“As you like.” I cleared my throat and looked away.
Arril chuckled brightly. “You're still the same Sevarin. Too rational to believe in things like fate.”
Into the awkward silence, Daglor stammered, “Uh, Your Majesty, this is my cousin, Arril Auilos.”
Arril bowed, his tail lifting. “Your Majesty.”
Falken nodded. “How do you know Master Sevarin?”
“Oh, we are old . . . companions.”
“He's an ex-lover of mine,” I said to Falken, annoyed that Arril tried to make it sound like it was more than it was. To Arril, I added, “No need to be coy, Arril.”
He lifted his dark eyebrows. “In that case, are you the King's lover?”
“There's a difference between a lack of coyness and audacity.” I lifted my chin. “It's rude of you to ask that in front of His Majesty.”
Falken looked from me to Arril and said, “Yes, he's my lover.”
I frowned at Falken. He smirked at me.
Arril smirked too. “I only asked because I could make a contract for you. I'm very good at it.”
“No, thank you. We've already made one.”
Arril's expression went blank. Then he recovered. “Oh, I see. Then, uh, this is a relationship, not just, a, well, yes.” He cleared his throat and shrugged, saying to the King, “Sevarin didn't stay long enough for us to make a contract.”
“I was in my wander years,” I protested.
“And those years are over?” Arril's green eyes locked on mine.
Memories of him above and then beneath me flooded my mind. Arril liked to top and bottom, just like me. The affair had been one of my most erotic and enjoyable, keeping me well satisfied. Arril had a lovely body, a thick cock, and great stamina.
Yet I had moved on without a pang of regret. Would it be the same with Falken? I glanced at him and found him staring at me, waiting for my answer.
“Uh, I am at the end of them.” I cleared my throat. “I believe.”
“You don't sound sure.” Arril grinned. “Maybe I'll stick around until you decide to move on.”
Falken stepped forward, forcing Arril back, and growled.
Arril's eyes went wide as he backed up further. “It is how we are, Your Majesty. At least during our wander years. I meant no offense. I assumed Sevarin explained it to you.”
“He did,” Falken's voice held a hint of his growl. “But you don't flirt with a man while he is still in a relationship. Especially not a man in a relationship with me. Understood?”
Arril held up his hands. “Absolutely, Sire. I will stay away from your lover.”
Falken grunted and stepped back. “Sevarin, I'd like you to help me assemble the audit team.”
“Uh.” I looked from Falken—who was still staring at Arril despite speaking to me, then to an utterly terrified Arril, and finally back to the King. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
The Dragon King grabbed my hand and pulled me around Arril.
It wasn't until we reached the end of the corridor that I realized he had called me Sevarin. Just Sevarin. In public. He'd never done that before.
As I mused over this, the King said, “You don't have to stay forever. Just stay for now.”
“Unless I'm your mate.”
