I was there as a diplomat, and I had to remember that. So I smiled back at Jucai and slid a hand across his shoulder as I moved past him onto the path. “How magnificent! This is the highlight of my trip.”
That's all it took for him to drop the polite act. When I reached the shore of the lake, Jucai came up behind me and slid his arms around my waist.
With his chin resting on my shoulder, he whispered in my ear, “Aren't I the highlight of your trip?”
I chuckled and folded my arms over his. I had to respond with some encouragement, but not too much. “Well, you're here. You're the one sharing this moment with me.”
Jucai went still. I waited.
At last, he said, “Does Zaru have parks like this?”
This was what I'd been hoping for—interest, not in me, but in my kingdom. That was my mission after all. I glanced at him, acting as if his question were normal. Which it would have been if he hadn't been such a self-centered ass. “Not like this, no. There is a park, but we have a fountain instead of a lake.”
“A fountain?”
“It's a grand fountain with a marble dragon rising from its center, spewing water.” I turned in his arms to face him. If I piqued his curiosity about Zaru, he might accept my king’s invitation to visit. “A land dragon, of course.”
“Of course.” He grinned.
“Although I think calling our beasts land dragons is incorrect. They are land and sky dragons.”
His expression went wistful. “What is it like to fly?”
I considered it. “It's a little like swimming very fast, with fathoms below you. Just replace the water with air and the fathoms with land. Knowing that if you fell, you could die, lends a thrill to flight. It also makes you feel powerful.”
Jucai made a pensive sound. “Tell me more about your fountain.”
“It's set within a tiled courtyard that's circled by date trees. Street vendors come and sell treats there, and there are teahouses down the colonnades that branch off the main courtyard. The scent of sage and citrus perfumes the air. It's lovely.”
“Oranges?”
“Yes, we grow sweet oranges in Zaru.”
“I love oranges. They don't grow well down here.”
I stepped back but took his hand. “That sounds like something we can trade with.”
“Yes.” His eyes widened. “I hadn't thought of that.”
I leaned closer. “Perhaps we could trade oranges for hress nectar.”
Jucai burst out laughing. “I'll tell the royal farmer to plant more flowers.” Then he went serious. “Nadar, I need to tell you something so you might understand me better.”
I raised my eyebrows. Here it was, the perfect opportunity to clear up our misunderstanding. “I would very much like to understand you more.”
He nodded. “I haven't been awake for long. Since I woke up, I have focused on the things my body craved during hibernation. Among other Sea Dragons with similar appetites and slaves who readily volunteer their service, I may have lost sight of what’s important.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to your visit. My court is not what it was, and neither am I.”
My eyebrows went up before I could stop them. Was this an apology? Had I misjudged him again? Either way, I'd made some serious diplomatic mistakes with him, and sex wasn't one of them. No, getting sexually involved with the Sea King wasn'ta mistake. But judging his culture and behavior after minimal interaction was. I hadn't even met his court yet, and I was already making assumptions about them. As a diplomat, I was supposed to observewithoutprejudice. Instead, I'd let my ego and protective nature blind me.
“I can't imagine what it would be like to hibernate for centuries and wake up to a new world.” With a grin, I slid my hand down to his ass and squeezed. I might also focus on sex a lot.”
With a happy rumble, the Sea King brought his hand to my face. “Then you will submit to my needs?”
I jerked back.
Jucai frowned. “What did I say wrong?”
“Two words—submit and needs.” I shook my head and backed away when he took a step toward me. “Look, I understand why you're so aggressive, but that doesn't mean I want to be treated like one of your bed slaves. If that's what you want, go to them.”
