Chapter 46

People bowed, greeting me, but their eyes followed me and my mate. They were naturally curious. I’d been the royal troublemaker, the problem child, who had to fight for access to the Crystal. Seth was my reward. Still, I wanted to snarl at them, to warn them away from my mate.

He was pale, shockingly so. I kept my tail around his ankle and his hand within my grasp, though his fingers were ice against my scales. Head down and shoulders slumped, Seth took shallow breaths.

The moment we entered our quarters, I asked, “NAID, is the barrier in place?”

NAID’s typical blue silhouette appeared, and a monotone voice nothing like the one I’d become used to over the last six months replied, “Yes, Prince.”

“Please notify my family of our arrival and let them know we are not up to guests today.”

“Yes, Prince.”

“That will be all.”

I let go of Seth and set Lucy on the ground. I opened the transport box, and she snuck out, hunched to the ground and tail puffed. My gaze shifted to Seth; he didn’t react to entering our quarters, swaying on his feet. I hooked my arms around him, drawing him close. Seth didn’t even twitch. He was overwhelmed. I wanted to show him the quarters I’d grown up in and all of my childhood things. I wanted to take him on a tour of the palace and let him see all my special places. But Seth needed time.

Kissing his temple, I tugged him toward my—our room. Lucy skulked after us and darted under the canopy bed draped in a thick white blanket. Vines with flowers coiled around the wooden frame. Open windows, which led to a railless balcony, lined the two back walls, letting in the breeze and making the sheer curtains flutter.

He flopped onto the bed. I tugged his shoes and socks off. I yanked my boots off, then I snuggled next to him. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I need to sleep,” he said, voice empty.

“Do you want me to leave?”

Seth shook his head.

I kissed him, settling partially on top of him.

The day passed quickly since I’d slept most of it. I woke up a few times, but each time, Kal soothed me back to sleep. When I woke up again, the sun shone through the open windows.

I rolled over, touching the empty spot next to me. Sleepily, I examined the room—my new home. The bed took up most of the space, as did the tall windows, but there were two frosted glass doors with vine carvings on the remaining wall. One led back to the living room, and the other, I assumed, went to a closet and bathroom.

I had no idea where Kal was, but I doubted he’d gone far.

Floral scents filled the room, and a breeze wafted in from the open windows. No sounds of traffic or car horns invaded the peaceful atmosphere. I squeezed Kal’s pillow, inhaling. His familiar Christmas scent soothed the remaining stress lingering in my muscles.

Something pressed against my hip. My fingers brushed Lucy’s silky fur. She purred, rolling over and exposing her belly. I patted the jiggly dough, grinning.

“We will come when Seth is ready,” Kal snapped, his voice carrying through the cracked door.

Another voice sounded, but I couldn’t catch more than a gentle murmur.

“This is too much for him. He needs space. I will introduce him when he’s ready, Hallonnixmin.”

I scooted off the bed and crept toward the voices.

Kal stood with his back to me, wings sprawled and tail whipping. Another man was in the doorway of our apartment. He was quite a bit taller than Kal with dark blue scales, red and gold accents, and messy purple hair. He and Kal shared many facial features like their strong jaws, plump lips, and wide foreheads. They were obviously related. One of Kal’s brothers. The eldest I thought, but I couldn’t accurately remember.

Kal’s brother crossed his muscular arms. “You were both supposed to come to breakfast. Father is worried, Kalvoxrencol. You don’t want him to worry, not now. Not when you’re this close to getting what you want. Father is already doubting your ability to care for Seth. Do not give him any more weapons.”

“I’m caring for Seth right now.” Light had begun to shine through his scales, and I stepped forward, ready to comfort him. “This is overwhelming for him, and he’s shut down. He needs sleep. Seth has a condition similar to Zoltilvoxfyn’s. He needs more time to adjust.”

He studied Kal for several breaths before he tilted his head to the side. “I will try to waylay Father and Mother.”

“Thank you.” Kal’s wings dipped from their sprawled positions and the light dimmed.

His tail spiraled around Kal’s. “I’m glad you’re back, Pest. I missed you.”

“Me as well,” he said, but his voice was tight.

“It’s alright, Kalvoxrencol. I swear it. I’m on your side, as I always am. You are not alone in this battle. I, our brothers, and Monqilcolnen have been telling Father to let you reaffirm your bond to Seth Harris.”

