Page 69 of Retrograde

I felt bad when she started crying all over again, but I knew it was happy tears. I knelt down in front of her and rubbed her shoulder.

“I’m so very sorry for your loss. Truly.”

“I’m so sorry foryours,” she choked out. “I still have my father. I wouldn’t have been able to function if I’d lost them both, and they don’t even let you cry—not evengrieve.” Shock rocked me when she gave Zev a look of hate. “Only force men on you to breed you for a king like that’s all you’re here for. It’s too much and I support that site.”

“Site?” I asked.

“ItStartsWithSagan,” she told me. “I know you’ve said it’s not you, but I gave a donation so whoever is running it can keep going and get people the truth of who you are. We’ve let too much go and it’s enough.”

I gave her a kind smile and squeezed her shoulder. “It is enough, and I promise I’ll change Thovudin for women. We will have equality.”

“If anyone can, it’s you. I believe that.” She turned into her mate and I stood as he apologized and helped her into the back.

“Wow, the media really needs to pull its head out of its ass and start reporting what’s real because I didn’t even know about some site?” Zev muttered.

It had been reporting on that—mostly to accuse me—but I had a feeling Zev missed a lot that didn’t involve him. Or interest him.

Instead of commenting, I offered him a sample.

“I don’t like dates.” He actually turned up his nose but flinched at whatever was in my eyes.

Anger. That was beyond rude when we were in the shop and the owners were right in the back—their employee watching us.

He quickly grabbed a piece and tried it, his eyes flashing shock. “That’s really good.” He frowned and glanced around. “I didn’t like dates. Are these different kinds?”

“Dates by themselves are pretty bland and some people have issues with the texture,” I said, giving him an inch after he’d introduced me to something amazing. “But it’s really about what you put on them.” I glanced around and smiled. “That’s my favorite.”

“Good choice, Your Majesty,” the worker giggled. “You might like the new option then.”

I glanced from the almond butter stuffed dates drizzled with a mix of dark and milk chocolate to where she was pointing. “I like cashews. I’ve never had cashew butter.”

The owner came out from the back wiping her eyes and with a determination that I was proud of. “I’ve not seen it in Thovudin. I had some when I was traveling once and I thought it would be a nice addition. We make it in-house.” She pointed to a display and gave me a look like she was hoping I would ignore her emotional outburst.

Girl code. Of course I would.

“Have you ever thought of mixing them like you do the chocolates?” I asked after trying one. “This isn’t as sweet as peanut butter, but not almond butter either. If there was like a blended nut butter—and not just with the dates that would be amazing.” I stared at the boxes. “And what about dark, milk, andwhitechocolate drizzle?”

“I like the way you think, Your Majesty,” she chuckled, wiping her eyes again. “My mother would have adored you. Truly. I’m sorry she didn’t get to see a female ruler. She used to say things would be better if a woman was in charge.”

“I’ll do my best to prove her right, I promise,” I said gently… Before buying way too much of her wares.

No, not just for me, but honestly the castle staff had been through alot. Most were shaken after the questioning alone and finding out there were so many snakes and thieves right around them.

I felt the same and I’d barely spent any time at the castle before my parents had died.

I took a few boxes right then but made arrangements for the rest to be delivered, my guards promising to handle sharing and making sure everyone got some. That would help because I wasn’t the type of person who would do well with the thanks and whatnot.

I thanked Zev for the date and was ready to head to bed, ignoring his pout when he didn’t get like a good night kiss orwhatever he was thinking… And I got a shock when Onyx was sitting on the sofa of the sitting room in my suite.

“This makes me uncomfortable,” I admitted.

“I fully understand, but my dragon needed to hear you say that because he didn’t believe me that it was over the line,” Onyx confessed, looking more than a bit embarrassed. “Sorry. It’s hard. It’s…”

I nodded but couldn’t let it go just yet. “It’s not easy for me either, and I feel closer to you when you understand that and help me deal with it, not pressure me. This makes me feel like I should apologize and none of this is my fault.”

“No, it’s not,” he whispered as he reached out his hand, smiling when I took it and sat down next to him. “You look gorgeous.”

“Thanks.” I studied his eyes. “You’re worried. Why are you worried about Zev of all people?”