That surprised me. I laughed again. “No, mother, I only spend time in the company ofthe lesser, as you said.”
Mom’s cheeks turned the slightest bit of pink at her embarrassment. But she only pursed her lips and waved a hand, telling me to go on.
“While we’re on the topic, since when do the guard wear green?” I asked. “That’s another problem. There are dead students at the academy, and the guard are in a new color. It’s tone-deaf.”
Hugo looked like he was ready to throttle me, but I ignored him. He’d always coddled my mom a little too much, which is why I suspected he was the favorite.
I readied myself for my mother to go into complete meltdown mode, but instead, she surprised me again.
She crossed her arms, chewed her lip for a moment, then lifted her chin. “What would you have me do?” she asked.
My mother had never asked for my opinion. Ever. Not even indulgently when I was a child. The fact that she was allowing me to giveher counsel only proved she felt as lost in her new position as she appeared.
“Let me take this on,” I said. “Let me start handling a few things for you. I’m the Heir Apparent, now. I have to take on a larger role. It will improve your image while shaping my own.”
My mom nodded, then cleared her throat. “Alright. And your special interest is…the academy?”
I raised my eyebrows. Hugo raised his eyebrows. Raaz remained a stoic fuck.
“I suppose. Maybe just the common people in general?” I thought as quickly as I could. I hadn’t expected her to actually take me seriously.
“This is because your Key is from the islands?” she asked.
I chuckled a little nervously.
“Not entirely,” I said slowly. “But it’d be a lie to say hearing about her experiences in the islands hasn’t influenced me.”
My mom stared at me for a moment, then nodded.
“Very well,” She rubbed her shoulders. “Hugo, call your Link-mate.” My mother never used my father’s name. “He is to leave all disaster management to the Heir Apparent.”
I choked on a laugh, letting out an awkward cough instead.
Hugo looked alarmed. “He’s going to–”
Mother cut him off. “I don’t care. The Prince has expressed interest in his Royal duties. I will not refuse him. If my Links should have a problem with this, they can speak to me directly.”
This time, I laughed openly.
My mother hadn’t spoken to my father in nearly a decade. There was a rumor she hadn’t evenlookedat him in nearly as long, too. My mom watched as I ran a hand down the roughened skin of my arm.
“This is good for you, my son. Perhaps I should meet the Key to this new Royal Chain.”
I grinned, imagining how angry my father would be.
This was going to cause such a fucking problem.
I was so excited.
For some reason,it was nearly impossible to leave the Palace.
It was more of a fortress, really, even if the more recent generations had slathered it with opulence to hide the fact that it had been a stronghold castle at one point.
My grandfather used to brag that the entire thing was constructed with stone, no metal reinforcements needed. He claimed this was so those with affinities for wielding metal couldn’t break it down from the outside in an attack.
As if earth affinates didn’t exist. Wyatt could level this place and all I had to do was irritate him.
As I made my way down the hall, shaking my head, though, I realized an affinity for metallurgy may not be as extinct as previously believed.
