“Yeah.They started you out in the non-fatal fights, and when I was on board, they had a bit more fun with you.Fun, starting with eff you.”
Ival chuckled.
The king sighed.“I will speak with your family.Can you restore your hair?”
“Sure.It isn’t actually dye.It’s just my will that changed the colour.”
“Can you change it?”
“Oh.Now?Sure.”She put her hands at the crown of her head and moved her fingers down.The colour was an amazing and deep red.
The king blinked.“I remember you.How old are you now?”
“Thirty-four.I—wow—I have been out of the stronghold for over fifteen years.I didn’t think it was that long.I am going to need to rethink my timeline.”
Ival nodded.“I met you ten years ago.”
“Damn.Well, there goes my memory.”
The baby started fussing.Ramera moved closer to Ylara.“Remember Levika.Ramera was a name for a different time.”
Ylara smiled and handed the baby over.“Thanks, Levika.We will be in our quarters within the hour.”
“Yes, Princess.”Levika held the baby comfortably and headed back the way she had come.
Ival watched her go.“She looks better with hair.”
Riimal smiled.“So do you.”
“I thought I was pretty cute bald.”
“You were, but your hair is better.”He caressed her cheek and then slid his fingers over her hair.It had reached her shoulders.
Her grandparents were shocked at what they had just seen, but they whispered to Ylara, “Princess, you are letting her take your child?”
“I have seen her future.My daughter is still healthy and happy in it.All the children she cares for thrive.”
The king said, “You said she will have children of her own.Who was her mate?”
“I don’t know, but her children all had white hair.White-white.”
Ylara looked at Riithan’s black hair and the dark hair on the rest of the royals.“No one in this room then.”
The king sighed.“Making her Usar was uncalled for.If she and her mate were combative, he could have been persuaded to release her.”
Servants came in, filled the teapots around the room, and returned to their posts.Riimal reached and got her another cookie while they waited.
She smiled, and her grandmother said, “She was always after cookies.She ate them faster than I could make them some days.Her father was the same.When the two of them were in the kitchen together, I made them help.”
Riimal chuckled and reached to pour the tea.His brother tutted.“The lady pours.”
Riimal said, “Not when her hands can barely deal with the pressure of fabric.Give her a few weeks.She can’t deal with heat yet either.”
His brother blinked.“I forgot.”
“Yes, I know.So, her grandparents or I will help her until her skin toughens up.I could have left her in Aksalla for a few weeks, but I didn’t want to.”
Ival smiled and leaned her head carefully against his shoulder.His body got rigid, but his hands were steady as he poured tea for them both and moved the cups in close.
