Dilvonsil laughed, leaning against Jemtonkilsol’s side. He hooked an arm around his mate, pulling them close. Shaking their head, they said, “So formal. We merely wanted to see our son and the person he will literally not shut up about.”
“Xapher,” Monqilcolnen snapped.
I chuckled, making Dilvonsil smirk. They were obviously embarrassing Monqilcolnen, which I adored. I was getting a glimpse of what he’d been like when he was younger. Some part of me begrudged the time when I didn't know Monqilcolnen. I knew he was a good deal older than me, but that didn’t matter. I wanted to see and know all the different sides of Monqilcolnen. I craved it. All of it belonged to me, as possessive as that was.
“Stop,” he hissed, and I burst into peals of giggles. Monqilcolnen frowned at me, but there was no malice in it. In the golden depths of his eyes, I could see the warmth of the affection he felt for me.
“I find it humorous,” I said, shaking. “Please continue, Royal Consort Dilvonsil.”
They laughed. “I like you. I knew I would.”
“Did you?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Yes.” Dilvonsil ran their golden gaze, identical to their son’s, over me. The same old urge to run surfaced, and I shifted, ducking my head. They said, “Don’t hide. It’s a good thing. I quite adore you, and I have many horrid stories of Monqilcolnen if you want to hear them.”
“Xapher!” Monqilcolnen instantly protested.
“I would like that,” I replied, ignoring him.
“Good. I will ping when he’s not around to bother us.”
“Father,” Monqilcolnen whined.
Jemtonkilsol simply shook his head. “What do you want me to do about it? You introduced us to him. Your xapher is well within their rights to ping Wyn as they like, and what they discuss is between them.”
“He has a point,” Dilvonsil commented. They smiled at their son, who was glaring at them. “You will just have to accept it.” They pointed at me. “And you, I want no titles. I hate them. Call me by my name, same as my mate.”
My mouth fell open, and all I could do was open and close it for several long moments. “I couldn’t possibly.”
They snorted. “You can. I insist on it.”
I had no response, and thankfully, Dilvonsil required none. Jemtonkilsol said, “I’m glad you took this assignment, Monqilcolnen.”
“I had no choice. This is my ship.”
Jemtonkilsol smiled, but it seemed almost sad to my eyes as he ran his gaze over his son. “Yes, but I am still glad. For many reasons.”
Monqilcolnen just crossed his arms, still glaring at his xapher. I fought a grin at his petulant expression.
“We will ping again later,” Jemtonkilsol said. “We very much wish to get to know Wyn.”
“I want to get to know you too,” I said. It was hard not to grow more comfortable with them as this conversation progressed.Both seemed perfectly happy I was the one standing beside Monqilcolnen, and I was so pleased. I had worried about their reactions, but there weren’t any issues, or at least, ones they were willing to share in front of me.
Monqilcolnen slid an arm around my waist to tuck me under his wing, and when I leaned against him, he pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “Then I will not stand in your way.”
I grinned up at him. “Good, because I wouldn’t let you anyway.”
He gave a small huff of a laugh, and when I looked at his parents, I caught their wide-eyed stares. Apparently, even in private, Monqilcolnen wasn’t prone to laughter, which sent a shard of ice to my heart. He should be allowed to be happy at all times, if that’s what he wanted. My eyes flicked up at him. No matter. I would make him happy now. For as long as he allowed me to.
“Is that all?” Monqilcolnen asked.
Jemtonkilsol laughed. “Yes, son. We’ll speak another time.”
The session ended, and I looked up at Monqilcolnen, resting my chin on him. “That was rude.”
“Not so.”
“Yes, so,” I replied with a light chuckle.
