Page 10 of The Kraken Bride

A corner of his mouth twitched. “You are bolder than I expected.”

What a kind thing to say. The magic formula for any court. “Thank you,” I said, and I meant it.

His brow arched. “No thanks for a dress, but for an observation.”

“When the observation is a treasure, yes.” I might as well be blunt, since I was so bold and all. “Why did you gift me the dress? Why have you assigned me a personal assistant? Why am I here, in your suite, enjoying a veritable feast with a king who should forget my existence until he wishes to send a message to my queen?”

His gaze dropped to my lips, and my heart skipped a beat.

The moment shattered when he placed a napkin on his lap. “I’d like it if you called me Sebastian.”

“Oh.” It was a courtesy afforded to few, I’d bet, but I wasn’t ready for such familiarity from the man who wreaked havoc on my nervous system. “I’d prefer to use our titles.”

“That is unfortunate, as I’ll be calling you Bronwyn. At least until I decide on your nickname.” He filled both our plates with selections from each dish. He added a second spoonful from the blue bowl. “You will like this one best.”

I blinked. “How do you know?” Wait. “You plan on giving me a nickname?”

“You’re most certainly not a Bronnie. Or a Winnie. Brownie Bites, perhaps?” He said it with such ease, as if we were debating the proper term for today’s weather. I didn’t know whether he was teasing me or disarming me or both.

What even was my life right now? “You may not call me Brownie Bites. If you will not use my title, my name will do.”

He canted his head at me, his attention steady. “Do you not already have a nickname for me? I believe dragons often refer to me as the Beast of the Seas.”

He was all innocence as he took his first bite, watching me, awaiting my response.

Meanwhile, I nearly squirmed in my seat. “A nickname for me would be… fine.”

He almost smiled; I was sure of it.

I forced myself to concentrate on the food rather than him. My mouth watered. Everything looked so buttery and rich, and I hadn’t eaten properly in days, too anxious about our meeting.

I took a tentative bite of the dish he’d thought I would like best, and oh, the exquisite flavors bathed my tongue in perfect harmony. My eyes sank shut as I savored.

When I refocused, eager for my next shovelful, I discovered Sebastian watching me once again. Intently. As if my reaction mattered more than his appetite.

“Good?” he asked, just a little smug.

A flush spread across my skin. I nodded. “Very good.” I reached for a roll from an assortment of breads in a basket. My fingers brushed his. He’d reached, too.

I jerked away. He didn’t. Instead, he held my gaze, refusing to let it go. Refusing to let me go. We peered at each other, seconds stretching, and my breathing quickened. What was happening right now?

“For you.” He offered his roll to me.

Rather than refuse, I snatched it, very much not like a princess. We ate in silence for several minutes, and I used every second to regain my composure.

“Perhaps His Majesty would be so kind as to finally, at long last, explain my assignment,” I said. “Please.”

He leaned back in his chair, the almost smile once more in place. “Já. Let’s get business out of the way, so you can relax, and I can glimpse the promised charm.”

A backhanded compliment, if ever I’d heard one. Rather than take offense, I quipped back, “I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours.”

He chuckled, a warm, deep sound I felt in my bones. “You’re much wittier than reports suggest.”

Ash and embers, he gave good laugh.

Between one heartbeat and the next, however, he grew serious, not a hint of amusement remaining. “What we discuss from this point forward will not be shared with anyone. No one here. Not even with your sisters. Swear it.”

I blinked rapidly. Ambassadors weren’t supposed to make secret promises they couldn’t honor. Besides that, I couldn’t keep this one. “I can’t swear, majesty. Sebastian. My sister is my queen. If you tell me something that jeopardizes dragons, it’s my duty to inform her.”