Chapter 2
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Mal
Seven kingdoms in one room for the first time in decades. The potential for disaster was astronomical.
Also the potential for Killian to discover something else he should not. The honey was just this morning. What would he find by tonight? The wine cellar? The armory? My personal stash of Wen’s Earth chocolate that she thought was hidden?
I paced the length of my study, adjusting the weapons hidden in my formal clothes for the third time.
Knife in my boot. Another at my hip, concealed by the ridiculous vest Wen had finally managed to button.
A third strapped to my forearm under the sleeve.
Paranoid? Maybe. But my mother was still alive after hundreds of years, which meant the paranoia she had taught me was well-earned.
“Stop pacing,” Aurion said from where he was sprawled in my chair, looking completely unhelpful. “You are making me anxious.”
“This gathering is unprecedented. Anything could happen.”
“Relax.” He waved his hand dismissively. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
I stopped pacing to stare at him. “War. Assassination. Killian discovering the wine cellar.”
“Only one of those is likely.”
“Exactly. The wine cellar is very accessible.”
“Which is why you have guards everywhere.”
“Not enough guards in the world to stop a determined four-year-old.”
Daphne, who was perched on the arm of the chair beside him, rolled her eyes at both of us. “Are you expecting trouble?”
“I am always expecting trouble.”
“And paranoid,” Aurion added helpfully. “You’re very paranoid.”
“It is not paranoia if they are actually trying to kill you.”
“Has anyone tried to kill you recently?”
“Not recently, but it is early.” I resumed pacing. “The night is young. Plenty of time for assassination attempts.”
“So optimistic,” Aurion said.
Daphne stood, crossing to me with her hands raised. “Maybe try being less doom and gloom?”
“No.” I checked the positions of my guards mentally, feeling each one through the pack bond. Extra security at every entrance. Patrols doubled. Torin stationed to stay close to Wen and Killian. “I am not changing my approach now.”
“Here’s what you do,” Aurion said, sitting up slightly. “Smile, nod, agree with everyone.”
I stared at him. “That is the worst advice I have ever heard in my entire life.”
“It works for me.”
“That’s because you don’t actually make any decisions,” Daphne pointed out. “He lately has just been following whatever the council says. Luckily, they’re always right.”
“Exactly.” Aurion grinned. “Very low stress. I highly recommend it.”
“You are king of Noctherion.”
“And I delegate beautifully.”
“To whom?”
“Anyone who looks competent.” He shrugged. “I have excellent instincts for competence.”
I turned to Daphne. “How do you tolerate him?”
“Alcohol,” she said immediately, a snort escaping her. “So much alcohol.”
Despite everything, I felt the corner of my mouth twitch. My brother was entertaining sometimes.
“I have tripled security,” I told them, moving to the window. Guests were already arriving in the courtyard below. “Torin will stay close to Wen and Killian throughout the evening.”
“You trust him that much?” Aurion asked.
Torin was good with them. Better than good.
“He is one of my most trusted guards.” I watched a carriage pull up, Crescentborn’s banner on the side. “I would trust him with my life. More importantly, with theirs.”
“That’s actually very sweet,” Daphne said.
“Do not tell anyone I said that.”
“Too late, I’m definitely telling Wen.”
“Daphne-”
“She’ll think it’s cute.”
“I am not cute. I am an apex predator.”
“An apex predator who reads romance novels to know how to speak to his wife,” Aurion said, grinning.
“It’s not for that. It’s just for research, asshole.”
“Sure. Research. That’s why you stole three more from Wen’s bookstore last week.”
I had no defense for that. The books were helpful. They gave me ideas. Wen seemed to enjoy the results of my research, so I was going to keep doing it.
But the truth was, Torin was there when Killian said “Papa” for the first time. I was arguing with Crescentborn about border taxes, four hours of negotiations about tariff percentages while my son learned his first word.
Wen told me about it after, her face glowing. How Killian’s little face had lit up. How he’d kept repeating it over and over, so proud of himself.
“Papa,” she’d mimicked in his baby voice, laughing. “Papa papa papa.”
I’d smiled and pretended it didn’t feel like a knife between my ribs.
Torin also saw Killian’s first partial shift. Just his ears, small and fuzzy. Wen had been laughing in delight, clapping her hands, while I reviewed security protocols for a visiting dignitary who ended up canceling anyway.
I trusted Torin. I was grateful for him. But some days I wanted to strangle him for being there when I couldn’t be.
“Brother.” Aurion’s voice cut through. “You’re brooding. I can see it on your face.”
“I am not brooding.”
“You absolutely are. You’ve got that constipated look you get when you’re feeling emotions.”
