Chapter 48

As the sun crested the mountains and peeked through the windows, I awoke to Seth draped across me. Normally, he slept on the other side of the bed, but he was snuggled against me. I rubbed his back, my claws catching on the soft fabric of his sweater.

My Seth.

With a quick kiss on his forehead, I slipped out from under him. I went to our closet and put on a pair of trousers and one of his jackets. Seth’s citrus smell mixed with my own spicier scent invaded my nostrils. I gave his sleeping form one last look before heading to the shared space.

I picked up my screen to scroll through my new notes. All of Seth and my things from the Admiral Ven had been sent to the palace. The crates would be placed in our quarters later today.

Jalqyn had sent a statement to the press, along with a picture of Lucy, explaining she was not a spider, but an emotional support animal Seth was responsible for, so I’d had no choice but to bring her. The animal regulation already released a statement that the importing or selling of cats from Earth was strictly illegal.

There were notes from my siblings, Monqilcolnen, and Talvax, checking on my and Seth’s well beings. My parents hadn’t sent anything. Odd. Though, at the same time, I appreciated it.

I clicked Hallonnixmin’s link to speak to him. He filled my screen moments later. He was in his quarters, and I saw his mate and my two nephews in the background.

“Is everything alright?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder when Farrittenmon, his second child, screeched. Gilvaxtin began cooing to the infant. Hallonnixmon left the shared space to his bedroom, closing the door behind him. “Kalvoxrencol?”

“Everything is fine. Seth has agreed to a meeting tonight.”

“Excellent,” he said. “I will make sure everyone is ready, invite a few members of the court, Cohort members, some reporters, and the head priestess, who wants to meet him due to his dark red soul color.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“That’s too much. I was thinking we could hold it on the top of the spire with Father and Mother and our brothers and your mate, not even your children. Seth needs a slower transition.”

A soft smile crossed his features. “You truly love him.”

“Yes,” I said, even though it hadn’t been a question. “Something small, please.”

“I can do that.”

“Thank you.”

When I ended the session, I padded back toward our bedroom. Seth was still asleep, though Lucy was awake. She meowed, demanding food, which I gave her. I sat on the bed with a book. As I read, Seth shifted until he was right against me, head on my thigh and arm thrown over my legs. I ran my fingers through his impossibly soft hair and continued to read, waiting for him to wake up.

I rested on something hard, and a gentle hand rubbed my back. It was nice.

A finger tapped my cheek. “Good morning.”

Kal’s melodious voice sent delicious shivers down my spine and stirred my desire. I wanted to wake up to the sound of his voice everyday for the rest of my life.

“Good morning,” I replied. A breeze gusted through the windows and brought the smell of rich dirt, flowers, and grass. “I like this.”

His hand slid down the back of my hoodie and stroked my bare skin. “As do I.”

Suddenly, like a bad stench, I remembered I had to meet his parents and siblings tonight. My breath increased and my muscles tensed.

Kal shimmied down until he was next to me. “It will be alright. It will be you and me, my parents, and siblings. No one else.”

“What if they don’t like me?”

“They will love you as I do, my Seth.”

I burrowed my head into his chest, winding my arms around him. I would trust Kal. It would work out. It had to.

I tugged at the dark blue tunic for the thousandth time. While I wanted to wear my hoodie, I understood the wisdom of dressing formally, though that didn’t stop the shot of longing for the bulky shield. Everything was easier with my hoodie.

Kal wore an almost identical outfit, though his didn’t have sleeves, and he looked much better than I did. I brushed the swell of my gut before yanking at the fabric again.

Kal kissed my neck, whispering, “You’re so handsome that I’d much rather stay in our room.”

Swallowing the sudden desire that awakened my dick, I said, “Don’t say that or I might agree.”

He groaned. “We should cancel.”

“No.” I didn’t spend the entire day stressing to chicken out now. “Let’s go.”

Our fingers intertwined, and Kal led me through the palace. We didn’t see anyone, which wasn’t too surprising. Kal had informed me this wing, all the way up to the spire, was for the royal family exclusively.

