“I can show you how to imbue those, if you want,” Kaelun said from the massive archway that divided outside from in.
I stroked the soft white leather of the bandolier draped over my knee. “You can?” I said. “I thought Endymion wanted Artton to show me because he was the only one that knows how.”
Kaelun shrugged before he walked over and took the twinned chair next to mine, a small, circular table to our sides. “I mean, I’ve never done it before, but I’m pretty sure I could figure it out with my unara,” he said with a great deal more confidence than I could muster.
“Oh, you think so, do you?” Artton’s mocking tone drifted through the archway before he stepped through it, making his way toward us. “By all means then, nephew, show us how it’s done.”
“It’s not like you’ve made it a priority,” I shot back.
“True,” Artton drawled. “Though, if you are going to do it, at least have the good sense to try it far,faraway. I’m not sure your other uncle would enjoy his palace taking the brunt of your failure.”
“With pep-talk skills like that,Commander,” I cooed, “it’s a wonder that the Summer Court has a militant presence at all.”
The laugh that ripped out of Kaelun was so sudden, that had he been drinking something, it would’ve flown out of his nose; the image in my mind enough to make me chuckle.
Artton raised a sharp brow at his nephew, who sputtered and sat back in his seat, his chest still bobbing with silent laughter.
“Other than coming here to suck the joy out of your nephew’s life, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?” I said, throwing him a saccharine smile.
The corner of his mouth curved up, if only by a fraction. “Myron just finished his final exam on Tarrin and cleared him to train at full speed, which he’s doing with your brother right now,” he said, glancing to Kaelun then back at me. “Which means they’re headed home, and Fiora wanted us to have a late lunch together in the garden before they leave.”
“Awe, she’s the best,” my shadow said, standing up.
“Wait, you saidwe, as in you’ll be joining?” I asked Artton.
Kaelun smirked with amusement as he watched our exchange.
“You know, Spark,” Artton began, “present company excluded, some actually enjoy my company.”
“Hey,” Kaelun protested.
Holding Artton’s gaze as I stood, I said, “Do you know which trait I wished held true when it comes to fae folklore?”
“Other than our non-existence, I haven’t the faintest.”
Ignoring the fact that his answer was actually pretty good, I stepped by him toward the archway. “Their inability to lie.” I threw over my shoulder and was rewarded with a loud cackle from Kaelun and a soft huff from the commander as I stepped into my residence.
An hour later, Fiora and Caius kissed one cheek, then the other,saying goodbye to their host after he’d been called away to attend to courtly matters. Artton went with him, promising to rejoin us when he was done.
After their goodbyes, Fiora wrapped an arm around Myron’s waist. He reciprocated by holding her in tight and pressing a kiss atop her head. Pulling back slightly, she looked up at him as if he was the sun and the stars before rolling up to her tiptoes to kiss him deeply. He responded in kind, and my chest ached as if yearning for the kind of passion that was rooted in love.
Leaning over to Kaelun, I whispered, “Do you know if they want kids?”
“Uncle Myron and Aunt Fiora?” he replied at full volume, and I cut him a look. “What? There’s no point in whispering—they can hear you, ya know.”
I sagged in my chair, turning every shade of scarlet that existed. When would my stupid human brain remember that I’m fae—living among fae.
“Myron would have a whole litter if I’d let him,” Fiora’s lilting voice filled the air once she finally broke her lips free, only to stare up at him in a way I had thought only existed in love stories. “But I’m good with our two sons.”
“At least for now,” Myron chimed in, then buried his face in her neck, which made her squeal.
“Ew, there are minors here,” Kaelun groused, and I couldn’t help but smile at the fake disgust on his face.
“Please,” Myron said, eyes on us but voice still muffled by Fiora’s skin. “Let’s not pretend there’s a virgin among us.”
“Myron!” Fiora gasped, pretending to swat him away.
“Apologies, my lady. I wouldn’t want to offend your delicate sensibilities.”
