Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
“We represent this realm, and its values,” Queen Calisa put in. “Think how Sky’s Edge is perceived. The vast majority who live in the Edge are probably very lovely people. But their current king is a deviant and a tyrant. So the beings who live there are colored by his brush.”
I set my teacup in its saucer and put it on the table, saying, “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“And straight up, after we’ve had the throne for forever,” Aleece began, “it would suck if we were the ones who let it come to nothing.”
I smiled at her. “I hadn’t thought of that either.”
My head tipped to the side and my smile became private when my beast and I felt them coming near.
Both women looked beyond me, but I knew who was entering the room before I twisted to peer over my shoulder.
Aleksei and his dad were walking in, King Fillion’s gaze on his wife, mine was on my mate, his was on me.
I started to stand, but the king said, “Please, please, stay comfortable,” before he bent to kiss his wife’s cheek.
When he arrived, my male touched his mouth to my lips.
My beast wiggled.
His flexed.
Gods, they were so cute together.
Aleksei reached out, taking a little iced cake, greeting his sister and mother before he lounged in the couch beside me and popped the cake in his mouth.
I took him in.
This was a new Aleksei. The prince of the realm who was perfectly comfortable eating a tiny cake, slouched on a sofa that was also probably a priceless antique, this sofa in a massive palace.
It was hot.
He turned his head, caught me staring at him, and his eyes changed.
And now he was hotter.
“Enjoy tea?” he murmured.
“Yes,” I replied, still sitting primly, because the king and queen might be his mom and dad, and they would be my mother- and father-in-law, but they were still my king and queen.
His gaze raked the length of me, the look in his eyes deepened, and it took a lot not to visibly shiver, or alternately throw myself at him.
“If you two would stop having eye sex across the table from us—” Aleece began.
My head whipped her way, and I felt my cheeks warm.
“Aleece!” Queen Calisa snapped.
Aleece ignored her, grinning at us and finishing, “It’d help a lot with my sudden urge to vomit all over the tea service.”
“Our children, Fillion,” the queen complained.
King Fillion, however, was studying his watch unit.
He looked to Aleksei and nodded.
Aleksei straightened.
Oh boy.
“Your parents are at the guard terminal on the mainland,” he said quietly.
Dang, heck, dang, and farg.
“What’s this?” Queen Calisa inquired.
“Aleksei and I have granted the Makepeaces an audience,” King Fillion explained.
“You’ve done what?”
The ice in her words frosting the entire room took my mind off the decision I no longer had any time to procrastinate in making and brought my attention to her.
“Dearest,” the king murmured.
“Why wasn’t I informed of this?” she demanded.
“It’s not a formal visit,” the king explained. “We’ll speak to them in the receiving room—”
“You will do nothing of the sort,” the queen snapped. She clicked open a handbag tucked at her side, pulled out a Palm, glared at the display and instructed it, “Comm Dita.”
“Caly,” the king clipped.
I felt Aleksei’s mouth at my ear. “When we discussed giving them an audience, I explained things to Dad. My guess with Mom’s reaction, he explained them to her as well.”
I wasn’t sure I understood what was going on, outside the fact they knew of my history with my parents, something I didn’t know how to feel about it, but I didn’t have time to figure it out.
“Your majesty.” A voice came from the queen’s Palm.
“There are beings at the guard terminal. They’re expected. When they arrive, take them directly to the throne room.”
“Caly!” the king bit.
She didn’t miss a beat and kept issuing orders. “Two chairs at audience distance. Do not offer them refreshments.”
“Yes, your majesty,” the voice replied.
“Tick me when they’re settled,” the queen said.
“Will do, your majesty.”
The queen tucked her Palm back in her purse as the king blustered, “This is precisely why I didn’t tell you. I knew you’d horn in just like this.”
She took a sip of tea and, completely unperturbed, replied, “You know me so well.”
“They’re Laura’s parents,” the king stated. “We’re meeting them like civilized beings in the receiving room.”
“The receiving room is for honored diplomats,” she retorted. “Elected officials. Nobles of good standing. It is not for the likes of those two beings.”
I was suddenly feeling a lot, but I didn’t have time for that either.
“What’s this about?” Aleece asked.
“You will come with us,” the queen told her instead of answering. “United front.”
On the words united front, Aleece gave Aleksei big eyes.
“It’ll be Aleksei and I,” the king stated.
“It will be all of us, Fillion. All of us. And you know why,” she retorted.