Ginny

GINNY

P hinade ushers me through into the ante chamber to the main throne room.

"Where is Asteron?" I loud whisper at him. "I don't want to face the clans on my own."

"The king will be here shortly, and the clans are only here for you and"—Phinade looks fondly at Kao in my arms—"your son."

"Not Asteron?"

"A bit, but not as much as you and Prince Kao." Phinade doesn't look up from the baby.

Kao is absolutely the cutest thing in the universe as far as I'm concerned and the fact Phinade is spellbound by him is the reaction I want.

I also want Asteron by my side. But through the weird bond we now share, I can tell he is calm. So, I'm going to be calm. I am calm.

There is a buzz in the hall as I enter with Phinade ahead of me. The noise settles as I look around at the sea of Xnosson faces until I see my three friends. Mina, Deina, and Athena surround me protectively at first, but then they also cannot help themselves where Kao is concerned.

"He is gorgeous !" Mina exclaims as Kao shifts and stretches with a yawn.

"I know," I say. "I can't stop looking at him. Neither can Asteron."

"He is the double of his father," Athena says. "Especially when his horns come in." She gives me the biggest beaming smile.

"You look incredible," Deina says, taking a step back to inspect my dress, a dark blue Zio silk covered in small silver stars which clings to me in all the right places.

"Thank you." I sigh and lower my voice. "I'm still completely exhausted."

"Of course you are," Mina says at normal pitch, then she moves away and claps her hands, getting all the curious faces to move back. "Go take your seat, my queen," she says over her shoulder with a less than courtier level wink.

I mount the steps to where two thrones are placed and take a seat in one. Kao has been so good up until now, so when he shifts and grizzles a bit, I know he wants one of two things. As he releases a fairly mighty wail, I know exactly what he wants.

Food.

Where is Asteron? The last thing I want to do is breastfeed here, in this room filled with Xnossons. Panic starts to rise within me. My three courtiers hurry up to me with concern on their faces.

"Is he okay?" Deina asks.

"He needs a feed, but I can't do it here."

"Why not?" she asks. "There is no shame in doing what comes naturally to a mother. No one will even give you a second glance."

"Here." Mina unwinds a gauzy scarf from her neck. "Pop him under this." She arranges it over me and Kao.

He is not a happy baby, his little body pulsing with baby anger. I quickly pull at the collar of my dress and the sentient silk obligingly drops to reveal my breast. Kao latches on with an intensity which makes me shriek.

"Okay, you might get a second glance if you're going to make those sort of noises." Diena laughs.

"Look, I'm brand new to this," I protest, but the feeling of calm has descended as Kao is noisily suckling, like he wasn't fed an hour ago.

At the far end of the throne room, the doors slam open with a force so great, a hinge gives on one of them, causing the heavy wood to hang awkwardly.

Asteron stands in the opening, looking bigger and more bull-like than ever, his eyes nearly glowing red.

"Who dares to upset my wife ?" he bellows, the words ringing up to the height of the vaulted ceiling.

He barrels towards us, and Xnossons go flying in his wake until he's pounding up the steps to reach me. My three ladies have the good sense to get out of his way very quickly.

In an instant, he's kneeling at my feet.

"My mate, my queen," he gasps.

I stare at him. Kao is completely unaffected by the recent drama and continues on as if nothing has happened.

But something has happened. Glinting in Asteron's nose is a gold ring.

"What did you do?"

"Are you okay?" he demands. "I felt you through the bond…you were scared, panicking."

"Yes, I'm okay. I was worried about feeding Kao in public, but Athena, Diena, and Mina helped me out. But you…" I reach for the ring in his nose, lifting it carefully. "You had it fitted."

"For you, little queen. I am yours. I have always been yours from the moment we met at Starlight Brides. This is my proof, the physical embodiment of our unbreakable bond."

"You did it for me?"

"I wouldn't wear the ring for any other. There is no other, . There is only you."

He turns to the assembled clans.

"My queen!" he announces. "She has taken her king."

There is a low rumble through the hall which rises up to fill the space as the clans cheer for us both.

Under the scarf, Kao fixes me with a beady eye. Then he closes it again and goes back to suckling.

Asteron lifts us both up and then settles us on his lap. Phinade peers from around the side of the throne and hands something to Asteron.

"My mate," Asteron says as he places my crown on my head. "My everything."

He wraps his strong arms around us both, and I lean into his warmth.

"My king," I say, looking up into his handsome face, safe and secure, our bond humming with love. "And my everything."