Page 29 of The Dragon King's Assassin

Chapter Thirteen

Ren sat at her master's feet on the carriage ride back to the palace. A packet of care instructions, commands, and additional training advice sat beside me on the bench across from the King. He couldn't stop stroking her, and she was eating it up.

Fuck, was I seriously jealous of a dog?

“You've done well, Lock,” the King finally spoke to me. “I'm greatly pleased with Ren. This was a good idea.” He grinned. “I've never had a pet.”

“Only people you treat like pets,” I muttered under my breath.

“Ren is not the only one with excellent hearing.” Tarocvar chuckled. “Do you want me to treat you like a dog, Lock? Or are you judging the way I interact with people? Again.”

“To be absolutely honest, I think it's a little of both.” I laughed at myself. “You adore her already and all she's done is sniff you and nudge your chin. I can do that too.”

“You've done much more, and I stroked you for it as well, didn't I?” His grin grew sensual.

I swallowed past my suddenly dry throat. “Not in the way I would have liked, but I suppose you did.”

“Oh?” He lifted a brow. “You'll have to show me how you like to be stroked.”

“I will. If Your Majesty sees fit to invite me back to his bed.”

The King made a pensive sound and looked back at his new dog. “I suppose you should be rewarded for today.”

I knew better than to mock him for labeling sex with him as a reward. If I were absolutely honest with myself, I'd admit that it was true. Even that fast fuck before we left that morning had been amazing. If he were a whore, I'd impoverish myself to have him. But he wasn't a whore. As far from it as he could get, even though he sort of acted like one.

I snickered at the thought.

The King lifted a brow at me.

“Sorry. I was just thinking about Trinsane's face when Bracaro offered you the dog for free. I thought he was going to shit himself.”

“How much do these dogs go for?”

“Brac's dogs start around five gold.”

“Five?” His eyes widened. “That's more than this carriage is worth. With the horses.”

“Yup. And that dog there is the best of the bunch, with her rare white coat. I wouldn't be surprised if he had expected to get eight gold for her. Maybe even eight gold and twenty silvers.”

“Well, fuck. Now I feel like an asshole for just offering them an invitation in return.”

I burst out laughing. “Those guys would never have seen the inside of the palace any other way. Your invitation is worth more than gold to them. Plus, if they show up with their dogs, and you're there with Ren, they'll have rich customers lining up to buy their animals. They'll make up their loss in no time. Brac was smart to give you the dog.”

The Dragon King grunted. “I suppose. Still, I'll try to inspire interest in his dogs.”

“Just bring Ren to the festivities. Trust me, that's all you'll have to do. You're the King; everyone will want a dog like yours.”

“You hear that, Ren?” He focused on the fucking dog again. “Everyone will want you. But if anyone gets too close, bite them.”

Ren yipped.

“Good girl.”

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