Page 10 of The Dragon King’s Claw (The Dragons of Serai #17)

“I don't believe so, Your Majesty. Certainly, for you, they seem minor. But I have no interest in courting a man who could take away the only thing that matters to me.”

He lifted his brow again. “Your heart?”

“My job .”

The King's smirk vanished. “I would never take that from you because of a failed relationship.”

“Maybe not, but that is already hanging above my head and we are not together.

I stay away from relationships because I don't like complications.

People get attached and then if things don't work out, they get bitter. Some even get vindictive. A king has the power to follow through on those vindictive thoughts.”

“As I said, I would never do that. You have my word, and my word is unbreakable.”

“Be that as it may, Your Majesty, you are not an average suitor. Your inconceivable pursuit of me isn't just altering my free time. You have inserted yourself into a murder investigation. Several times today, I've felt restricted because of who you are and what you could do to me if I offend you.”

“Restricted how?”

“I cannot speak freely. I cannot protest your advances.”

“Are you not protesting this very instant?”

“Because you drove me past the point of prudence. If you were any other man, I would have stopped this nonsense as soon as it began.”

“Nonsense again?” He chuckled. “So it's not our lunch that you find annoying. It's my attentions that are nonsense?”

“Yes. I've tried to subtly indicate that I'm not interested, but you have ignored the signs.”

“Subtly?” His laugh was like the braying of a donkey.

“Yes, subtly! I want to focus on this case, and you have stood in the way of that. This is nonsense!”

The Dragon King looked away, rubbing at his nose, then licking his lips. A knock came. “Enter!” he snapped.

The server came in, the door held open for him by Sir Vasren. He hurried over to us and set a platter of appetizers down before bowing over his empty tray and leaving without comment. Smart man.

The door shut.

I stared at the King over the steaming palcha—fried dumplings filled with ground meat and vegetables. He stared back, the rising steam making his stare feel ominous.

“You're right,” he finally said.

Very quietly, I let out the breath I'd been holding. “Thank you.”

“I have been ignoring your subtle signs.” The King stabbed a dumpling with his fork and set it on his plate. After removing his fork, the thing steamed from the holes.

I swallowed.

“I've ignored them because I've sensed your attraction to me.” He leaned over the plate, his face coming through the steam.

“You've just confirmed it, but I didn't need that verbal confirmation.

I've smelled it on you. You want me. Badly.

I feel the same about you. So, you will deal with my interference in your case, Claw Shinkai.

You will accept my attentions, nonsensical or not, with grace.

And you will never speak to me so disrespectfully again.

I intend to be your paramour, but I'm also your king. Remember that!”

My eyes shivered. Yes, my eyes.

The King stabbed another dumpling and set it on my place, his demeanor softening along with his tone.

“In return for your tolerance, I will not pressure you into anything you aren't ready for. I am not that kind of man. Have no fear of me. You may speak to me freely as long as you are respectful. You may, of course, reject my advances as long as you—”

“Do so gracefully?” I interrupted him. “I am not a graceful person.”

“You're an Eljaffna. You were born graceful.”

“Not in the manner you mean. I am a man of intellect, but little tact.” I sliced into my dumpling, releasing the steam faster, then pointed at him with my knife.

“You don't know me. If you did, you wouldn't be interested. You seem like a man who enjoys outdoor activities and vibrant conversations about . . .” I searched for a topic and couldn't come up with one.

“About things that people are passionate about.” I sighed.

“I have one passion and one only—to unravel terrible mysteries. That is all the conversation I can offer. Most people, once they discover that, stop seeking my companionship.”

“Then they are fools. You are passionate, in more ways than one. If you weren't, you wouldn't be so scared.” He took a bite of his dumpling.

“I am not scared of falling in love. You cannot be scared of something you don't believe exists.”

The King coughed and snatched up his napkin to cover his mouth. “You don't believe in love?”

“I believe in caring deeply about the well-being of family members. Rearing young creates a bond of dependency that also builds trust and can cause an emotional response that I can accept as a type of love.”

“You can . . . my Gods, that was the most analytical definition of familial love I've ever heard. So, you accept that such love is real, but not romantic love?”

“I accept that those emotional bonds exist, yes.

Romantic love, however, is a social notion.

It's a way to make sense of extreme physical responses ingrained by nature. To make them more polite. Trembling of the limbs, the dilation of pupils, and a racing heart—these are all signs of lust, not love. Sex makes those responses stronger. A flood of hormones makes us feel closer to those we engage with sexually. It all works together to convince us that what we’re feeling is more than physical.

We experience a potent draw to someone that many believe is proof of deep emotions.

We assume it's more than base lust and label it love. But under certain conditions, that assumption is proven false. Violently proven.”

“Violently? Perhaps. But only because love involves passion.”

“Passion is what makes it lust, not love.

With family members, emotional ties are steady.

Reliable. With romantic partners, they are ephemeral.

Gone with the offer of something better.

A pretty face, a fit physique, or even the right scent can make lovers betray each other.

Because there is no such thing as true love, Your Majesty.

It is a construct. A fantasy. A pretty story for children.

Even your gods know that. I suspect it's what prompted your goddess to create your mating magic.”

“Dear Ensarena,” the King whispered. “Forgive him. He knows not what he says.”

I rolled my eyes and waved at him. “This is what I mean. Love is a worldwide lie. It was told repeatedly until it was accepted as truth.” I leaned over my plate.

“Do you know how many times I've heard a murderer use love as an excuse for what he did?

Hundreds. In fact, it is the most common reason for people to kill.

Love is a lie. An excuse. A crutch. A defense against punishment.

It is not real. That is what I believe. So, Your Majesty, can you understand now why your mating magic is a risk to me?

It's not that I might fall in love and then lose you to another man.

It's the opposite. I don't want to be bound by magic in a lie. Not with anyone.”

“Holy fuck.” He sat back and stared at me. “Who did this to you?”

I rolled my eyes and flopped my arms in the universal gesture of annoyance.

“Of course, that's your response. My belief is so against what the general population accepts to be true that I must be broken. Someone must have hurt me so deeply that I now reject the possibility of love.” I shook my head.

“No one did anything to me. I merely see things clearer than everyone else, and I don't let my desires color what I see.

It's what makes me so good at my job. I notice things.

I shed light on them—the clear light of truth.

I offer people that truth. Unfortunately, sometimes people can't handle it.”

“Very well. You aren't broken, but you are incorrect, Claw Shinkai.

Love is real. I've seen it. It is more than physical sensations, more than the result of hormones released during sex.

And the Goddess did not create mating magic because love is lie.

She created it as a gift, to bring genuine love into the lives of Dragons who might not otherwise find it.

The magic binds us to that love because it knows that we'll be happiest when bound.

That sort of bondage isn't slavery. It's freedom.”

“We shall have to agree to disagree, Your Majesty. Your perspective doesn't bother me, so I don't see why mine should bother you. I'm just pointing out that we are not compatible.”

The King let out a long breath. “Tell me one thing.”

“What more do you want to know?”

“Your first name.”

That surprised me. Of all the questions I expected from him, that was not even on the list. Because of my surprise, I answered immediately. “Tekhan. I am Tekhan Shinkai.”

“It's nice to meet you, Tekhan. I look forward to you calling me by my first name as well. I especially look forward to hearing you scream it.” With a grin, the Dragon King got to feasting on his dumplings.