Tall windows, with a railless terrace and sheer curtains, lined one of the walls. Plants, vines, flowers, and small trees filled the corridors. There was an occasional door, but something felt missing. There were no paintings or statues. No unnecessary furniture cluttered the palace, and there was no art of any kind. Nonetheless, it was beautiful.

One day it would be nice to explore the palace by Kal’s side. One day. Not yet, but sometime.

We came to a spiral staircase with a wide enough center that Kal could have flown up. Sweat began to gather on my brow after a few steps. “There’s not an elevator?” I asked, huffing.

“No,” he said with a lilt in his voice. I glared at him when I glimpsed the smirk on his lips. Kal said, “I will fly you down to our room.”

I grunted. I hadn’t exercised much since being sick, and definitely not enough to climb several flights of stairs. Relief surged through me at the sight of the landing.

At the top was an elegantly carved archway. Past it was a round room with a glass ceiling pointing into the sky. Windows framed by white sheer curtains made up the walls. Potted trees rested between each window, and a table toward the left of the room was covered with plates of food and a pink fizzy drink. But none of that held my gaze.

A line of people stood in the center of the room. My new family.

Kal whispered in my ear, “Be yourself.”

Three of the people I recognized. Kal’s father and mother plus his eldest brother; the others, I’d never seen. Kal tugged me in front of him, arms going about my waist, and gestured to the tall man in the front of the line. “You remember my father, Emperor Kontolmakqilnen.”

“Yes.” The last time I’d seen him was when he’d caught Kal blowing me, so it was safe to say I remembered him.

“It’s lovely to see you again. I’m glad you’re more clothed this time.”

My mouth dropped, and Kal snapped, “Father.”

“Stop,” Kal’s mother said, smacking his arm.

“You remember my mother, Empress Vyn,” Kal said, though he continued to glare at his father who grinned.

“It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”

Steadily, Kal introduced me to his siblings and his eldest brother’s mate in a blur of ridiculously long names and faces. I was overwhelmed. I didn’t want to be, but I was.

Be myself. Be myself. Suddenly, I had no idea what I liked or wanted. My mind went completely blank. What did I even like to do? Who was I? Sweat dripped down my spine, soaking the back of my shirt, and I desperately hoped no one noticed.

People talked around me, and I nodded along, not really hearing them. Kal squeezed my hand as he talked with one of his older brothers. A soft smile pulled at my lips. Kal. He was the reason I was doing this. He loved me exactly how I was, no questions, no trying to ‘fix’ me, nothing. He simply loved me.

Kal’s head tilted to the side and made one of his long earrings brush his neck. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah.” I could do this because I wanted Kal.

Zoltil-something, who was three years older than Kal, watched us. He and Kal didn’t look much alike in terms of color—he had deep black scales and silver-white hair—but they shared the same long nose and strong chin.

“What hobbies do you have?” Zoltil-something asked, taking a sip of a bright pink liquid.

“Reading. I like to read. Watch shows from my planet. Play with my cat. Kal and I started an experience on the Admiral Ven, and I enjoyed that. We’ll finish it eventually.”

“Kal?” he asked, tail thrashing.

“I call him that.” I peeked at Kal. “He doesn’t mind.”

“Interesting,” his brother said.

Kal’s tail coiled around my ankle. “It doesn’t bother me.”

“It’s a rather short name,” Zoltil-something teased, lifting an eyebrow. “Much like you, Pest.”

I frowned. “He’s not short.”

“I meant no offense.” He looked at Kal. “Protective, isn’t he?”

“Yes,” Kal said, tail squeezing my ankle.

“So what do you do?” I asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Your occupation,” I explained. It was a normal enough question.

He smiled quizzically. “What all of us do. Meet with the Cohort, though we, besides Hallonnixmin, cannot vote yet, run royal charities, and care for our own personal properties. Though Dontilvynsan has duties with the navy, and Serlotminden has races.”

“Ah.” I floundered for a moment before asking, “What are your hobbies?”

“Hand-to-hand fighting, target practice, and growing flowers.”

“You like flowers?”

