He lifted those searing silver eyes to hers. “It would be worth it.”
A throat cleared. She pivoted and wanted the floor to open up and swallow her at his father watching them. A melancholy hung over Elyon Dandre. Being held captive and tortured and now worried about his missing queen would do that.
Hastily, she curtsied. She’d been practicing to be more graceful. “Your Majesty.”
“There is no need for you to curtsy, daughter, not when it’s just family,” the king said in a low, gravelly voice. He wore a similar coat to Aerén, accenting his lean frame.
He could so easily be another of Aerén’s brothers—
A soft snort coasted down their mate bond.
She shut her man out of her mind, knowing he’d say something, and she’d either laugh or blush.
“There is no way to express our gratitude for what you did. I would have called on favors to grant you immortality, but it was already gifted to you.” His gray eyes softened. “I am glad my son chose well.”
She cut her man a quick look. His hand on her back, he watched them, a faint twitch to his lips. But at the tender look he gave her, her breath caught. “He makes me happy.”
“And that is all I wanted,” a quiet, familiarly accented voice, so out of place here, said.
Leya spun around. At the sight of the man in a dark suit standing in the doorway, tears blurred her eyes. “Appa?”
She darted across the room and hugged him, and his arms tightened around her.
Thanks to the time-twisting portal, for him, it was just two or three days since he last saw her, while for her, months had passed.
She eased away, blinking her damp eyes, unable to believe he was here. “How—when?”
“This morning.” Hana piped out with a huge smile. “I was busy introducing him, making him comfortable, etc., and that’s why I was delayed getting to you.”
Leya pivoted and met Aerén’s warm gaze. “You did this?”
“I sent Hana with Thiorr to Earth yesterday to invite your sire. That was why I pushed this presentation to two days later. A part of what happens today is important to us Empyreans, and I wanted you to have your family here, too, for that.”
Her mouth trembled, emotions crowding her. “That’s why you weren’t around,” she murmured to Hana as she crossed to the man she loved. “Thank you.” She reached up, and he met her halfway, kissing her gently.
I’ll do anything to see that smile.He lightly stroked the single dimple on her cheek.He knows he can stay as long as he wants.
The door opened, and Anedaén entered, looking every inch the current ruler he was. He, too, wore a similar embroidered coat, except the needlework was in black.
His expression seemed melded in stone, and Leya wondered if he ever smiled. With his harsh demeanor and the scar running down his striking face, he oozed peril.
Her father seemed to take it all in his stride, probably since he’d already met them.
“Come, let’s do this.” Aerén grasped her hand.
She cast her father a quick smile, and he gave her a little nod.
As they headed for the balcony, she asked, “Are we going to Shegria?”
“Dressed like this?” Amusement tugged his mouth. “No, to the amphitheater near the mountains. The place should hold everyone, and I don’t mean just Cidéra.”
He dematerialized them…and they reformed in a huge hall brightened by recessed orb lighting.
Thiorr and Lykon detached from the wall at their appearance.
They gave her a bow. Then Thiorr said to Aerén, “All is as you required, sire.”
“Good.”
