Kaspian smirked. “Yes, Dragons are awesome.”
I snorted. “So, you had to show your prowess against other contenders to become King?” I shoved the flatbread in my mouth and groaned.
“Every tourney is different. The one I took part in was larger than most. I had to kill twenty-eight Dragons to win the crown.”
I barely swallowed my bite. Then I just stared at him.
Kas calmly continued his meal, pausing with the meat consumption to take a bite of his pastry. He enjoyed that thoroughly. I continued to stare.
Finally, he noticed. “You look shocked.”
“I am shocked. You had to kill people?Yourpeople?”
“Yes. The Dragon God forbid fighting to the death recently. So things will have to change all over Serai. But new kings are not crowned until the old one either gives up the throne or dies.”
“What happened to the last King of Aravult?”
“He ruled for two hundred years and grew weary of it. He stepped down.”
“Two hundred years.” I snorted. “Yeah, even being king might get old after that long.”
Kaspian shrugged. “Now that I have a mate, I want to keep the crown for more than just myself. It offers you status and protection.”
“Hey, don't keep a job just for me. If you want to step down, do it. I'll support your decision either way.”
He cocked his head. “You wouldn't mind giving up the castle and your title?”
“I mean, I've just gotten here, so I don't really know what it's like to live like you, but I've never cared much about status. Status is all about someone else's opinion. I do care what people think of me, I'm not going to front on that. I like to be treated nicely. Who doesn't? But, when it comes down to it, it's not a priority to me. I'm not that guy. People's opinions are their own problems. I can't let them affect me. Fuck that. And stuff is just stuff, even if it's really nice stuff. What's more important to me is the quality of my life. And if you're going to be a part of my life, then the quality of your life is important to me too. That means if you're not happy being King, I won't be happy either.”
Kaspian smiled softly at me. “Every moment with you proves to me that the magic was right.”
Again, it wasn't a declaration of love, but it was good enough. For now.
“I'm glad you think so. I'd hate to be stranded here with a man who's disappointed in me.”
Kas froze. Then his hand shot across the table to take mine. “You will never disappoint me, Met. And I hope you don't feel stranded here.”
Oh, fuck. I shouldn't have said that.I hurried to say, “It was a slip of the tongue. I'm good. Really.”
Kaspian smirked. “A slip of the tongue? Oh, I like the sound of that.”
I snorted. “You would.” Then I glanced out the window at the street.
Two of Kaspian's guards were in the restaurant with us while the other two stood in front of it. But they didn't block my view. I could still see the crowd that was forming.
“This must be what it's like to date a celebrity,” I murmured to myself.
“A celebrity?” Kaspian made a face at me. “I am far more important than that.”
“Oh, there you are. Hello, Mr. Confident. I was wondering when you'd show up.”
Kaspian shook his head. “There's a reason I was willing to risk my life to gain the throne. This is true power, Mate. I command a dread of Dragons and an army of mixed races. I make the laws here. Only me. There is no voting in my kingdom. I may listen to the advice of others, but I make the decisions alone. And if someone disagrees with what I do, they don't speak of it. Not ever.”
“What if they did?”
“You mean, like a rebel?”
“Sure. A rebel. What if a rebel spoke against you?”
