“We’ve got to stop meeting like this,” Xander said with a laugh. “Do you and Sasha ever sleep? Or do you plot world domination day and night?”
Mina laughed and patted her hair. “Noteverynight. Sorry, your highness. I’ve got to start watching where I’m going. Good night.”
Xander waved goodbye as the royal assistant headed briskly in the opposite direction. With his thoughts back on Destiny,he returned to the packhouse, certain he wouldn’t find sleep anytime soon. He didn’t mind, though. He had lots to think about.
Xander requested an audience with his parents the following morning. He joined them for breakfast in their private dining room, arriving so early that he found the room empty aside from a pair of assistants laying the table. Too wired to sit, he was pacing in front of the fireplace when the first of his dads arrived.
King Raj startled when he saw his son. He made a big show of looking at the clock, then raised his thick, dark eyebrows at Xander. Xander started to speak, but was interrupted when another of his dads strode in.
“Alexander is already here? Since when does our son arriveanywherebefore us?” King Anton demanded, taking his seat at the end of the table.
Xander tried again to reply, but the entrance of his remaining parents cut him off. King Malik and King Vasili escorted his mother to the other end of the table, then sat on either side of her.
“Is our son fully awake, dressed, and demanding breakfast, all before noon?” King Vasili asked the room in general. “And after a long day of royal duties, no less! To what do we owe such an honor?”
Xander scowled, raking his hair from his eyes with an impatient hand. He tried not to let their sarcasm bother him, but it was a reminder that he’d created the low expectations they had for him. It would take time to change that perception.
“My loves, I’m sure our son has a reason for joining us this morning. Shall we have breakfast and let him explain himself?” Queen Raina suggested mildly. His mother never seemed toneed to raise her voice to be heard. All of his fathers tuned in the moment she spoke. “Malik, darling, will you bless the food for us? Raj, Alexander, sit down.”
They followed his mother’s orders and soon began to eat, his parents watching him expectantly. Xander took a breath and squared his shoulders. He met their gazes solemnly, forgoing his normal rakish grin.
“First, I’d like to apologize.” Xander had thought hard about what he wanted to say, but he’d known that this is where he had to start, regardless of what else he said. “I’ve been immature and ungrateful these last few years. Maybe all my life. You’ve worked hard to give me a charmed life, and to prepare me for the responsibilities that come with it. I’ve taken it all for granted, and I’m sorry.”
Raj’s eyebrows nearly reached his hairline, but Xander’s other parents managed to maintain more neutral expressions. No one spoke. His mother nodded encouragingly, her ice blue eyes full of affection.
“I want to start working to change that, if you’ll allow me. I know that I’ll ascend the throne soon, that I could’ve done so by now if I’d gotten myself together sooner.” Xander took a deep breath, refusing to let himself wallow in his guilt. “I can’t change the past, but I can do better moving forward. I’d like to take a larger role in managing the country. I’d like to join more meetings, observe you more. And I welcome any feedback and advice you’re willing to give me along the way.”
His parents exchanged a weighty look. Xander held himself still, keeping his posture confident but respectful. He wouldn’t wither under their scrutiny as he had so many times before.
Finally, King Anton sighed. “We’ve waited eagerly for this day to come. We’ll begin immediately. You’ll join us for our morning briefing.” Xander’s mother gave her mate a pointed look, and Anton’s voice softened. “We’re proud of you, Alexander.”
Xander exhaled heavily, his shoulders loosening. His mother’s eyes twinkled merrily at him, reminding him of their conversation outside her library.If I didn’t believe you would be a great king, you would not be inheriting the throne.She’d always had faith in him, even when he didn’t believe in himself.
“You handled the press well yesterday,” King Malik said. “And you certainly made up for that silly article. Miss Duvalle seems to have forgiven you. You seem to be getting along quite well now.”
Xander grinned. His dads weren’t as perceptive as his mom, leading him to believe that his parents had discussed this topic before.The four of you will rule well together, his mother had said. Four. She’d known from the start.
“Do you think it’s possible to know someone is your mate after only a few days?” Xander asked. He found that he craved his parents’ advice. Not as monarchs, but as people who’d shown him a what a happy, healthy relationship looked like since long before he knew how rare such a thing was.
“Doyouthink it’s possible?” King Vasili replied, his beard twitching despite an obvious attempt to maintain a serious expression. “That’s all that matters.”
Xander looked down at his hands, then back to his parents. He couldn’t fight the smile spreading across his face. His mother smiled back, and then they were all grinning like fools.
“Yes, I do think it’s possible,” Xander answered. “Actually, I know it is.”
His mother rose quickly, rounding the table and stopping at his side. Xander smiled wider as she pressed a kiss against the top of his head. Then she leaned over the table to pour him a fresh cup of tea.
“Tell us everything,” she demanded.
Chapter eighteen
Destiny
Over the next few days, Pack Stepanov continued to show Destiny what her life could look like, if she chose it. If she was brave and reckless and ready to truly live for herself, to live at her own pace with the men who’d confirmed what she already knew: it was time for the next chapter of her life to begin.
Destiny wasn’t sad when the weather report made it clear she’d be spending Christmas in Avondale. As the festival events tapered off, there was more downtime in her schedule, and she spent all of it with Pack Stepanov. She assisted Hunter in the kitchen, asking him about his childhood and telling him about her teenage years on the road. She bickered with Alexander, him challenging her to every game from cutthroat pool toClue, her handing him his ass more often than not. She snuggled with Greyson, sometimes writing or doodling, sometimes playing her guitar as he read to her from books on political strategy and philosophy or collections of poetry.
Most of the staff were given Christmas Eve and day off, while the family and their guests spent the time together in a casual manner. Destiny ordered Sasha and Damon to take the day off, especially since she’d accepted the queen’s invitation to join the family celebration. It was strange and wonderful to be in the kings’ and queen’s private wing, joining the small group in their luxuriously cozy living room. Destiny grew surprisingly comfortable as everyone stuffed themselves with sweets, played cards and boisterous party games, and generally made a bunch of noise.