“I breed hybrids. I can show you my garden sometime if you’d like.”

“I would like that.”

“His plants are lovely,” Kal commented, beaming.

“I also took combat classes as well as firearm training on the Admiral Ven,” I said, trying to keep the conversation going. “Kal couldn’t train with me, though, because he got upset when I was thrown.”

Kal crossed his arms. “I refuse to apologize. I do not like watching my mate being injured in front of me.”

“I wasn’t injured,” I said. “I got thrown over Monty’s shoulder once and you panicked.”

He growled. “You’re mine to protect.”

“And I wasn’t in danger.”

“You two are suited to each other,” his older brother said.

“Of course we are. The Crystal led me to him,” Kal huffed.

“Why do you think we’re well matched?” I asked.

“Kalvoxrencol has needed someone to fight with as well as defend for a long time,” Zoltil-something said.

“Hmm,” I said.

Kal glowered at his brother, who didn’t seem to care.

“Has he been honest about his past transgressions?” Zoltil-something asked.

“Bloom,” Kal growled.

I started at the nickname but answered, hooking an arm around Kal’s waist, “Yes, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest.”

“I’m glad for you, Pest.”

“Thank you,” Kal said with a tight smile.

Kal held himself back from his family, and I didn’t know why. His family clearly loved him.

Zoltil-something excused himself and went to the refreshment table, talking to Kal’s other brothers. Kal watched his retreat, his tail tightly wound around my ankle.

Cupping his cheeks, I asked, “What’s wrong, Babe?”

He pressed his forehead against mine. “My family has stood by me through everything, but they can’t see past my mistakes. I swear I’ve changed, but I’m afraid they’ll say something to scare you away.”

“Not going to happen. Not now. Not ever,” I said fiercely. Kal was mine. I’d never felt possessive of anyone in my life, but now I had someone I didn’t want to lose. Someone I wanted to protect. It didn’t matter what anyone said, I was going to stay with Kal for the rest of our lives.

Kal groaned. “I want to kiss you.”

I swallowed. “I’m not really comfortable doing that right now.”

“That’s why I said it instead of mauling you in front of my family.”

His words startled a laugh out of me, though it also sent my stomach swooping. I wouldn’t mind him mauling me if we were alone.

Before I could say anything, an arm hooked around Kal’s neck, and he made a choking sound. “Serlotminden,” Kal said, smacking his third brother away.

“Stop hogging your mate.”

Kal growled, and his brother dragged him away toward the group of siblings. They all rubbed Kal’s head, and he snarled. All standing together, I saw the resemblances between them. They all shared the same long noses and strong features of their father, though everyone but Kal had their mother’s eyes. Their loud voices echoed around the room as they teased Kal, who crossed his arms.

“Seth Harris.” Kal’s father stood beside me, watching his gaggle of children. Hal had Kal in a headlock, rubbing his head.

“Your Majesty.” Was that even his title? I’d never spoken to royalty before. Well, I talked to Kal, but he was different.

“I would like to speak to you alone tomorrow.”

I swallowed, glancing at him, but he steadfastly watched his children. Kal and Hal were now wrestling while their brothers shouted. Their mother scolded them, but Hal’s mate started to take bets on the victor; it heavily swayed toward Kal.

“You distracted Kal so you could ask me that,” I said.

“He is exceedingly possessive of you.”

“He’s afraid you’ll take me away. I don”t want to leave him. I love him.”

The emperor stared at me for several moments, studying me. “Tomorrow. You and I will speak. Alone.”

“Why do you want to talk to me and why alone?” I asked, clutching the hem of my shirt.

“To get to know you and decide whether you and my child belong together.”

We did. “And I’m to tell Kal what?”

“The truth,” he said before striding to his children, ordering them to behave.

I finally freed myself from my older brothers, swearing death on each of them, and went to Seth. He claimed my hand, and my tail automatically curled around his ankle.

“Your brothers love you.”

“They like to torture me.”

“Come on,” Seth said, “let”s go talk to them.”

With a slight smile on my lips, I followed Seth across the room to my family. My fingers tightened around his. All of my family.