“Wow. You’re REALLY old then.”
Wen started to intervene but Mortimer was already laughing. “It’s quite alright. Honesty from children is refreshing.”
“You got kids?”
“Two sons and one daughter.”
Killian perked up immediately. “Are they here?”
“Just one of them. My middle son, Pattryk.”
“Can I play with them?”
“Well…” He cleared his throat. “Yes. Perhaps after dinner.” He said, which made me snort. Pattryk was younger than me, in his twenties. He wasnotanywhere near Killian’s age. But I appreciated Mortimer not destroying Killian’s mood with this bit of information.
“Good!” Killian nodded seriously. “‘Cause I’m bored.”
Mortimer laughed again and stood, definitely strengthening our alliance with Duskmere. Anyone who was kind to my son earned loyalty.
Kane Aurelius from Ebonvale Kingdom was next, all intensity and superiority wrapped in formal wear. He looked at Killian like he was examining an interesting specimen.
“Hybrid children are so rare. Fascinating.”
“He is my son,” I said, my voice cold. “Not a curiosity.”
Killian tugged on Wen’s dress. “Mama, what’s fas-in-ate-ing?”
“It means interesting, baby.”
“Oh! I’m interesting!” He turned to me, beaming. “Papa, I’m interesting!”
I looked at Kane pointedly. “Yes. Very.”
Kane had the grace to look uncomfortable before moving on. Good.
Lastly, Kazamir Briarfield from Moonhaven approached, looking like speaking actual words might cause him physicalpain. He grunted what might have been a greeting, nodded at Killian, grunted again, and moved to his seat.
“I like him,” Killian whispered loudly. “He’s quiet.”
“He is very quiet,” I agreed. Kazamir communicated primarily through grunts and facial expressions. I respected it. Saved time.
More representatives approached. More bowing and showing respect for being the hosts. More thinly veiled judgment of my human mate and hybrid son. Killian waved at a few of them, friendly little guy completely unaware of the political undercurrents. One severe-looking woman actually smiled back at him, which probably surprised her as much as it surprised me.
I scanned the room constantly, cataloging positions and exits, but my eyes kept drifting back to Wen. The way she handled each representative with grace. The way she smiled at Killian when he got confused counting. The way she-
“Your Majesty?”
I blinked. Someone was talking to me. Right.
“I apologize,” I said to whoever it was. A woman from Valoryn, I thought. Maybe. “You were saying?”
“I was asking about the trade agreements.”
“Of course. The trade agreements.” I had no idea which trade agreements. I’d been watching Wen tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and wondering if I could convince her to leave early.
Focus. I needed to focus.
“The terms remain as discussed,” I said, hoping that was vague enough to be accurate.
