Page 136 of His Realm

“Right?”

Duro showed up looking for his love, and she was so happy to see him. They had talked about it and concluded that having Varic change her blood—not the king, as she wasn’t comfortable with that—would be for the best. She wanted to be there for her child and Duro, and she knew that when she shared the truth with her family, they would accept her decision. Varic had agreed that the following night, after he was crowned at midday, as was tradition, he would make that change for her, the exception being that Duro would be drinking the blood Varic took from her during the exchange. It had to be Varic’s bite, his DNA entering her bloodstream, but the rest would be from Ode’s mate.

“Are you nervous about tomorrow?” I asked her.

She had her hand in Duro’s. “No. I was more nervous about farting in the middle of your wedding vows because I’ve been so gassy lately.”

Duro chuckled, Merikh did as well, and I shook my head at her.

“What? I’m telling the truth.”

“Classy.”

“No, gassy,” she corrected me and then cackled like a loon.

Once we were sated, Dae-Jung showed us the sweet little wedding cake he made, which was reserved for me and Varic. I should have thought to ask him to make it for us to begin with, and would remember that I had an amazing chef, and baker, at my disposal at all times going forward. He then surprised us and gave me and Ode cupcakes made of the same vanilla cake with a blackberry compote and strawberry buttercream.

“These are amazing,” I told him.

He squinted at me, looking unsure.

“He said the cupcakes are amazing,” Ode translated for me, and Dae-Jung smiled at her. “I know it’s hard to understand him when his mouth is full like that.”

I turned to her.

“You cannot talk with your mouth full. I’ve told you that a million times. Not only is it rude as hell, but you’re not communicating at all.”

Later, as all of us, even Dae-Jung, returned to the party, Ode told me how thankful she was for me.

“Knock it off,” I told her.

“No. You brought Duro into my life, you’re making it so I can be with him far longer than I would have been, and lots of nice midwives are coming with you to deliver my baby when it’s time. You’ve taken away all my worries—though you did scare me to death when you were kidnapped.” She smacked my bicep.

“That will not occur again, lady,” Merikh told her. “My consort is no longer allowed to leave the palace, for any reason, ever, alone.”

I glanced at her. “I actually have learned my lesson.”

“Yes,” she agreed, patronizing me. “Zev told me you would say that. Consider us inseparable, my consort.”

Ode cackled. “Oh, I like her.”

Apparently defending myself any further was useless.

When we arrived back in the ballroom, Varic was moving across the crowded dance floor with Cirillo, and I had to admit, they made a beautiful pair. I loved seeing Varic and everyone else dance. I noted also that Varic had ditched his cloak as well.

“It’s like out of a movie,” Ode breathed out. “Jason, you live in a fairy tale.”

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. When the song ended, many people clustered around Varic, and I stepped behind Duro so Varic wouldn’t see me.

“My consort?” the big man asked me, not turning his head. “What are you about?”

“I want Varic to have a good time and visit with everyone. That’s what’s supposed to happen at a reception.”

“Is it?” he asked Ode, who was, we all knew, the authority on all things wedding.

“No,” she told him, as Zev walked toward me.

I was going to say something to him, give him crap for talking to Merikh and making me out to be some kind of daredevil, when he slipped by me and offered Dae-Jung his gloved hand.