“Of course, he was joking,” Teddy answered.
From the couch, Javier laughed while the other male shook his shoulders in what looked like quiet laughter.
“My father did something similar to Brenton the first time he came to the castle,” I told Aidas. “I didn’t realize how much fun it would be.”
With an incredulous look, Teddy shook her head. “Menace. If you’re done tormenting them, let me introduce you to Kieren and Delaney.”
So itwasDelaney. While his friends stood to greet me, Javier mashed his lips together, avoiding my eye contact.
“Kieren,” I said. “Are you the one who made that drawing of Nalari?”
He nodded.
“It’s a stunning piece,” I said. “Thank you.”
He nodded again.
“How much did Elias flip out when you told him you were pregnant?” Javier asked Teddy.
“I didn’t flip out,” I said, using their strange human term. Although, I absolutely did flip out.
“He took me straight to the healer to hear the babies’ heartbeats.” Teddy dug out her phone from the back pocket of her pants, and after finding the recording, she handed it to Javier.
The girls gathered around him to listen. Teddy peered up at Alastor, who stood in front of the recliner, rocking on his heels.
“I’m happy for you,” Alastor said. He looked like he maybe wanted to hug her, but he stayed in place with his hands in the front pockets of his pants. “Truly.”
She strode to Alastor and hugged him without giving him a choice. It took him a few beats before he returned the embrace.
With one arm still around Alastor’s back, she said, “Kieren, this is actually one of the reasons I asked if you could come by after school. Elias and I wanted to see if you could reach Brenton. He’s in the human realm, and my magic isn’t strong enough to reach him.”
“We want to have a celebratory feast in the castle,” I explained. “We’d love it if you all came, but we can’t have it without Brenton.”
“It wouldn’t be the same if the troublemakers weren’t around.” Teddy looked at Aidas, whose grin widened.
Aidas held his palm to his chest. “Mama Teddy, I’m touched.”
“Careful,” Delaney whispered so low only fae ears could hear her. “Teddy is the prince’s soul-bound mate. Keep acting foolish and he may throw you in the dungeon.”
I smirked at the way Aidas’s light complexion paled, that smirk only growing when she winked at Kieren who held back his own grin.
“If Koa and his mate would like to come, I’d love to meet his family and for my family to meet his,” I said to Alastor.
The smile Teddy gave me was a gift.
“I can communicate with him through the veil,” Alastor said. “But we would need to send another lirio to replace him.”
This meant that I’d have to bend space to take whoever replaced him and bring Koa back. It was worth it if only to see the pride that shone on Teddy’s face. And if I was honest, it was long overdue.
For months, I’d used the lirio without seeing them as more than a means to an end. But they were fae, just like my people. More than that, though, they had become Alastor’s family.
An unfamiliar, almost reluctant tingle spread across my mind, and I opened myself to it.
“Your Majesty,”Kieren said.
“Don’t youYour Majestyhim,”Teddy countered.
“You know I am actually the prince of this kingdom,”I reminded my mate.“It’s only appropriate that he address me as such.”
