I frowned. Was that pity? No, surely not. What would be pitiful about me? Ah, yes. Perspective. Concluding that, I dismissed my curiosity. It didn't matter what Jupeng's perspective of me was.
“Fine.” Chief Ahsan bowed to the King. “Goodnight, Your Majesty.”
The King nodded.
As the Chief left, the Talon team arrived. I went back to ignoring the King as much as possible so I could do my job overseeing the collection of evidence and the transport of Claw Greishen's remains. I had failed Kun-lo sixty-eight years ago. I wouldn't fail him again.
Chapter Thirteen
The Dragon King waited for me, sitting in a booth beside the one containing the body while I worked. Despite his obvious desire to speak to me afterward, I tried to leave with the Talon team. He was not pleased.
I was halfway across the room when the King snatched my wrist and yanked me to a halt.
“Not here,” I hissed under my breath.
“Fine.” He led me around a corner to a secluded part of the floor.
Off the main room, there were smaller rooms meant for feedings or other more intimate exchanges. Some of them had private nooks for the latter. And no, the furniture was not bloodstained. Eljaffna are conscientious when it comes to blood. Yet . . .
“Son of a bastard!” I snarled and dove for the floor.
“For fuck's sake! I only want a few moments alone with you!” the King snarled back. “You can give me that after I've waited hours for you!”
I looked at him as if he'd gone mad, and then realized his misconception. “No, not you. This!Look.” I waved at the floor.
“It's a stain.”
“It's abloodstain.” I lurched to my feet and hurried back to the main room, hoping to catch the Talon team.
The King grabbed my arm.
“You are impeding my investigation again, Your Majesty!”
He jerked his hand away.
I ran past him. The outer room was mostly empty, just a few talons left to secure the scene until I excused them. “Get me a collection kit!” I shouted at one of them. “Hurry! Get down there before the team leaves and stop them. I've found more evidence!”
“Yes, sir!”
“I'll be in the first room down the west corridor.” I didn't bother waiting for a response. They'd find me.
The King stood in the corridor entrance, frowning. I ran past him again. Thankfully, it was a broad corridor. And he let me pass without issue. But then he followed me back to the room. I scanned the floor first and found another spot of blood closer to the wall.
“Why are you so interested in that stain?”
Still searching, I said, “It's a blood stain.”
“Isn't that rather common here?”
I looked over my shoulder at him. He was standing in the doorway, keeping the scene clear for me. At least he waslearning. “No, Your Majesty. It is not. Eljaffna never waste blood. Every drop is savored.”
He snorted.
I let it go. Because I had found something else.
“Now, what's this?” I pushed against the wall and a panel opened.
“Claw Shinkai, sir? Uh, excuse me, Your Majesty. I'm sorry.”