“I need him,” Kal whispered. “I love him.”

He drew Kal into a short hug. “I know, Pest. Take what time you need. I will shield you from Father and Mother.”

After his brother left, Kal continued to stand near the door, vibrating with tension. I bit my lip and stepped forward, my bare feet quiet on the wood floor. I snaked my arms around him, burying my face in his back between his outstretched wings.

Kal jolted, taking a sharp breath. “Husband, you’re awake?”

“Yeah.” I rubbed my forehead against the silky fabric of his shirt, basking in the heat that emanated from him. He was like the sun—bright and warm.

“Did you hear that?”

“I did.”

“Don’t worry about Hallonnixmin. Take your time.”

I turned him around and pulled him flush against me. “I’m not worried, but thanks for protecting me.”

“I will always protect you.”

I placed a kiss on his lips, wrapping my arms around his neck. Kal returned the gentle pressure, not pushing for more. After a few moments, I shifted back, and he didn’t follow. “I’m sorry.”

He placed his fingers on my lips. “Don’t apologize.”

I clutched the front of his shirt, burrowing into him. Kal kissed the top of my head, his claws dragging over my sweater, which made me wish I wasn’t wearing it. Nuzzling his neck, I nipped him. Kal jerked. I froze. I had no idea why I’d done that. Kal ground his hips against mine.

“I liked that, my Seth,” he whispered. “Don’t fret.”

I bit him again, then shifted back. “Show me your apartment.”

“Our quarters.”

Smiling, I repeated, “Our apartment.”

Kal interlaced our fingers. “You’ve already seen the bedroom. This is the shared space.”

A backless couch faced two stools, all sitting on a woven rug. A carved wood wall, which resembled vines, was right behind them. Two massive windows with sheer curtains led to a long, railless balcony adorned with several potted plants. In between the windows was a ceiling-high bookshelf, completely full. He directed me past the couch and carved wall, to an open area with an easel and paints.

“Yours?” I asked, knowing the answer.

“Yes.”

To the right was a kitchen, including a food dispenser, cabinets, and a table framed by woven mats. Two doors matching the one from the bedroom were off the kitchen.

I gestured to them. “What are those?”

“Bedrooms. If you want one for yourself, you can take one. One of them has all of my old childhood things.”

“Do I have to sleep in another room?”

“No,” Kal said. “I hope you don’t want to.”

“I don’t, but I would like to see your old stuff.”

I opened the door to the left. The windows were closed, and light filtered into the room from the glass, illuminating the dust motes in the air. There were bookshelves full of books. Crates that held toys, clothes, and miscellaneous items.

The toys were much like the ones on Earth but with a different flavor. Figurines of odd animals and people. Shuttles. Unique weapons. Kal watched me with a tense expression, tail flicking, as I picked through the offerings.

“I like seeing your stuff.”

Kal relaxed. “Do you?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry you had to leave your childhood things behind.”

“I didn’t have any. I left everything when my grandparents kicked me out.”

“Oh.”

When Kal didn’t say anything more, I said, “Show me your favorite things.”

He held out several toys, talking about them, then moved to the shelf and pulled out a couple of books. He gave me some easy ones to read. After a bit, we left the room and sat on the couch. He sat with his back against the arm, and I rested between his legs, holding my gifts.

Lucy crept around the edges of the room, hunched and fur puffed. It would take time for her to calm down. My eyes shifted to the open windows. “She won’t fall out, right?”

“No. Neither will you. There are shields preventing it. I would never let anything happen to our Lucy or you.”

Pressing back against him, I bit my lip. Kal’s room was one thing. I didn’t feel comfortable venturing out yet, but I would have to. I had to officially meet Kal’s parents and siblings. Trembles started in my hands but spread to the whole of my body.

“What’s wrong, Mate?”

“We need to see your family.”

“Not right now.”

“Kal,” I started.

His grasp tightened. “Trust me. You can have the time you need.”

My stomach growled, loudly, interrupting us, and Kal laughed—his real, booming laugh. I commented, “We should eat.”

“We probably should.”

“After we eat, I would like to see our room again.”

He tensed behind me, his tail hooking around my ankle. “Counter offer, we get food and eat it in our room.”

“Alternate plan, we see our room, then we eat in bed.”

Kal bit my neck, squeezing me. “Let me love you in our room.”

“Sounds good to me.”