I Married A Dragon (Prime Mating Agency)(20)
Kaida immediately frowned at that last comment. She opened her mouth to argue. A single look at my face silenced whatever obscenity she’d been about to say. I’d read enough about humans to know both males and females contributed equally to the wealth and needs of their family unit. While Derakeens also did with various aspects, providing sustenance was foremost a male’s duty for us. But above all, one of an Ejaya’s principal forms of compensation was to have all of her needs provided for by her Shadow Lord, on top of an additional monetary compensation.
I should have specified this to Kaida. I kept forgetting she knew very little about her role, including its benefits and duties, beyond letting me rub all over her.
Although taken aback, the merchants proved quite gracious when I requested they allow Kaida to sample the fruits and vegetables I hadn’t been able to match to any human ones. To both our delight, my Ejaya identified many she liked, and the merchants took notes—as did I. I loved the enthusiasm and boldness with which she tried everything, even those odd-looking to her. The way her face lit up when she stumbled on something pleasant to her taste buds filled my chest with warmth. Until now, I’d never had someone to care for, and the joy of doing it for her exceeded my wildest hopes.
I pointed to the left path around the black gate. “This way, you will find the furniture and decoration stores. The other way, you will find the chattel vendors. On the other side of the gate, you will find most of the trade and administrative businesses, from builders to lawyers. As my lair is your lair, I would like you to redecorate it however you see fit. We can go have a look at—”
“Excuse me, Shadow Lord Cedros,” an annoyingly familiar voice called behind me.
I turned to face the intruder. Chegan, his mate, and their two younglings were looking at me expectantly.
“Sorry to pester you during your time with your Ejaya, my lord. But could I trouble you for a portal to the Kairns of Alja?”
My face hardened, my patience running thin with those stingy nobles always looking for a free ride. “In case you haven’t noticed, the black gate is right behind you.”
He slightly recoiled at my stern response. His blue scales darkened, and he had the decency to look embarrassed to be thus publicly called out. “Of course, but with two restless younglings, traipsing the void can turn into a real headache. Not to mention it will leave us a non-negligible flight distance from our destination. Whereas, with your assistance, it would spare the little ones an exhausting flight.”
That he would use his offspring as an excuse only further aggravated me. “That’s what shadow obsidian stones are for,” I replied in a clipped tone.
His mate Tyvea took a step forward and bowed her head in a pitiful and submissive fashion, drawing her young closer to her. “You are right, my lord. Sadly, we just realized we’ve already used the last marked one. We were about to take the flight to the other side of the gate to buy more when we noticed your presence. We figured it was a sign from the Gods. But do not fret. We will not trouble you further and go fetch more stones.”
I clenched my teeth, not in the least fooled by her false commiseration. She was as stingy as her mate. I didn’t doubt if I asked them to empty their purse, I’d find a handful of stones in there. It suddenly dawned on me that I’d never bothered arguing with people like this before. Normally, I would either just open the gate upon request to be rid of their unpleasant presence, or I would pretend not to hear them calling me and take flight.
But my Ejaya’s presence is blocking their unpleasant aura!
That realization further made me notice the complete absence of nausea I’d otherwise normally feel right now for being this long in the market, surrounded by so many people. No fogginess was taking over my mind. For once, I could experience what it was to feel normal in a public setting.
I cast a look at my Ejaya, my hearts filled with gratitude, only to find her staring in turn at the stingy nobles and me. I immediately felt embarrassed. Did she think me cold and lacking compassion that I would deny them something I could do so easily?
Without thinking, I summoned the portal. I barely acknowledged Chegan and Tyvea multiplying their thanks as they ushered their progeny inside the portal. I dispelled it as soon as they were through and eyed my Kaida warily. My abdominal muscles tightened with worry when her frown deepened as she gave me an assessing look.
“You’re too kind for your own good,” Kaida said pensively. “Granted, I don’t know how much effort it would have taken them to fly to the other side of the gate to buy some shadow obsidian… especially for the kids. But it sounds to me like they were just being lazy and entitled.”
Relief flooded through me as I nodded. “They were indeed being entitled and stingy. This is one of the many reasons we don’t mingle with the general population. If they had their way, they’d use us as their personal portal summoner at every opportunity. That is not the purpose of a Shadow Lord. We stabilize gates, rescue the lost, and kill monsters.”
“Well, you might need to remind them of—”
“Shadow Lord Cedros? Could I bother you a moment?” an unfamiliar voice said, interrupting my Ejaya.
I turned to look in disbelief at the male standing next to a female I assumed to be his mate. By the absence of urgency in his demeanor, he wasn’t here asking for help for a lost soul or an ongoing attack. That could only mean one thing.