“…all the good things that come with being a prince—like special horses, and big parties—you can only enjoy those if you take your responsibilities seriously as well.”
I’d always struggled with the way Melek expressed expectations to Mael, like he was already an adult. But there was no doubt who our son listened to most intently.
“I really wanted the pony,” Mael whimpered. He turned to rub his tearstained face on the pillow.
“I wanted to take you. But, if you choose to be rude—to your mother, and to your friend—then you can’t have a pony. Not yet. You aren’t responsible enough.”
“She’s not my friend,” Mael said sullenly, punching the bedquilt. “She’s—”
Melek gave a very low, very quiet growl, and our son cut off like someone shot an arrow at him. He swallowed, then turned his beautiful blue-green eyes up to his father. “Sorry,” he whispered.
“Good man,” Melek said. “Now, I know it’s hard. But this is the lesson for today: If you want to lead, and make decisions, and wear a crown one day, it’s your jobtodayto be an example to those around you. Even when people are annoying.” Mael’s frown deepened, but he didn’t grow defiant. Then Melek smirked, and whispered, “How do you think I stayed with your mother all these years?”
My discipline to my husband was swift, and sharp, and straight to his ear.
Melek gave a mock roar of rage. Mael giggled.
I winked at him over Melek’s shoulder. “Mael, it’s normal to think girls are annoying for now. You don’t have to be friends. However, the reason you should bekindis because you’re a prince. A prince’s job is to get ready to be king—and kings aren’t allowed to be mean.”
“Except with their mates?” Mael asked guilelessly.
Melek and I looked at each other, frowning. “Mael, Daddy isn’t mean to me. He didn’t mean it that he found me annoying—and I was only pretend hitting his ear.” Melek grunted, but I plowed on. “We’re just joking, that’s all.”
Mael frowned. “But he roars a lot.”
What in the world? I hadn’t seen Melek lose his temper inmonths.“Mael, Daddy doesn’t—”
“That’s, uh, a different kind of roaring, son,” Melek said suddenly, scratching the back of his neck. I went very still.
“No, it’s not. I hear you. You’re angry at Mama almost every night!”
Oh dear Lord.
My cheeks went hot, and I froze.
Melek rolled his lips like he was trying not to laugh. “Son, there’s special kinds of… er, roars, between mates. When you findyourmate, you’ll roar too. But that will be a long time from now and… and something you’ll enjoy a lot,” he ended abruptly.
I quivered. To make matters worse, he’d dropped his hand down behind me and slipped fingers under my skirt, trailing them back up my leg where Mael couldn’t see.
Mael brightened. “So, when I get older, I can roar at Adiya?”
“No!” I said quickly.
At the same time Melek chuckled. “If you want to, yes, you can.”
I wanted to smack him again. “If you do, you’d have to, er, earn the right, Mael. You never, um, roar at a woman, unless she wants you to. You can’t just do it whenever you want,” I ended desperately, asking myself how the hell I’d gotten into this conversation with my son, when he wasn’t even five?
Mael went sullen again and slumped back on his pillow. “It’s not fun if you needpermission.Girls never say yes to fun things when you ask,” he muttered, then sighed as if the weight of the world rested on his tiny shoulders. “That’s too bad. Roaring always makes me feel better.”
“Me too, Son,” Melek said seriously.
I pinched the place on his ribs that he was ticklish and he jumped, but I covered for him by leaning past him to tuck Mael back in tightly and kiss him on the forehead. “Sleep well, my prince. Tomorrow is a new day.”
“Sleep well, Queen Mama,” he whispered back in our little tradition since he’d been very small, and was confused by others calling me a title.
Melek waited for me to walk away, then leaned over to kiss Mael and murmur something else in his ear, before following me out.
As we crossed the sitting room, where his nanny knitted in the corner, I smiled and prayed she didn’t notice the heat in my cheeks.
