Page 94 of Dewpoint
Please feed us like you understood that even if it was a posh place or event.
I slapped on the fake smile when he finished the last dessert and set down my napkin. “This was great. Thank you so much.”
He frowned but stood when I did. “You didn’t say two words the whole time.” He flinched when Lydia snorted.
Yes, because whose fault was that?
“It’s fine. I was glad to hear about the undines tribe relocation. I’m glad the king is treating you and the team with respect. It’s nice he’s kept up his end of the deal and you could help. I’m glad no one else will be hurt once the mountain is stabilized.”
“Right, but that’s work really,” he argued.
Maybe? He didn’t really work for me even if I asked him to handle this, but I asked how it was going, not for him to spend all of dinner talking about it.
I simply smiled and followed my security towards the front of the restaurant so we could leave. A baby let out a huge cry to my right and startled me, actually making me flinch.
Which apparently someone foundhysterical.
“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty,” the woman with the baby said, her face flushed.
I ignored the elder male dragon still laughing. “No need at all. Babies cry. I thought I heard this restaurant was child free, so I wasn’t ready for a cry just as I wouldn’t be other noises out of place.”
“It is, but emergencies happen,” she chuckled.
“Of course. I hope everything is okay,” I replied, ready to move on, but the elder male dragon who was done laughing partially blocked me. He ignored my security moving with him, visibly tense that someone would be so bold.
“You better get over your fear of babies since you’re going to have a bunch of them,” he mocked me.
I turned to face him fully, feeling the gazes ofeveryonedining there for the free entertainment they were now getting. I slowly raised an eyebrow at him, making it clear I was mocking him right back. “Do you normally dictate to females how many children they will birth? It’s a rather odd and vulgar habit, especially from someone who should have better manners at his age.”
Rage filled his eyes, but the woman with the baby snickered.
Onyx burst out laughing along with a few of my security chuckling. He immediately lost his amusement when the older dragon fisted his hands and started chuffing.
He actually moved in between us and guided me back protectively and towards Lydia. “You were over the line, old timer. You didn’t even address your queen as you should and tried to make a scene that she’s just here to make babies instead of being our ruler. Don’t get aggressive with her when you picked a fight, but she’s just sharper than you are.”
I moved my hand to his shoulder. “Thank you for being a gentleman as my date, but I can fight my own battles.”
“I never doubt that, Your Majesty, but you shouldn’t alwayshave to,” he muttered. “Sometimes it’s much louder coming from another man.” He tilted his head and clearly something was in his gaze that worried the older dragon because he flinched. “Isn’t that right? Some of you only hear it when it comes from another man?”
The old man rallied. “Don’t put words in my mouth. Rhys had a duty to have an heir too. Any ruler should have a lot of them so the bloodline never dies out.” He chuckled and took a step back. “But good to know you’re just as defensive of her as she is of you. That’s important in a mating.”
I kept my mask in place but internally flinched, thinking of the time. Right, the interview had already aired.
Shit.
“Thank you again for the extra hassle,” I said to the manager when I saw him right there. “Everything was as amazing as I’ve always heard. I’m thrilled this was my first dining experience out as queen, especially knowing it was a favorite of my parents.”
He blinked back tears. “You truly are their daughter with their manners and charm. Always come visit every new menu, Your Majesty. Our chefs love thrilling your taste buds. They brag for weeks they made our ruler happy just as the castle does.”
I thanked him again and didn’t even have to give Lydia a look before we were whisked out of there. I realized something right when we were at the vehicles. “Where is Benson? My first time eating out and he’s not here?”
“I asked he not be,” Onyx said under his breath as he opened the door for me.
I gave a nod that I heard him, trying to process what he’d just said. Clearly, it wasn’t so I wasn’t as well protected. No, Onyx wasn’t a danger to me.
No matter my confusion or concerns over the man and what he wanted from me, I knew that without a doubt.
So this was about my feelings for Benson and Onyx undoubtedly wasn’t a fan of them. Well, such was life.
