“Not yet,” Jucai said as he pulled on his pants. “But we will be.” He straightened and met the man's gaze. “So keep your eyes off my diplomat.”
“Your diplomat,” I chuckled. “That's cute.”
Jucai raised an eyebrow at me.
I shrugged and pulled on my tunic. “I like it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the man said.
“Um, are you going to introduce us?” I motioned to the other Sea Dragon.
“Nadar, this is my cousin, Lord Shojan. Cousin, you know our visiting diplomat.”
“Is he?” Lord Shojan drawled as he determinedly kept his eyes on Jucai. “Visiting, I mean.”
Jucai looked at me and smiled. “No longer. Nadar will be joining our court.”
“And our dread?”
Jucai looked back at him. “Yes, once we're mated.”
“How are you so certain that he's your mate?”
“We . . .” Jucai frowned and then looked at me.
“If you want to tell him, it might help,” I said. “Maybe others are having the same issue.”
“You're having issues mating?” Shojan's eyes glittered with mischief.
“Not in the way you're implying.” Jucai glanced at me and then said, “We began to mate and then the magic faded. Painfully.”
Shojan sobered. “What? It left? Can it do that? Just change its mind?”
“It's magic. It doesn't have a mind to change,” I said. “I think something is interfering with it.”
“Interfering,” Jucai murmured. “I hadn't thought of that. Shojan,discreetlyask around and see if any other Sea Dragons are going through this.”
“Yes, sire.” Shojan bowed to Jucai, hesitated, and then bowed to me. “King's Mate.”
“Please don't spread such rumors yet,” I said. “We don't want to explain this to the entire court.”
“Yes, of course. I will be the soul of discretion.”
Jucai grimaced and, in a warning tone, said, “Shojan.”
“I will, Your Majesty. I will not even mention you when I ask about possible failed matings.”
“Thank you, Cousin.” Jucai paused. “I'm sorry I attacked you.”
“I take it as a good sign, sire! I've heard Dragons become volatile during mating. This surely means it will happen again and settle the next time.”
“That is kind of you to say, Shojan. And I'll address the dread in the dining hall about the freed slaves.”
“I will notify them of your imminent arrival, Your Majesty.” With that, Shojan bowed and left.
Jucai spun to face me. “Is that true—about mating Dragons being volatile?”
“It is. I was going to tell you after he left. All on land know to stay far away from a Dragon couple settling a mating bond. Couples often confine themselves to their rooms during the mating period. It's safer for everyone. The violent urges can last for weeks after the mating is complete, but they're usually manageable by then.”
