“Well, they show her their interest by trying to care for her and bringing her gifts. They try to discover what she likes to eat or her favorite things and provide them. They try to find ways to be around her as much as possible. If their mating instincts are triggered, their eyes will often glow red when they flare. If you see a red rim around their eyes, they are either aroused or on the edge of mating rage. It is very important that you never run from a daemon male if his eyes are showing even a tiny bit of red. If you do, he will not be able to stop himself from chasing you.”
I nodded since I’d experienced that firsthand.
“If you do not return his interest, it is also very important to clearly state your rejection. Silence or taking his gifts is considered acceptance of his courtship and pursuit. If you donot return his emotions, it is very important to tell him in blunt terms. Otherwise, his mating instincts will push him to keep trying to convince you to accept him.”
“Will it hurt him if he’s rejected?” Cora asked. “Like, physically?”
Masu shook her head. “He might experience a day or two of discomfort, but not pain. His mating instincts will fade fairly quickly, especially if you keep your distance from him until they do.”
“How do daemon females express their interest in males?” Cora asked.
“Well, a daemoness will usually just tell the males they find them attractive. There is often some flirting beforehand that includes touching or sparring. Oh! And available daemon females will often wear a fragrance of winterberries and spices. Daemons have an excellent sense of smell and will realize what it is as soon as they pick up the scent. I believe I have some in my room. Would you like it, Lady Cora?”
“Yes!” Cora bit her lip after her outburst. “I have some money to pay.”
Masu shook her head. “Do not trouble yourself. It was a gift from a friend, and I have no need of it now.”
As soon as Masu left the room, I turned to Cora. “You never got to answer my question. Is it the king you like?”
Cora nodded.
I clapped my hands. “That’s so cool. He seems nice. A little formal, but nice.”
“He is very formal. That’s why I’m still not sure if he’s attracted to me. Though I have seen his eyes look kind of red a couple of times.”
“That’s a good sign,” I said. “I didn’t know what it meant before, but Bokkan’s eyes turned red around me from the first day we met.”
Cora’s expression fell. “Fane’s didn’t.”
“Maybe, but it sounds like you and Fane don’t spend as much time together as Bokkan and I did. I even slept in his bed the first night.” When Cora’s eyes went wide, I hurried to explain. “He didn’t touch me like that. It just got so cold in his room that we had to share body heat.”
She nodded. “Oh, my God, yes. It is always so cold in my room at night. I’m constantly freezing unless I get up every couple of hours to add logs to the fire.”
Masu hurried back into the room, a small vial in her hand.
“Here, Lady Cora.” The imp winked. “I hope this helps you find your mate.”
“Thank you so much, Masu. Please call me Cora.”
The imp shook her head. “It is not seemly.”
Before we could continue the argument, I heard the heavy steps of two daemons, one of them my mate.
When Bokkan and the king entered the room, I noticed the daemon king’s eyes went straight to Cora. She had nothing to worry about—he was interested in her. Probably even more than she was interested in him. Even from across the room, I could feel the pull between them.
I smiled to myself.
When I looked up, Bokkan’s black eyes were on me—intense and hot. Though I didn’t have his enhanced sense of smell, I could almost feel his desire to have me alone.
The center of my left palm itched and burned. I tried to ignore the sensation. It had been bothering me for the past couple of days. I should have asked Masu about it when we were alone, but I wanted to help Cora with her daemon conundrum.
I made a mental note to ask her the next time we had some privacy… which would probably be never because Bokkan was sticking close to my side every waking hour. With any other man—er, male—it would have inspired irritation.
I’d always been independent, liking my own space and having my own hobbies. But with Bokkan, I actually enjoyed his constant company. It never felt clingy. Even when we sat in silence together, each doing our own things, his presence was comfortable.
The king and Bokkan sat down, and we had tea. It was utterly civilized, but all I could focus on was my mate. His scent seeped deep inside me with each breath I took. The spicy, smoky smell of his skin sank into my bones. I wanted to bury my face in his neck and take a bite out of him.
At the thought, my mouth watered. My nipples throbbed, and I was grateful for the sweater I wore over my shirt. The bras here in Penumbra had no padding. Without the sweater, the hardened tips of my breasts would have been visible to everyone.
