But Falken had upset years of research and conclusions.
“Unacceptable,” I muttered as I headed down the length of the dining hall toward the King's dining table, up on his dais.
I glared at him—the anomaly. The inconsistent outlier! He was a bit of contrary evidence I wanted to ignore. But only amateurs and egotists ignored contrary evidence. Plus, it was impossible to ignore the man. King Falken was just so . . . so manly. So large. There was so much of the man, and it was all gorgeous.
Pain ripped up my spine.
Someone had stepped on my tail! I spun and grabbed the Ricarri moron just as he moved on. His gray eyes went wide as I hooked a leg around one of his and shoved. Ricarri were mountain folk, and they were massive. All of them, even the women, were built like warriors. I knew it was foolish to engage one, but I was already fuming about the King. The indecency of the big buffoon hurting my tail was too much to bear—an insult I could not abide.
The hall went silent as I followed the man down to perch on his chest, feet planted on his belly and hands on his ribs as my tail swung wildly behind me. I grabbed his thick throat and leaned down to growl at him. Just growl.
“What the fuck?” the man roared. “Get off me!”
“You stepped on my tail, you lumbering moron! Did you think I'd just keep walking after such an insult!” I squeezed.
The man's eyes bulged as he bucked to remove me, but I had placed my weight in the precise places to hold him down.
“Get off him!” a deep voice came from behind me as someone grabbed my tail. “You have three seconds before I slice off that tail. Three-two—”
“Halt!” the King's voice boomed over the assemblage.
I snapped my teeth at the man beneath me, unconcerned about his friend. The crowd that had gathered parted for the Dragon King. I flicked my stare up at him, expecting him to pull me off the Ricarri. Instead, he stepped past us and grabbed the wrist of the man who held my tail. The Ricarri man yipped as his bones were ground together, and let go of me.
“If you threaten the Master Alchemist again, I'll have you thrown out of my court, Lord Idahk! Touch him again, and I will do the throwing.”
“He attacked Lord Orro!” Lord Idahk pointed at me. “He's still choking him! Aren't you going to stop him?”
I felt feral, twisting my head to watch the King approach me.
He crouched beside me. “Could you let up on Lord Orro's throat so I can speak with him, Master Sevarin?”
The King's bulk, compacted beside me, felt more imposing than both Ricarri courtiers. But his eyes were full of understanding and sympathy.
I unclenched my hand.
Lord Orro sucked in air.
“Remove your hands from Master Sevarin,” the King said to Orro.
I hadn't noticed the Ricarri's hands on my wrist and thigh. Then he released me, and I felt the blood flow back into those areas. That was enough to startle me back from fury. I let go of the man's neck completely and slid off of him to crouch at his side.
The King looked at me in surprise, his gaze searching mine before he said to Lord Orro, “Did you notice you stepped on Master Sevarin's tail?”
Orro sat up, rubbing his throat, and grimaced. “I felt something under my foot, but I didn't know it was his tail.”
“So you just kept walking?” I stood up and glared down at him.
He sighed. “I didn't think it was a tail, and you didn't give me a chance to apologize. You just leapt at me without telling me why. Who does that?”
The King stood up and held a hand down to the Ricarri. Orro took it and lurched up to his impressive height.
Crossing my arms, I grimaced. “Yes, I reacted instantly. It hurt! And it's insulting. I assumed you did it on purpose.”
“Maybe don't assume next time.” The Ricarri chuckled as he looked me over. “You're damn scary for a little guy. No one has ever dropped me like that. For that alone, I'll forgive your attack.” He held out his hand.
“I didn't hear an apology from you.” I kept my arms crossed.
“Nor I from you, and yet I offered forgiveness.”
