I give her a quick smile and turn back to Keane.
“Who else knows this Court and its politics better than your mother? Who else has lived and most likely will continue to live in Bardot for a great many years to come? I’ve seen her stand alongside your father to help govern Knowledge. The position could work.”
Keane grips my thigh hard and holds my gaze with a grin, but its Desmond that responds coolly in response to my questions.
“Navigating the Court of Knowledge is much more intricate than hosting political and social functions, Alexis. The Lord also commands the armies within.”
I turn to the Discerni Prince with an acknowledging nod but shrug, nonetheless. “True, though I don’t doubt she’s been privy and has discussed military action in the past with King Zander. At the very least, I’m sure she’s sat in on those conversations, whether in group or privately. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time spent with the Queen, it’s that she is a very headstrong woman and is heavily involved inallaspects of the Kingdom, not just social or political.”
Desmond brings his whiskey to his lips to hide his small grin, his gaze still holding mine as he chuckles quietly. “Tooperceptive, brother.”
I roll my eyes at the Master Informer and sit back in my chair.
“You cannot have her.”
Ancients, these two.
“A thought to consider, Alexis,” Keane looks at me with his brown eyes alight, “though the name has a nice ring to it… LeadingLady.”
Alanna smiles in her seat, as does Sera, the two of them openly grinning at the idea behind their drinks. Keane moves his hand back down my thigh slowly,sensually, prompting me to push my legs together and shift in my seat.
“I need to check on the food,” Sera stands up gracefully from the table with a smile. I quickly stand with her to escape Keane’s playful hand, offering my help as she smiles in response.
“Brilliant, Alexis,” she exclaims the moment we enter the kitchen, “absolutely brilliant.”
“It could make sense,” I grin behind her, watching as she opens a tiled oven door to the food cooking within, “the Queen truly is aware of everything that goes on in Knowledge. She would make a good fit.”
“It does make sense,” Sera nods at the roaring fire as the smell of roasted chicken fills the room, “though I do not know if the Kingdom is ready for it.”
“They will have to be,” I reply quietly, “it will be nothing compared to the rest of the changes that are slated to come.”
Sera’s body stills. She turns around slowly from the oven and finds my gaze, “but Mana tells me that you are hesitant…”
“I am,” I give her a small smile, “my humanity still wills out. I see nothing wrong with being human and remaining as we are now…”
“But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the request asked of me. My desire is and will always be to advocate forchoice. The choice to let the humans of this Old World decide how they want to live, whether that’s embracing their former mystics or not.”
Sera watches me for a few moments as we both let the silence fuel our thoughts. She finally gives a small smile and then turns back to the oven, her reply more for herself than for me.
“The Ancient chose well.”
I shift in my stance, having no response to that except to offer my hands in help. Sera shakes her head at me with a smile and pulls out the dinner, placing it on the prepping table.
“This will have to cool for a bit before I can serve.”
“How about the smaller plates then?” I look around the kitchen, “and cutlery. I can help bring those out.”
“Yes,” she grins, “let’s do that.”
The two of us walk out of the kitchen with full hands and full smiles as I tell her about Princess Clair’s snow tiger and when Alba greeted me for the first time. She looks back at me in open astonishment when I also tell her how I wished Alba would accompany the Princess on her travel to Bardot.
“I swear to you,” I laugh as we walk through the café, “beautiful. The most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on. Just don’t tell Storm I told you that.”
Sera laughs and shakes her head, “I won’t even tell my husband and his brother you said that.”
We both grin and make our way around the table, placing the knives and forks and plates in front of everyone’s chairs.
“We’re still up,” Sera grins when we’re done, “get your ale in now.”
