“You want the Menagerie to be available as a location,” she said, nodding. “Boris let me know this afternoon.”
His eyebrows rose. “Did he? I suppose you’ve already had some time to think about it, then.”
She squinted at him. “Think about what? You using the Menagerie? Of course you can; you’re the Crown Prince.”
“No, I mean attending the events.”
“Boris is the one who normally does the demonstrations. I’m not sure if he?—”
“I don’t want you there working, Dessa,” Dmitri cut her off. “I want you as a guest.”
I’m sure I misheard that. There must still be lake water in my ears.
“What?” was her eloquent answer.
The prince shrugged. “I got to thinking after we talked. You’ve known me longer than almost anyone, and you said yourself that the women act differently around you than they do me. I want your perspective.”
“But I…there’s not…Boris will have to be the one to approve my absence.” It took three tries before she was able to formulate any kind of answer. And while she was flattered that Dmitri thought so highly of her, she also wanted to scream and shake her fist at the fact that not only would she be unable to do what he was asking of her, but she also wouldn’t be able to explain to himwhy.
“As you have reminded me several times tonight, I’m the Crown Prince.” Dmitri crossed his arms. “Boris doesn’t have much of a choice.”
Odessa looked to Jax for help, willing him to say something to put a stop to what was nothing more than a futile plot.
The frustrating man just grinned and snapped his fingers. “This is perfect! Odessa can help you find a wife, and you can help her find a husband.”
Chapter Eleven
JAX
Both Odessa and Dmitri turned to him, delightfully in sync down to the dropping of their jaws.
“Jax,” Odessa drew out his name with a groan, closing her eyes and dropping her head back.
“What?” Dmitri sounded almost scandalized. “Since when is Odessa looking for a husband?”
Jax shrugged. “The timeline of the past isn’t important. What is important is going forward.”
“You want to get married?”
“I’m just here for the dragon.” Jax waved his hands in front of him.
Dmitri glared. “I wasn’t talking to you, Bird Man.” He faced Odessa and repeated, “You want to get married?”
“It’s…I mean…yes?” She looked adorably befuddled.
No. Not adorable. Just befuddled. Different realms.
“It’s rather sudden, isn’t it?”
She squared her shoulders. “I’m a year older than you, Dimi. Just because I haven’t talked openly about it with you doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about it. Of course I want to get married someday.”
The prince blinked. “Oh. Alright. I suppose I’ll write a few more invitations, then.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Any specific requests?”
Odessa shrugged. “You would know better than I.”
Jax considered them both for a minute, formulating a theory that made his stomach churn unpleasantly. He spoke before the sour taste could reach his tongue. “You know, if you’re both looking for a spouse, you could just marry each other.”
The horrified looks on both their faces did much to soothe his stomach. Odessa vehemently shook her head. “Absolutely not.”
