But Kai's smirk only widened as he turned to the room again and added lightly, "Or do you have a few more seeds scattered around the city?"
There was a sharp silence.
A woman gasped. A few awkward chuckles followed, trying to brush off the tension. Someone sipped their wine a little too quickly.
Mr. Blake's jaw clenched. "Kai," he said through gritted teeth, "not here."
Kai raised his hands in mock surrender. "What? I was just confirming. I don't like surprises—especially the human kind."
"You're late," his father snapped.
"You're lucky I came," Kai replied, shrugging as he dropped into a velvet chair like he belonged on a throne. "Besides, the guests were dying to meet me."
His fingers tapped against the armrest, rings clicking softly.
He glanced around at the judging eyes. Their hushed whispers didn't bother him. They never had. He leaned back, crossing his legs, and smiled lazily at them all.
