His tail swished in anticipation, his blue eyes fixed on the newly repaired entrance. When Koa swung open the heavy oak door, revealing King Lucian’s tall, imposing figure silhouetted against the night, Brummy surprised me by bounding forward with a happy whine.
“Well, hello to you, too,” Papa Lucian greeted the wolf pup. His elegant fingers, so like Casimir’s, found all the right spots to scratch, making Brummy wriggle with delight.
Behind him stood a woman I could only assume was Queen Kaori. She was stunning. Caramel skin glowing, tight black curls framing a face that showed both intelligence and warmth. Her simple cream dress fit her perfectly, making my jeans and sweater feel inadequate.
“You must be Serafina.” She stepped forward with an outstretched hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“All good things, I hope.” I accepted her handshake. Her grip was firm, but not aggressive, the handshake of someone who knows her role and is comfortable in it. “Please, call me Seri. Everyone does.”
“Seri, then.” Her smile revealed perfect teeth. “And I’m Kaori. No ‘Your Majesty’ nonsense from family.”
I glanced at Papa Lucian and found him watching me with an expression that bordered on tender.
“Seri,” he greeted formally, then his voice softened. “Daughter.”
The word still felt new, strange but not unwelcome. I stepped forward to accept his hug, noting how Koa stiffened ever so slightly in my peripheral vision. The strain between father and son hummed in the air like electricity before a storm.
Brummy, oblivious to the undercurrents, circled Kaori’s legs before sitting back on his haunches and offering a tentative sniff. She laughed, a bright sound that seemed to lighten the heaviness in the foyer, and held out her hand for inspection. After a thorough snufflinginvestigation, Brummy barked once, a clear sound of approval that made us all smile.
“He likes you,” I told her.
“I’m honored.” Kaori’s smile was dazzling. “I’ve heard wolves are excellent judges of character.” She bent down to pet him, entirely unconcerned about her elegant dress. “You’re a handsome fellow, aren’t you?”
Koa inclined his head in a gesture that was polite, but nowhere near the deference one might expect toward vampire royalty.
“My queen,” he acknowledged Kaori, but offered nothing to Papa Lucian.
If the slight bothered the king, he gave no indication. His face remained calm, but I caught the briefest flash of something in his eyes, a sorrow so deep that my heart squeezed.
“Kaori, this is my youngest son, Koa.”
“Lucian says you’re a genius with technology.” She offered her hand, which Koa shook despite his eyes widening at his father both calling him son and offering praise.
As we moved to the living room, I found myself nervous in a way I hadn’t expected. Meeting Papa Lucian had been intimidating enough the first time, but Kaori, an accomplished, beautiful nephilim who was now the vampire queen, somehow made me feel like an awkward child again. I was silly to be anxious, though. Within minutes of settling into our comfortable armchairs, Kaori had me laughing at her description of the king’s first attempt to navigate wireless earbuds.
“He crushed three before he realized how gentle he needed to be,” she said, her eyes sparkling as Papa Lucian made a sound that might actually have been embarrassment.
“Technology advances too quickly,” he defended himself, the corner of his mouth twitching.
“Says the man who adapted just fine from candlelight to electricity,” Kaori teased, then turned to me. “Lucian mentioned you have an interest in plants? I love to garden.”
“Really?” My face lit up. “I’ve always loved growing things. My father was an earth witch, and he taught me to recognize every plant in our garden by the time I was five.”
“That’s a wonderful gift,” she said, leaning forward. “Have you maintained a garden here?”
“The landscapers do it all, but I want to make a little one just for me,” I admitted. “Koa said he’d build me some raised beds. It’s going to be a night garden.”
“You should see Kaori’s collection of night-blooming plants.” Papa Lucian was watching his beloved with poorly concealed adoration. “She’s transformed my gloomy courtyard into something magical.”
“What do you plan to use in yours?” Kaori asked.
“I want to build it around my husbands’ mate scents,” I admitted as heat rushed to my cheeks, but not from embarrassment. The mate scents were intensely personal. Sharing them felt intimate, but also like a point of pride.
“Tell me all about it! Maybe I have some starts to share with you.”
“Simmy smells like moonflowers, Koko evening primrose, and Zoodle,” I paused and looked at Papa Lucian as he let out a wheezy sort of hum that he quickly changed to a cough, “night phlox.”
“All flowers that release their fragrances most strongly at night.” Kaori grinned.
