King Saric nodded. “I knew anything was possible when my brother brought a Raltven to Zaru, and that man saved my kingdom and won my brother's heart.”
“Why is that so momentous?” Jucai asked.
I cleared my throat. “Before Duke Daha came to Zaru, Raltven were considered the lowest class of citizens. They were seen as assassins and thieves.”
“And are they assassins and thieves?”
“Yes, absolutely.” King Saric chuckled. “But, as with all races, there are good and bad people among them. Some arekillers, and some, like our sweet Daha, are heroes. I never discounted the Raltven, but I never thought one could rise to greatness either. Daha has taught me to look deeper, past appearances and prejudice. You never know what you may . . . find.” The King went still, his gaze shifting behind Jucai.
I turned to see an unfamiliar Sea Dragon. He reminded me of Jucai, with an exotic beauty unlike any found on land. His long hair, held back in a simple braid, was deep crimson, not white, and his almond-shaped eyes were blue instead of green. Still, his nose, jaw, and brow were all Jucai. He wore sturdy garments, the sort you might see on a pirate, and held a burlap sack in his hands. The sack was bleeding.
“Well, well, well.” The man sauntered past people who drew back out of his way. “Having a party without me? Rude, Brother. So very rude.”
Jucai spun and then rushed to the man, arms open. “Sero!”
The man laughed and hugged my mate. “What's all this, Your Majesty?”
“Come, come!” Jucai put an arm around Sero's back and led him to us. “I want you to meet my mate. This is Nadar. Nadar, this is my younger brother, Sero.”
“Your mate?” Sero dropped the bag and hugged me. “I have been gone too long , I see. Welcome to the family, Brother.”
“Thank you.” I glanced at the bag. “I didn't know Jucai had a brother.”
“Sero is gone a lot,” Jucai said. “Nearly didn't make it back in time to hibernate with our dread.”
Sero shrugged, but then he saw Saric, and his casual expression sharpened. “And who's this golden piece of man-flesh?”
My eyes went wide. No one had ever spoken to the King like that. But when I looked at King Saric, I found him blushing. My eyes widened.
“Brother, please.” Jucai rolled his eyes. “I'm so sorry, Your Majesty. Please forgive my brother. King Saric of Zaru, may I introduce my uncouth brother, Sero? Sero, this is the King of Zaru. And Zaru is my mate's birthplace. Our dreads are now allies.”
“A king, eh?” Sero looked Saric up and down. “Nice to meet you, Your Majesty.” He held out his hand.
“A pleasure.” King Saric clasped hands with Sero.
“It could be.” Sero smirked, but then his expression went blank.
Saric frowned.
I cleared my throat.
King Saric dropped Sero's hand. “What's in the bag, if I may ask?”
Sero looked shaken. He frowned as if trying to understand the words Saric had spoken.
“Sero?” Jucai laid a hand on his brother's shoulder.
Sero jerked. “Oh, uh, the bag. Yes, the bag! It has a head in it.”
“I'm sorry, what?” Saric wore a half-smile as if expecting Sero to tell him it was a joke.
“I've been hunting frellen,” Sero said. “Sorry, Brother.” He looked from me to Jucai. “I didn't mean to bring such a bloody gift to your mating. I just wanted you to take a look. They, uh.” He glanced at Saric. “They've mutated.”
“Mutated?” Jucai bent and opened the bag. “What the fuck?”
“Yes, it disturbed me as well, and I've killed thousands of them.”
“What's a frellen?” King Saric asked me.
