“Of course, Your Highness,” Radovan says with a bow. Then he turns to Sei. “Feel free to return whenever you'd like. I enjoyed our conversation.”
Marek barely stops himself from growling,Absolutely not.
Because that’s the fucking problem. Sei can’t just go wandering Ostomar whenever he wants, completely unsupervised. It might even be worse than wandering off in the woods. Marek’s just glad a drasgard caught him in the hallway to point out Sei’s direction. The garrison guards on duty will regret allowing Sei to leave without an escort, against Marek’s orders.
But that’s none of Radovan Ark’s business. Especially since Radovan is likely to report this conversation to his dear friend Queen Aliza.
“Ready to go, Sei?” Marek asks.
Sei meets Marek’s eyes with a hint of hesitation before smiling at Radovan. “I’d love to return when it’s convenient. Osric, let’s go!”
The fellcat weaves gracefully through the crowded laboratory. Sei moves nearly as silently to Marek’s side.
Marek reaches for Sei’s shoulder, not really thinking about it. Just an instinct to make sure Sei walks next to him. He only realizes what he’s done when Sei flinches away from his touch.
Right. Fuck.
Sei doesn’t want this forced betrothal any more than Marek does. And he’s only gottenmorescared of Marek since they met.
They walk in silence through Ostomar’s dark halls, except the time Sei mutters, “Not now, Osric.”
Marek is highly aware of every watchful eye. The guards, the servants, the occasional courtier. Even the gargoyles seem to be spying on them. That’s one thing Marek dislikes about being stuck in Ostomar. Don’t these people have anything better to do than watch and gossip?
Perhaps the keenest eyes pick up Marek’s astonishment when Sei waves to several servants. How has Sei met so many people already?
They don’t speak again until they’re back in the garrison—then all the way back to Marek’s bedroom, because Clem is cleaning the parlor. Clem already gave Marek an earful about notoverwhelmingSei, and Marek doesn’t need any more misdirected euphemisms.
“Have I done something wrong, Your Highness?” Sei asks as soon as the bedroom door closes.
“We talked about this already.” Marek crosses his arms. “You can’t wander around on your own. I’ve personally instructed the garrison guards to accompany you whenever you want to leave. After today, I will personally instruct them to accompany you even if you tell them not to. Understood?”
Sei’s eyes flash, and Marek steels himself for an argument. He almost looks forward to it. But a breath later, Sei relaxes. “I wasn’t on my own, Your Highness. Osric was with me.”
“That doesn’t change my orders,” Marek says tersely.
Sei doesn’t react—but Osric steps forward, putting himself between Marek and Sei. From his pinned-back ears to his raised hackles, the fellcat’s animosity is clear.
Marek’s magic prickles beneath his skin in response.
“Osric, leave the room,” Sei says, but Osric doesn’t move. “Osric, I’m fine.”
Osric still doesn’t move.
Marek steps back. He doesn’t understand how Sei gets under his skin so easily. Sei is so polite. So accommodating. Maybe that’s the problem. Marek doesn’t want a grail. He doesn’t want a subservient claim.
Except Sei is only outwardly accommodating. This is the second time he’s wandered off on his own. The garrison guards must have stopped him on his way out, yet he disobeyed Marek’s direction and left anyway.
Marek is used to being responsible for soldiers. He’s used to ordering around people who have trained together, people who understand their role in the hierarchy. However casual dragonriders may be off duty, nobody questions Marek’s orders.
If Sei were a new dragonrider, Marek would raise his voice and discipline him. But he isn’t. He’s a grail, bound to Marek against his will. Marek has no idea how to handle this. He just knows he’s fucking it up now by acting like his father—expecting obedience without explaining why.
“I said I wouldn’t be cruel, but I’m not doing a very good job of that, am I?” Marek asks.
Sei looks away. “You haven’t been cruel, Your Highness. I’m just frustrated.”
“Tell me why you’re frustrated.”
Osric bumps his head against Sei’s hand. Sei pets behind his ear, then answers, “I thought I studied very well, but I don’t understand Draskora at all. Do you really think I could get abducted from your family’s palace? There are guards everywhere.”
