“I'm trying to alleviate your fears, Tekhan. If you were my mate, your soul would own a piece of mine forever, but the opposite wouldn't be true. You would not be bound in the samemanner. Yes, you would feel things and sense things about me, but, unlike me, you could deny those feelings.”
“And if I did deny them? If I ended the relationship?”
The skin around the King's eyes twitched. “I would die.”
I snorted. “And you say I wouldn't be bound.”
He huffed out a breath. “This is ridiculous. We don't know what the future holds. But I can promise you that you will have your freedom.”
“I don't believe you can, Your Majesty. All your pretty words, meant to reassure me, have only convinced me further that you are not worth the risk.”
The King went still. Then his jaw clenched.
“Ah, I see I have stopped being amusing and have become insulting. My apologies. I meant to convey that I value myself more than anyone else, as every person should. We all have our priorities. A lover is lower on my list than my work.”
It took a few moments—long moments—for the King's jaw to unclench. But then his expression went sober. “I find that depressing.”
“Of course, you do.”
“What does that mean?”
“Your priorities are different from mine. I could say that I find it pathetic that people value love or pleasure over work. Both are fleeting, while I find lasting satisfaction in solving crimes. Yet, most say the reverse about me—that I'm pathetic for valuing a career more than love. Who is wrong? Neither of us.We are both right, but only where we are concerned. You see? It is all about perspective.”
“So many things are,” he murmured.
“Indeed, Your Majesty.”
Chapter Eight
The Dragon King was true to his word and stood just inside the doorway after Rulli let us into his shop. His knights blocked the door in case a customer tried to enter.
“The last time I saw Lan, he was over here.” Rulli headed into the shop.
“Wait!” I called after him.
He froze.
“Please, allow me to go first.” I waved him back to me. “You could disturb evidence. Oh! No, please.” I held up a hand. “Retrace your steps as much as possible.”
With wide eyes, Rulli backed up, trying to place his feet where he'd already walked.
“Thank you.” I crouched and angled my head to stare across the floor.
I could feel everyone, especially the King, watching me. But I didn't care. Feelings got severed from my mind when I slipped into my investigative mode. Finding nothing beneath me, I lay on the wooden floor and peered in all directions. Then I took out my light tube and turned it on. Its beam crossed the wood, illuminating dust motes and other debris. I ran it over thearea I had already searched. Then I did another search with my trace glasses. I found nothing.
So, I moved forward.
With painstaking care, I cleared the floor. I was nearly at the back counter when I found something at last. Taking my collection kit from my inner coat pocket while keeping my sight on the evidence, I prepared a paper bag. With tiny pincers, I reached for the scale.
“What have you found?” the King demanded.
I flinched. Eyes narrowing, I turned to glare at him over my shoulder and found him crouched, his expression wincing.
“Sorry,” he said.
Taking a calming breath, I refocused on the scale. Using the pincers, I extracted it from between the floorboards and slipped it into the little bag. Then I tucked everything into my coat. Only then did I stand and motion Rulli over to me. And yes, I ignored the King.
“How often do you clean the floors?”
