kas was hard not to fall in love with. Especially when he said things like that. He was powerful, magical, a great lay, handsome as all fuck, and he oozed masculinity. I wanted to lick him up, no syrup necessary with him either.
Did I still need to play games with Kaspian? I didn't think so. He knew by now that I wanted him, and I was over the personality clash. I wouldn't put it past him to have figured out that I was playing games earlier. Kas was brilliant on top of all that other stuff—really smart man who had worked hard to get where he was. Which reminded me . . .
“You said that you worked hard to become king.” I sipped my hot tea, then motioned at him with my fork. “What did you have to do? Was there an election?”
Kaspian lifted his brows. “An election? No, that's not how we do things. When I said Ifoughthard to gain the throne, I meant it literally.”
“Oh, it was a tourney!” I cut more wedges of sweet flatbread. “Like in the Middle Ages.” My mind filled with images of Kaspian on horseback, knocking another guy off his mount. That would explain the swords. Unless . . . “Did you fight as a man or a dragon?”
He leaned back, his brows lifting. “That's a very interesting question. Well done.”
“Thanks. Are you going to answer it?”
“We fought as men.”
“We? Only men get to enter?”
“Yes. Female Dragons aren't allowed to fight.”
“Ah, man.” I shook my head.
“What's your issue now?” He rolled his eyes.
“You guys are sexist? Is that why you only have male guards? Do you think a woman couldn't defend you as well as a man?”
Kaspian burst out laughing.
“What's so funny about that?”
“When you meet a female Dragon, you will understand.”
“Or you could just tell me.”
“They are even fiercer than us males. I have no doubt that a woman could defend me. And if we allowed it, there would be many Dragon Queens. The reason we don't is simple—they hold the power of life, and the birthrate of Dragons is low. Sometimes, women die in childbirth.”
“But you're immortal.”
“Yes, which is why it's even scarier. And why we view women as the stronger sex. They have to face death to give life, and yet, they do it eagerly. That is enough. We won't risk our women in any type of battle. They are too valuable.”
“I get it. And that's kind of awesome, by the way.”
