“I hope she tells all the towers what she saw. It should be clear to everyone who we both belong to.” Avery meant it, too. She didn’t want to spend another day with people not knowing that Savine Rathalian, the true King of Latiah, was hers and hers alone.
Savine chuckled as he said, “She’s probably telling anyone who is passing in the hall that we are naked in bed in the middle of the morning.”
“If only they knew the games their king played. They may be more understanding that this may be our last morning spent this way. Now, climb back into bed with me.”
Savine dressed in a light shirt and comfortable pants before he got back into bed with Avery. Savine crawled under the covers and tugged Avery’s chin toward him. “Oh, Avery, I have no doubt that we will have hundreds of thousands of days spent this way. So many that you will grow tired of people walking in on us naked in the mornings.”
Shadows of doubt crossed her face. She wanted to keep up this cheerful attitude, but she didn’t have as much faith in herself as Savine seemed to have. Chewing her lip, she nodded her head as her words came out in barely a whisper. “I hope you’re right.” The unease stirred in the pit of Avery’s stomach.
He took her cup of tea and sipped it before pouring more for her. She heard him make a faint mmm sound as the tea went down his throat.
“Your tea addiction rivals my former coffee addiction. But to be fair, tea never tastes as good as coffee for me.”
“One of my first orders as king will be to locate and import coffee for you, my flower. I believe living without tea would be like living without breathing, so I understand your pain.”
Edet knocked lightly and quickly on the door before she entered their room this time. “Here you are, Your Highness. I recall you enjoy tea, so I brought you a separate pot. I know your last visit did not end well. Right shame, that whole thing. What with our king killing his daughter and our queen killing him, then causing her own life to end? But it all worked out for you, what with your execution on hold.”
Avery’s eyes shot to Savine as his body tensed. His essence shook under his skin before he took a calming breath. She wanted so badly to know all the details about what happened the last time Savine visited Nephel, but she didn’t want to push him. Fae kept their secrets like currency. And despite the soulmate bond and his declaration of love, Savine was still keeping those secrets close.
Edet seemed to sense the tension caused by her words, and she turned away from them momentarily.
“I am here for more than bringing breakfast. You are to be dressed and primped in three hours to prepare for the guests of honor this evening. I will return then wi’ the dress. Highness, you are to dress in another room. Will you need assistance?”
“I will manage on my own,” Savine said.
“I assumed so. A warrior like yourself don’t need another man to dress you.”
Savine’s facetook on that hard, unwavering look that Avery had grown so used to. “I also will not be leaving Avery while she prepares for the… festivities.”
“Ah, I do not know if that will be acceptable. The orders for you to leave the room were from high up,” Edet said as she shrugged her shoulders.
“Selene, I assume? Yes, well, I will deal with her if she has a problem with me being here.”
“Very well, do you need anything else this morning?” Edet asked as she looked at him in disbelief. Avery already knew most of the folk seemed to have a healthy fear of Selene.
“Not yet. We will train after breakfast, so I’ll need a bath,” Avery said.
Edet curtsied as she began backing toward the door. “No problem with that, me lady.”
As she left the room, Avery wondered about Edet’s origins. Were there wingless Nepheli?
“Savine, is Edet a typical Nepheli? She doesn’t have wings, and she’s the color and texture of sand.”
“I would assume she is either full Goldoth or half Goldoth. She seems to draw her essence from minerals.”
“How would she end up here, then?”
“Like my people, most folk are free to travel and live in other nations. Or she may be indentured to Rylo’s kingdom.”
“Like a servant? Or a slave?”
“Yes, my flower. Most likely a slave that can buy back her freedom after a certain period of time.”
“Are there slaves in Orofine?”
“We called them the indentured, for they can gain their freedom after years of service, but yes. Giving the indentured their freedom issomething I plan to do as king. I have lived my life under the control of another, and I know how it can weigh on someone. I will not allow it any longer.”
Avery sighed as she leaned against Savine’s strong body. “There’s so much riding on today, isn’t there? It’s not only about us and our future. But the future of all those without a voice or a home, isn’t it?”
