Kai set down his fork.
"You may."
"When you first summoned me, did you ever think we would end up here? Sitting at a restaurant in a human city, eating duck and drinking wine?"
Kai thought about it.
'When I first summoned her, I was worried she would try to kill me. Then I was worried she would kill everyone else. Then I was worried she would embarrass me in front of the Merchant Guild. Not like I can tell her that though.'
"No," he answered. "I did not."
Carlotta smiled, tilting her head slightly.
"Neither did I. When I was summoned, I expected to serve a master who would treat me as a tool. A weapon to be used and discarded. That was the fate of most summoned creatures, or so I believed."
She looked down at her wine glass, swirling the liquid gently.
"Instead, I found someone who treats his soon to be wife with dignity. Who rewards loyalty with trust. Who allowed a witch like me to negotiate with a king on his behalf."
