“I understand. After my parents died, I couldn’t drink from the goblet my father loved most. It sits untouched in the cabinet, a reminder of what I lost.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Me too for you.” I wanted to share everything with her, but it was sad that the first thing we talked about this morning was the loss of our parents. “But I didn’t come here to make you feel bad.”
“It’s alright. I like talking about them. It makes them feel alive again.”
She ate, the morning light spilling across the table between us. Quandary claimed a slice of apple and gnawed on it, grunting with joy.
“How are the advisor meetings going?” Cyrene asked. “Any progress with the border disputes?”
I raised an eyebrow. “You want to discuss politics over breakfast?”
“I want to discuss your kingdom. Our kingdom now. If I’m to be a queen in more than name, I should understand what’s happening.”
I stared at her in awe. “You truly want to know?”
“Of course.” She sipped her tea, watching me over the rim of her cup. “Tell me what keeps the vampire king awake at night, besides his troublesome witch-wife.”
“The southern border has been quiet since our wedding, which is promising. The trade agreements with the wolf shifter settlements are proceeding better than expected.”
“Have there been troubles there?”
“More so before I was crowned. My father couldn’t abide shifters of any kind.”
“And you?”
“They’re people like you and me.”
She nodded. “And the vampire nobles? Have they accepted your new stance?”
“Some more readily than others.”
“Less so with the witchy community.”
“Your display at the ball went a long way toward convincing them of your suitability.”
Her low laugh rang out. “Yes, well. I aim to impress.”
“You succeeded.” I took a bite of my own breakfast, considering my next words carefully. “My vision for this kingdom has always been evolution, not stagnation. Vampires have isolated themselves for too long, clinging to outdated traditions out of fear. I want to build something new, a realm where we can coexist with all species, where strength doesn’t come from intimidation but cooperation.”
“That’s why you agreed to the alliance with my family,” she said, understanding dawning in her eyes.
“It was one reason. Though not the only one.”
Her gaze dropped to our still-joined hands. “You knew who I was before you accepted.”
“Not at first, but your grandmother sent an image. My joy witch from the festival.”
“I’m glad you accepted.”
“Truly?” I studied her face but found no hint of her holding anything back.
“More so this morning.”
“It’s my tongue, right?” I quipped.
Her lips trembled, and her eyes sparkled. “You do have a magical tongue.”
