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They ate in companionable silence, though he mostly watched her. She ate with gusto, attacking her plate with the same energy that she did with everything else. She seemed to enjoy the food, too, if her small smile was any indication—the perfect time to bring up a certain topic.
“My last gift was a pendant.”
“Hmm?” she said, still preoccupied with her roasted meat.
“Not this box, but the one before it. Yesterday. As far as I remember, pendants do not symbolize anything in ancient magical times. Neither do necklaces and earrings. So, here.” He placed the box in front of her. “I should give it to Emerald myself, but we both know you would have your hands on it first. There’s no ring or bracelet in there.”
She eyed the box and took in his words. Her expression shut off, the smile disappearing as she shook her head.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Gifts are a form of bribery.”
“Gifts are a part of courtship, especially a dragon shifter’s,” he corrected. “We treasure gifts and giving them means we value who we are courting.”
“That’s—”
“Mycustom. Not yours. It’s never bribery when it’s from a dragon. We prefer to bribe with words or not use words at all.”
Blue eyes met his, considering. On edge. “Truth?”
“Truth.”
Silence. She looked away, lowering her roasted meat on the plate, and no longer eating.
“Very well, then. She can take the necklace and the earrings.”
It should have been a triumph, but he felt nothing but a strange loss. Before he could question it—or his sanity—another figure breezed into the dining hall, her skirt billowing at her feet. Emerald wore a light green dress that emphasized the green in her eyes and the green headband on her braided hair. She was a vision as she smiled at the two, then greeted them formally.
“Good evening. I’m sorry I’m late. I just had the loveliest bath and talk with one of your maids, Belly. She was kind enough to give me a verbal tour of the castle, which I’m still trying to memorize.”
“Slaves,” Sapphire muttered under her breath.
“Castle staff,” he corrected, narrowing his gaze at her. Then he handed the box to Emerald. “You look great, and I think this will complete it.”
She opened the box, her smile widening when she took out the pieces of jewelry with dark green gemstones. “This is lovely. Perfect. Thank you.”
It should, considering he spent hours perfecting the chains. But he didn’t say it out loud.
“You’re welcome.”
She turned around, permitting him to put the necklace on her. He did, fingers careful not to touch as watchful blue eyes looked at them but didn’t say a word. When he clasped the lock shut and glanced at Sapphire, her gaze was nowhere near them.
Klaus ignored her—or he tried to, as Emerald engaged him in casual conversation about how good the food was and how nice his place was. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Sapphire twiddling her fingers, restlessness in every movement. Her thumbs tried to rub the glittery powder away, but she only made it worse by spreading it around. He caught on to her frustration, watched her bite her lip, then watched her fingers glow. Seconds later, the powdery substance evaporated.
She relaxed, still rubbing her fingers. There would be callouses there, he knew. He felt them when he had been the one rubbing her old wounds, willing them away. But the callouses were light. A press here and there and it would give way to soft, smooth—
“Isn’t that right, Klaus?”
Klaus turned to Emerald, who waited for his answer.
“That’s right.”
She nodded, pleased. He wondered what he had just agreed to and glanced back at Sapphire…only to find her gaze already on him.
“Are we done with dessert?” she asked.
