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Mikol hesitated a moment before nodding. “All right. But we have a great deal to discuss, as I’m sure you’re aware. Why don’t you dress and come back to the other room? I can ask your captain to come in and help you, if you like.”
“No, I don’t need any help.”
“I wasn’t offering to allow him to help you dress. I can do that if you need help.”
“No. Thank you, but I-I’ll be out in a moment or two.” Mikol stood and walked toward the door, but Kalen’s voice made him turn back just as he reached it. “Prince Mikol…Your Highness…I would like for my captain to be present for our discussion, though, if it’s all right with you.”
Mikol nodded. “Whatever you like,” he said, “though I do have some questions. Do you and this captain of yours have an intimate relationship I should know about?”
“No!” the prince said in a shocked voice. “Dartan is my friend and nothing more.”
“I see. And are there any other men in your life that I should know about? Any other ‘friends’ to report?”
Prince Kalen’s face flamed red, and he swung his feet over the side of the bed while still holding the sheet over him. “What are you implying, sir?”
With three long strides, Mikol was back beside him, taking his arm in a firm grip. “I’m not implying anything. I’m asking you a direct question. I last saw you in Belline at a brothel, approximately thirty hours ago, and I don’t know what you were up to either then or now. You were extremely drunk the last time I saw you, so I’m asking you—as nicely as I can manage—was I the only man you had relations with on Bellineand have you been with anyone else?”
Chapter Nine
“How dare you ask me that?” Kalen snarled back at the Tygerian, pulling his arm away.
“I dare a great many things, as you’ll soon find out, Prince Kalen, if you don’t start answering my questions. I need to know if there’s any possibility some other man has a claim on you. Tell me quickly so I can deal with this one way or the other. Now tell me;are you involved with any other men?”
“Of course not. No. You’re the only man I’veeverbeen with. I swear it.”
There was a long, tense silence as Mikol stared down at him. “Is this true?”
“Yes,it’s true, damn it. Iswearit. I’m not a liar!”
The prince straightened back up and took a step away. “All right. And the men chasing you at the brothel? Were they really your guards?”
“My uncle’s guards. Like the ones at the door, and you see how they are. I was going to try to ditch them and leave them on Belline, but they caught on to my plan.”
“I see. What did they do when they caught up with you?”
“Just took me downstairs. Tied my hands and gagged me.” He looked up at Mikol, full of the outrage he felt at their actions and putting it all into the look, and he thought Mikol’s lips may have twitched again. Apparently, he amused this Tygerian.
“They didn’t hurt you, or touch you in any other way?”
“No.”
Mikol nodded, seeming to come to a decision. “Then we can proceed as planned. We were both careless on Belline.” When Kalen looked up at Mikol, he brushed Kalen’s jaw with the back of his hand. “I regret my actions on Belline…but I have to ask you these questions. Tygerian society expects me to wed a virgin to ensure that if I have any children, they’ll be mine without question. Do you understand this word?”
Kalen looked up in surprise, and his mouth fell open. He sighed and his shoulders slumped. “Yes. I understand. But how could I have children? I’m a man.”
“Some humanoid species have that capability. We Tygerians have methods to make that happen.”
“I see. Lorians don’t have that capability, as you call it. And I have no intention of having my body altered.”
“Noted. And you’re sure you’re a virgin.”
“Yes.”
“Be sure.”
“Iamsure. I’ve never been with any other men before. Not ever.”
He quickly looked away, not wanting to show how much the prince’s words hurt his feelings. He wasn’t used to being called a liar. Mikol’s hand moved to his chin, and he pulled Kalen’s face back around to look at him.
