“It is customary for the monarch of Obsidian Island to bless the Nyeusian heir apparent on the day of their birth and viceversa. Your mother did it for me, and my father did it for you. You wouldn’t rob my daughter of experiencing that honor, would you?”
Aléx looked into Jasiri’s eyes and saw hope and the cunning of a king. It was true, this was a custom shared between their people since the birth of King Nikos and Queen Nairobi’s firstborn. King Amir traveled from Nyeusi to bless the new heir. When the next Nyeusian king had a child, the Obsidian king paid the same honor in return.
Jasiri was doing this on purpose, to pull Aléx out of the hell he’d lived in for five years. The arrogant bastard knew Aléx would never be able to refuse him this request.
Jasiri placed the tiny bundle in Aléx’s arms and stepped back once he was sure his daughter was secure in Aléx’s grasp.
“Did you forget your standard?”
Aléx couldn’t take his eyes off the tiny human he was holding, not even to answer her father.
“No,” he said, as the baby made reflexive sounds. “It’s in my satchel. It occurred to me you might not want me to do the ceremony considering we haven’t been close for a while. However, I brought it anyway figuring it was safer to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”
Baby Shadae squiggled like a bowl of gelatin until Aléx repositioned her, placing her head in the crook of his arm and hugging her to his body.
When he looked up, Jasiri had removed the large flag with the Obsidian royal crest on it. He handed it to him, waiting in earnest for Aléx to begin.
Aléx glanced back down at the baby as she burrowed like a cat until she found her sweet spot in his arms. Without even realizing it, Aléx was smiling as his insides softened.
Is this what children did? Did they sand down your rough edges until they were smooth to the touch and were no longera danger to you or anyone else? He hadn’t been around enough children to know if that were true. Not even the child he’d fathered.
Before he could allow his painful past to encroach on this moment with this sweet child Jasiri had entrusted him with, he wrapped the standard haphazardly around the babe before he took a deep breath.
He glanced up at his wife, her eyes glazed over in reverence as if she were imagining him holding their baby in the future. His throat felt tight with emotion, because he couldn’t help but imagine that himself.
“Princess Shadae, daughter of Queen Reigna, issue of the great King Jasiri, standard bearer of the House of Adebesi, heir apparent, and crown princess of the Nyeusian throne.”
He slowly swiped a reverent thumb across the child’s head before he spoke again.
“May you possess the wisdom of all your ancestors so that you will rule with forethought and foresight.”
He flattened his hand on the babe’s chest, the rapid tattoo cinching his heart with an imaginary thread that seemed to be connecting them.
“May your heart be filled with compassion and kindness, so that you will rule with grace and benevolence.”
He plucked a tightened fist from beneath the standard and gently opened Shadae’s hand with his thumb.
“May your hands be as open and strong as your heart so that you may carry and comfort your people and your nation through the sorrows life will inevitably bring.”
Shadae chose that moment to kick her leg free of her blanket as if she’d come into this world knowing what her role was. He took the tiny foot into his large hand, marveling at how delicate it was.
“May your feet be strong and sturdy, so that you may stand as a beacon to your people in times of light and darkness.”
He readjusted her blanket so that her foot was covered and she wouldn’t get cold. He looked up at Jasiri, his cousin nodding as he watched Aléx honor his daughter. There was pride in his eyes, and abounding love. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but Aléx dared to think just a little of that love Jasiri was exuding was for Aléx himself.
Aléx knew he didn’t deserve it. He didn’t deserve the loyalty Jasiri showed in keeping his secret from Reigna, and therefore Regina, either. That didn’t stop him from wanting to be part of Jasiri’s inner circle. Perhaps the birth of this little one was a means to let Aléx’s walls down so he could embrace this man again.
His heart full, he lifted the baby to him. Leaning down, he placed a feathery kiss on her forehead.
“To Princess Shadae of the House of Adebesi, may your reign be long and may your legacy live on forever.”
Jasiri motioned to the sisters, and they each joined him in repeating after Aléx in unison.
“May your reign be long, and may your legacy live on forever.”
The new princess opened her eyes for the first time and looked up into Aléx’s face, giving him a reflexive smile. From all the books he’d read, Aléx knew logically that she wasn’t intentionally smiling at him. And yet it still made his heart soar.
He walked over to Reigna’s bedside and handed her the baby. Before he could step away, she squeezed his hand to garner his attention.
