Again, the restaurant went silent. The new guard even put his hand on the hilt of his sword before he realized that there wasn't a threat to his king.
I glanced at the other diners and grinned. “He just found out that I'm not paying for breakfast.”
A few of them laughed, but most just continued to stare at us.
“Tough crowd,” I muttered.
“Finish your meal,” Kaspian shoved the words past clenched teeth.
I looked down at my plate, then up at him. I didn't want to argue again. But I was back to being scared. I didn't understand everything that was happening. Not around me or to me. I got that the mating thing was a big deal. He said it was eternal. But that couldn't be right. Nothing lasts forever. Not even Dragons. Kas said they could be killed. Not by the likes of me evidently, but someone could kill them. He had killed several Dragons to become King. They weren't gods.
That meant this could end. It meant that there had to be a way out of a mating bond. Didn't it? I didn't know. That's the problem. I didn't know shit about this. And I couldn't blame him for my ignorance. Kas had been more forthcoming about his world and our relationship than I had been when the situation was reversed. We simply hadn't been together long enough for him to go over everything. Or maybe he had, and I just didn't grasp it. It was a lot to take in.
So, I tried to work it out in my mind as I ate. And I tried to remember that I needed him. I had yelled at Kas for being an asshole to me when he needed me, and yet, I had gone and said something offensive to him when I needed him in the exact same manner. Multiple offenses things. I didn't know I was being offensive the first time, and he hadn't thought he was being offensive to me on Earth either. It was a cultural thing. A planetary thing.
“We're literally worlds apart,” I muttered.
“What did you say?” Kaspian looked up from his meal, his stare sharp.
“I said that we're worlds apart, Kas. We don't understand each other because we're from different worlds. I don't think you would have done well on Earth, and I'm worried—no, I'm fucking terrified that I'm not going to do well here.”
“This is why I told you that I would help you,” his tone went tender. “It's why I said I would protect you. I know you're feeling vulnerable, Mate. I can feel it. But you rejected my offer because, well, fuck!” He lifted his hands in a universal expression of WTF? “I don't know why you rejected it. You're right. I don't understand you. But I want to. I'm looking forward to learning about you, Met. Don't you want to learn about me? Don't you think that will be a great adventure for us?”
“Yeah, babe. That's called falling in love. And it's usually done before you make a lifelong commitment. We're doing things in reverse, and it's got me unsettled.”
“But our bond should be a relief. It gives me great comfort. I can be myself around you and not worry that it will drive you away. And you have the same freedom.” He cupped my cheek. “Demetrius, I may get angry or frustrated with you, but I will never reject you. I have already accepted you. Even the parts I don't yet understand.” He leaned across the table and kissed me, just a press of his lips against mine, then stayed close to whisper, “Even the parts I don't yet know. We belong to each other.”
I grinned, warmth spreading through my chest. “So we get to experience all of the excitement of a new relationship without any of the anxiety.”
“Yes, precisely.” Kas slowly let go of me and relaxed back in his seat.
Before his hand drifted too far, I clasped it. “I like that.”
He squeezed my hand, and I could feel his relief through it. “Then let's begin. Right here, right now.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
As we were leaving the restaurant, an orange-striped cat sidled up and rubbed against my legs.
“Hey, there.” I crouched to pet it.
The cat purred and rubbed its head into my hand.
“What a friendly animal,” Kaspian said.
I looked up at him from my crouch. “Have you ever had a pet?”
“No.”
“Me either.” I looked back at the cat, around at the people strolling down the street, then the cat again. “Hey, buddy. Are you hungry? You look pretty well fed.”
“Our animals don't speak.”
I chuckled. “Neither do ours. But that doesn't stop us from talking to them.”
The cat mewed and rubbed against me.
“Can we get him some fish or something?” I asked.
