I shrugged. “I don't know. I've never tried.”
Falken smiled as he bent to kiss me. My body responded with tingles and an increased heart rate. My tail tightened around him, and I melted into his embrace. We had sex earlier that morning, but my body already wanted more. A kiss was all it took to summon my desire. Before I could worry about my response, Falken pulled away. I opened my eyes to find him gazing down at me.
His gaze turned serious. “Will you be affectionate with me in public?”
My tail lowered.
Falken chuckled. “All right, in private. But if it makes you uncomfortable, you stop.”
“I don't think I'll be uncomfortable, just incompetent.”
“Incompetent at affection?” His grin widened.
“I haven't tried to be affectionate before.” I pulled away from him and left the balcony. “This is my first relationship contract.”
“I'm just teasing you, Sevarin.” He chased after me and slid into my path, facing me. “I'm flattered that you want to try it with me.”
“You can't laugh at me.” I pointed at his face.
He nodded solemnly, but his lips twitched.
“You want to laugh right now!”
“Because you're adorable. Come on, let me see.”
“See what?”
“You being affectionate.”
I sighed and stepped around him. “No, you've made it awkward.”
The King burst out laughing as he followed me out of the royal apartments. “All right. Later then.”
He tried to take my hand, and I yanked it out of reach.
“I can't even hold your hand in public?”
“Recall our terms.”
“You said I can't have expectations of courtly behavior in public, but I don't have to hide our relationship. Holding hands is not courtly behavior.”
“It's a display of affection, and we just talked about this!”
He held up his hands in surrender. “All right. But if I try to be affectionate with you, it's not against our terms.”
“Fine. Try, but it will only make you look foolish.”
“I don't mind being foolish in love.”
I jerked to a halt. “What did you say?”
“Oh, for fuck's sake, Sevarin! I didn't declare that I love you. I was talking about romance. And your reaction is insulting!” He stormed ahead.
I followed at a slower pace. By the time we reached the throne room, the Dragon King was over fifteen feet ahead of me. When I entered the room, he was already seated upon his throne. Fuming. Before the dais were many of his courtiers, all the palace magic-users and alchemists, Commander Rongru of the Palace Horns, and two men I didn't recognize. The courtiers were representatives of their races, so it made sense that they requested an audience, the Commander was in charge of palace security, so that made sense as well, and the magic-users and alchemists were likely upset because I had figured out the rot in four days. But who were those last two men? One was a human. He was large, as most Sconheit humans were, and wore a Talon uniform. Maybe the Captain? The other was a Ricarri and wore a horns uniform with a lot of gold bars on his shoulder. I assumed he was the General of the King's Army. In short, the room was full of the most powerful people in Eberein.
I went to stand against the wall as the two unknown men made their way to the front of the crowd with Commander Rongru.
“General Travor, Commander Rongru, Captain Faden.” The King nodded at the men. “Are you having any issues?”
