Ghreid laughed as Varis gripped his waist. “Told you so.”
“Tell me less.” Varis huffed and gasped when Ghreid plucked him into his strong arms.
“Bathe. Food will be waiting for you. And then, I wish to show you my nest.” The way his voice cracked as he said the last part, gravel in his throat, Varis prayed to all the gods that his cock stayed down—until time to perform. At least.
Chapter Eight
Ghreid
Sitting at the estate’s dining table, watching food being brought to him plate by plate, evoked a sense of pride in him. He could provide for his mate. He could show the male opulence and fulfill his every desire. He wanted to cover his mate in jewels and gold. So many things came over him, and he barely had the wherewithal to write his brothers.
He tapped his quill on the table and scanned his parchment, eyes raking every letter. To Mezerath, he sent a message of reassurance that the cleanup had been initiated and things were going well. To his brothers as a whole, he sent word that he’d found his mate, and would need to have a meeting with Rath sooner or later to plan a wedding. Though, perhaps he was ahead of himself.
Then the letter to Lapryda, wherein he iterated the need for his expertise in a vessel he’d removed a lead cask of some rare silk. If it was what Varis had insisted, it was worth the trip for Lapryda…but then again, it was best to control when Lapryda arrived. Since Ghreid found his mate… Lapryda would show up even unwanted.
As he finalized his last message, he signaled an attendant to ride back to the capital and settled back in his seat to stare at the crocks of food still covered and steaming. His stomach growled, but it would be rude to eat before his mate arrived.
“If you’re going to sit there brooding, would you at least peruse a plan I had for a dump site?” Rydel placed a few sheets of paper before Ghreid, and he flicked through a few pages.
“Map, please?” Ghreid turned another page, reading the plans for smoke mitigation, construction of an incinerating kiln with recycling plans on making charcoal and fuel. The processwas familiar to Ghreid, but that was more of something Envi would be better at. Still, turning trash into a source of treasure was something Ghreid excelled at.
“What’s the plan for the charcoal you’re going to process here?”
“To pay for the operation. It should employ a good number of people fairly.” Rydel turned a page over for him and pointed at a plan where the charcoal would be sold as a cheaper heating source. Attractive pieces would be packaged and sold as needed, prime pieces to wealthier households as a premium. Anything less than ideal would be distributed to the poor and indigent. And beyond that, employees would be given a ration and a percentage of profit as a theft deterrent.
“Interesting.” Ghreid tapped the page. “Make sure the employees elect representation among them—excluding overseers. They will have quarterly meetings with myself to report worker conditions.”
“Yes, sir.” Rydel took a page and sketched in a note.
“Okay, and when Envi gets here, have him review the process?”
“Have you received missive he’s coming?” Rydel blinked in surprise.
“I’ve found my mate.” Ghreid glanced at Rydel, who nodded in understanding.
“They will be sooner than later, then. I shall make sure we stay ready for company.” Rydel sighed.
“Lapryda will be here first.” Ghreid huffed and perked up when the lone steps of an unfamiliar person met his ears. Ghreid knew every employee’s gait by heart, so the unfamiliar steps drew his gaze like no other—and Ghreid was smitten all over again.
Clean, combed hair pinned back and dressed in fine clothes, he looked all the part of royalty, a prize of a consort with a dazzling smile.
“You look so much better.” Ghreid stood when the male walked in, and Rydel made to send letters off and take paperwork away.
A muttered apology and a quiet promise to have things sent off made Ghreid put his full attention on Varis. A step then two, drew him toward the warm-skinned male. Eyes like copper coins shone at Ghreid with glittering interest, but he wasn’t full and healthy, and Ghreid’s desire to care for him interrupted their union.
The two of them met for a brief moment, their hands reaching out, fingertips brushing. Ghreid cleared his throat. “Was the bath to your liking? The clothes?”
“Far different than what I’m accustomed to from home, but they are nice clothes. I assume they suit the weather more.” Varis turned, glancing down his body as if to show off. With a tail and beautiful horns he’d be sure to have one day, he’d be even more gorgeous—and what scales he’d have was even more of a wonder—but it was clear by the way he moved and how at peace he’d been on those ships, that his element was water.
Ghreid glanced him over with a smile and took his hand once more to guide him to the table. “I’m unsure of what you like, so I kept things simple. There’s roasted potatoes, chicken, a pudding, and a salad. Fresh fruit will be served—they’re still cutting it.”
“Oh gods, you’re amazing, Lord Dragon.” Varis, holding Ghreid hand, took a seat and sat up, letting the dragon push him in as if he’d been educated in higher society. And when he waited for the attendant to come by and uncover the dishes, he waved them off in favor of the salad, first. “Is it custom for one to start with a main course or salad? I forget the Monsmountiancustoms. In Kaliman, we start dinner with salad to prepare the stomach.”
“Monsmountian custom is to pretend vegetables do not exist. Saurian custom is to pair the salad in the meal as it best complements the dishes. Often times before, sometimes after. If salad is presented with the main course, it is acceptable to consume.” Ghreid offered a sweet smile before sitting across from Varis, partaking of salad as well. “I’ll spare you the details of how I know this.”
Varis frowned. “I had been sailing a few years before we were stranded. I met my fair share of men who spent far too much time on the aft and believed vegetables were what you fed to food, not food itself.”
Ghreid nodded sagely. “Well, you are well-versed in manners of Baltheir, then.”
