“Why not?”
“Because some truths are secret truths,” Wen said.
Killian’s eyes lit up and he dropped his voice to a whisper that was somehow louder than his normal speaking voice. “Ohhh. Secret truths. Got it.”
“Stay close to us during dinner,” I told him.
“Can I sit between you?”
“Of course,” Wen said immediately.
“Good.” He grabbed both our hands. “‘Cause I don’t like strangers.”
“They are not strangers. They are visiting royalty.”
“What’s roy-al-ty?”
“Important fancy people,” Wen explained.
Killian processed this. “So fancy strangers.”
“Yes, essentially.”
Torin appeared in the doorway, bowing slightly. “Your Majesties, the guests have arrived.”
Killian immediately perked up, swinging our hands. “Let’s go! I’m gonna count everyone!”
“Quietly though,” Wen reminded him.
“I’ll whisper!”
I caught Torin’s eye as we moved toward the door. “Stay close to them tonight.”
“Always, Your Majesty.”
We walked through the corridors toward the throne room, Killian between us, swinging on our hands like we were his personal playground equipment. He was chattering non-stop about counting people and asking questions about everything we passed.
“Why are there so many guards?”
“To keep everyone safe.”
“Safe from what?”
“From anything that might try to hurt us.”
“Like monsters?”
“Like people who make bad choices.”
“Oh.” He thought about this. “That’s lots of people then.”
Wen and I exchanged a look over his head, both fighting smiles.
The throne room doors loomed ahead. I could already hear the murmur of voices inside. Seventy representatives from seven kingdoms, all about to meet my hybrid son and human mate.
I straightened my spine. Tried to remember I was a king and not just Wen’s husband and Killian’s father. Tonight required politics, diplomacy. Careful navigation.
We entered the throne room and silence fell immediately. Every eye turned to us, every guest bowed or curtsied except the other Kings and Queens.
