Page 29 of Retrograde

She actually used it for good. She was a good woman and wanted to change the world as much as she could.

Plus, the fool still thought Vex a good man. He couldn’t risk that.

“Let me look into some of this. I have more to add,” he muttered. Then he snickered at whatever was on my face. “Oh, you weren’t the only one ready to go to war, kid. You aren’t the only one who loves Sagan.” He stood and let out the power of his dragon. “So hear me when I say that I won’t let anyone hurt her again. I will risk death to take you out if you abuse her.”

“I wouldn’t ever. I’ll fuck up and be a dumbass, but I—this is real for me.” I gestured to the file as I stood. “I’m giving up everything because it’s right knowing she deserves it even if I have no chance because of Kole. I already said I have no desire to be prince. I’ll be consort or whatever. I just wanther.”

“And that’s what worries me,” he muttered. “I’ll get back to you.”

I frowned as he left. Why would that worry him?

Wouldn’t he want someone who only cared about being with her?

I had a few personal things to handle, but I made sure to arrive at lunch early so I could spend as much time with her as possible before I had to head back to Protesia tomorrow. Others arrived, clearly hearing something was going on that could be fun, and I heard them talking in whispers when they went inside.

“I sooooo need fun lunch today,” Velle said as she walked with Princess Treena, Myriam, and Sagan.

“Taco salads for the win,” Myriam agreed and accepted a high five when Velle waved her hand in her face.

“I want a taco bowl. I’ve been craving one,” Princess Treena said happily. “I’m so excited your chefs got on board and are willing to cook from different areas.”

I frowned. Taco salads? Taco bowls?

Sagan saw me and chuckled, probably seeing my confusion. “Yes, me too. Belinda makes change happen and no one dares to question the logic because she’s so amazing.” She stopped in front of me. “Yes, we have tacos in Thovudin. Other countries are more…”

“Inventive,” Myriam offered, giving a half shrug when several dragons coming to lunch gave her unfriendly looks. “No, I stand by it. You guys see food as fuel a lot. Go study in Serlir where we all met. The golden eagles are—there isnothinglike their culinary experience.”

“It’s true,” Sagan told the others. “They mix and blend all kinds of genres—fusion foods. It’s amazing, and they see cooking more as art—it’s always exciting and fun.”

“Show me?” I asked and held my hand out to her.

She beamed at me as she took it, that rare smile that was her real one and not her royal mask. She seemed to realize what she’d just done in front of all the other people around and cleared her throat, cutely pulling me faster inside.

“We have buffets,” I hedged as I took in what I was looking at. “You have them at all meals now.”

“Yes, but all the food is made—I mean, this is cooked, but it’s put together. The pasta is a certain type of pasta. Even at restaurants you have a few options for your tacos.” She gestured to the start. “You put it together yourself and with exactly whatyoulike. A lot of people wouldn’t like tofu with their taco meat. I love it. It’s creamy like cheese and lighter.”

“I wouldn’t think to mix them,” I admitted as I moved with her. I followed as she walked and grabbed a large tortilla bowl, having seen them before, but… She was right it was only ordering that taco option on the menu. I did a double take when I saw what she skipped. “No beans?”

She gave a half shrug when a lot of people glanced at her. “I’m not actually a big fan of beans.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a burrito or something like this without beans,” Thorn said as he joined us. He ground his jaw when she immediately went stiff, something big happening there.

Good. I didn’t like him for her.

“Then put beans on,” Myriam told him as she moved on the other side of Sagan so he couldn’t. “You seem the type to enjoy being gassy with all the fiber.”

Oh, it was hard not to laugh and I saw Sagan was struggling too.

“Okay, I’m sticking with you,” I muttered when I saw she put on sautéed peppers and onions. That sounded so much better than raw onions and peppers. “Show me more.”

She threw back her head and let out a laugh I hadn’t heard before… And clearly, few others had from the way they looked at her like they’d never seen her before.

“It’s well known to feed a woman well to make her happy, just like men,” Princess Treena said as she moved up next to me. “The fact there’s no salad dressing for the salad is really going to blow your mind.”

“And I don’t do lettuce, but rice, since griffins need a lot more starch in our diets,” Velle added. “This is why schools with such a huge multi-cultural population adopt this type of food style. Even the expensive fancy ones. We all have different dietary needs—even between species.”

“The chefs have learned that,” Raquel said as she moved closer and bowed to the queen. “They’re thrilled to experience more from other cultures, and the staff had a lot of fun putting this all together. I suggested to Toni that you let one of us post this to social media. You are criticized enough for having studied abroad. Teaching us life outside of Thovudin is important.”