“I definitely do not have a constipated look.”
“You really do,” Daphne confirmed. They were definitely fucking soulmates.
“Everything will be fine,” she added, trying to be reassuring.
“You cannot know that.”
“Neither can you. So stop worrying.”
“Just smile and nod at everyone,” Aurion suggested again. “Worst case, they think you agree with whatever they’re saying. Best case, they’re confused into submission.”
I stared at him. “That is somehow even worse advice than before. How did you not get assassinated in your first year as king?”
“I happen to be very good at fighting.”
Right. But still…
“What if Silvermane tries to - fuck.” I forgot what I was saying. Forgot how to form words. Forgot my own name, probably.
Because Wen had just entered the room. The formal gown was deep blue, the color of midnight, clinging to every curve I’d mapped with my hands this morning. Her hair was swept up, exposing the neck I’d had my mouth on just hours ago. She was radiant, fucking devastating.
And I was standing here with my mouth open like an idiot.
“Brother,” Aurion said from somewhere far away. “Your wife literally just walked in.”
I couldn’t respond or move. Every intelligent thought I’d ever had simply... left.
“Brother?” Aurion’s voice was closer now. “Are you having a stroke?”
Someone was waving a hand in front of my face. I barely registered it.
“I think he’s broken,” Daphne said, sounding far too amused.
“Hello?” Aurion snapped his fingers. “Anyone home? We were discussing Silvermane. Important political things. Remember those?”
“She looks like a goddess,” I finally managed.
“She looks like your wife in a dress.”
I dragged my eyes away from Wen long enough to glare at my brother. “You are objectively wrong.”
“I’m realistic. She looks nice but you look like you’re about to pass out. Or cry. Possibly both.”
“I think it’s sweet,” Daphne said.
“You think everything is sweet.”
“Not true. I don’t think you’re sweet.”
“I am devastated.” Aurion winked at her.
I wasn’t listening anymore. I was already moving toward Wen, crossing the room like she was magnetic north and I was a compass with no other direction.
Very dignified, very kingly. Not at all like a lovesick puppy who’d forgotten he was supposed to be hosting the most important political gathering in decades.
She saw me coming and smiled, that secret smile that was just for me, and my brain completely gave up on functioning.
I reached her and pulled her close immediately, my hand settling on her lower back. “You are absolutely ravishing tonight, little mate.”
She raised an eyebrow, clearly fighting a smile. “Ravishing?”
“I am expanding my vocabulary.”
“For what purpose?”
I leaned down to murmur in her ear, low enough that only she could hear. “So I can adequately express how desperately I want to fuck you later.”
“Adequately?” She pulled back to look at me, challenge in her eyes. “Aim higher.”
“Enthusiastically? Thoroughly? Worshipfully?”
“Keep going.”
“Until you forget your own name and can only scream mine?”
Her cheeks flushed and I felt a surge of satisfaction. “Okay, you’ve been practicing.”
“Chapter twelve from Delightful Sins was very instructive.”
She laughed, the sound making my chest tight. “Save it for after, Your Majesty.”
“You are cruel, my Queen.”
“You love it.” She was beaming at me, and I had never seen a sight more fucking beautiful.
“Desperately. Hopelessly. Pathetically.” I mumbled, my brain still not working properly.
“That last one wasn’t sexy.”
“But honest.” I pulled her closer, not caring that Aurion and Daphne were watching us with matching smirks. Not caring that I had seventy guests arriving any minute. Not caring about anything except the woman in my arms. “I saw you and forgot how to function.”
“I noticed. Aurion was waving his hand in your face.”
“I did not notice Aurion. I only noticed you.”
She softened, reaching up to fix my collar. I’d messed it up somehow, though I had no memory of doing it. “You’re sweet when you’re besotted.”
“I am always besotted with you.”
“I know.”
Before I could kiss her the way I wanted to, the door burst open and a small tornado in formal wear flew into the room.
“LOOK! I’M FANCY!”
Killian spun in a circle, showing off his miniature formal outfit. He looked exactly like me, just smaller and covered in significantly less honey than this morning. My mother must have given him another bath and somehow convinced him to stay clean for more than five minutes. A miracle.
Wen knelt down immediately, her face lighting up. “You look so handsome!”
“Do I look like Papa?” He spun again, clearly proud of himself.
“Very much like me,” I said, kneeling beside Wen. Our son’s face was bright with excitement and nerves, his little hands fidgeting with his vest, the same nervous habit I had.
“When I get big, will I be tall like you?”
“Even taller.”
His eyes went huge. “WOW! I’ll be SUPER tall!”