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He stopped dead just outside the not-door to our place. “You’re kidding. You’re as bad as Auryn?”
“Hey, I’ve seen the inside of your box downtown. Don’t throw stones.” I ducked inside.
Keon’s gaze traveled over a few of the knickknacks and Akoni’s collection of tea sets and finally the large fireplace that Akoni had built (since I loved the one in Hekon’s study so much). “But do you like it?”
“Sure. Open floor plan and all. The whole...windowthing is... a thing.” We had the entire third floor, which gave us a giant donut of space to work with. Long, oblong windows were cut into the curves of the wall, giving glorious views.
But Lemuria’s dislike of interior doors and curtains, blinds, or any sort of window covering was still a bit unsettling.
Keon focused on the couch. “Where did you findthat?”
“Akoni built it. It came from his place. I’m going to go rinse off. You make the tea. I make rubbish tea.”
Keon’s gaze wandered over my dusty, been-rolling-in-the-fields dress. “Deal.”
I headed off to shower and change, and nearly bumped into Keon, who was casually absorbing the doorway to the bathroom.
Good gods, he wasbig.
“Were you peeping?” I asked, holding a towel in front of me while water dripped on the polished floor.
“No, just waiting my turn.”
Was he flirting? It was impossible to tell—there was a twinkle of mischief in his gaze, but his tone was precisely neutral. I hadn’t brought him up here for sex, but I also hadn’tnotbrought him up here for sex.
He gently pushed the towel aside to reveal the thick, tangled scar on my side where Maren had turned me into a kebab.
I looked down. “Guess you haven’t seen it.”
“I saw it when it happened.” He went pale.
I shifted the towel to show more of it. “It’s ugly. But matches my others.”
He stopped before his fingertips touched it. “I knew Jahlim had an accomplice, but I would never have suspected Maren. I had twenty other names on my list, but never Maren.”
“Same.” My cheeks tightened and my eyes stung.
He let out a long breath. “I knew her for decades. We were both Northern Hemisphere drakes. We crossed paths. But I guess she told you that.”
He muttered that last sentence. Maren had revealed down in the cave system that she and Keon had had some fun together. “Were you fond of her? Was there more to it?”
Dragons were demisexual. They didn’t experience sexual attraction without the tethers having started to form. So dragons having playtime together was about as symbolic as going for a jog, unless there was a lot more to tell.
Keon pulled back. “Nine Dead Gods, no. It was more we were both topside, and the topside drakes will often play with each other because there’s no deception involved. With humans, most of us always felt a little dishonest, even when you’ve very carefully chosen someone who’s just there for the fun and wants you gone when it’s over. With dragons, there was no dishonesty.”
I stepped to the side to make room for him and shimmied towards the door. “That makes sense.”
“The tea should be done steeping.”
Chaste snuggles it was.
The tea was the standard issue jasmine, and Keon did not brew the best cup, but it was better than my efforts. I gathered up my tablets and settled down to learn the words forblue. Of which there were eight.
Keon re-appeared, wearing one of Auryn’s shendyts (which was a bit too small for him). I recognized the color and the fact it sat a bit lower on his hips. Keon always wore deep blue, green, or maroon. This one was turmeric yellow, and it made Keon look like some ancient bronzed god-king who deigned to grace me with his presence. All he needed was some sandals and a jeweled torque.
Damn.
Don’t spook him, Helena. Be casual.
