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Technically it isn’t mine, since I’m only a guest, but the staff act as though I live here since I’m a close and personal friend of both the princess and the commander’s mate.

“Greetings, Devon,” one of the guards dips his head in acknowledgment. “Princess Olivia and the others are in the sitting room.”

I offer a brief smile and my thanks as I continue down the corridor toward the section of the palace where Olivia and Janik are housed. It’s hard to believe one of my best friends is a princess. Of course, of the three of them, it’s hilarious that it’s Olivia. I love her dearly, but even she admits she’s the most unconventional—and outspoken—woman to fit that role. Does she take advantage of her new-found position? Absolutely. Does she lord it over our heads? Yes, but not in a cruel way. Only an amusing one.

The other day, for instance, we were walking through the city towards Erik’s for our weekly girls’ night out dinner—accompanied by a retinue of guards, of course. Every time we passed someone they bowed their heads, apparently in deference to royalty. Olivia played it up and gave each person a stiff-handed slow wave. She shot us a wink over her shoulder and flipped her hair with her free hand.

I reach the sitting room, where the door stands open, and walk in. Sure enough, Lindsey is sitting on the sofa with her feet up on the table, stroking her slightly pronounced pregnant belly. Quinn is on the other end, and Olivia sits across from them in a plush chair, sipping what looks like a glass of plyka. I assume she’s enjoying it while she can since she won’t be able to if she’s pregnant. I’m surprised, though, that Mak isn’t lounging on the floor at her feet.

“Devon’s here,” Quinn calls out with a huge grin and stands to greet me with a hug.

I make my rounds with the other two, squeezing Lindsey a little longer. Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends—sisters—fiercely, but she and I are closer, in the same way that Quinn and Olivia are closer to each other than to us. No one gets jealous, because we know it’s not a competition.

“How are the mamas and babies doing?” I cradle Lindsey’s belly between both palms and lean down to talk softly to it. “It’s your Auntie Devon. I can’t wait to meet you.”

My friend laughs. “She can’t wait to meet you either.”

I raise my head in awe. “She?”

Lindsey shrugs one shoulder. “I’m manifesting. Not that Carrick or I would love her any less if she’s actually a he, but you know everyone on the planet is hoping the first half-Bohnari, half-human baby born is a girl.”

“Of course you would love your baby no matter its sex, but yeah, the hopes of an entire species rests on your shoulders.”

“Hey,” Lindsey lightly nudges me in the ribs. “All eyes are on Quinn, too, not just me.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Quinn says with her hand on her still-flat stomach. “Neither of us want the stress of having to be the one to have the first girl born in two generations, even though it’s inevitable given the reason we’re all here. It’s so much pressure.”

I’m hit with a twinge of guilt for joking around, even though it’s not the first time any of us have made light of how much one baby could change the entire planet.

“Now I feel bad.” I pout.

Olivia throw her arm over my shoulders. “Don’t. We all know you didn’t mean anything. Besides you weren’t here five minutes ago when I said the exact same thing but with far less tact. I think the Bohnari gods made sure these two were the first to get knocked up, because they know they could handle the scrutiny.”

Quinn laughs. “I think you’re giving me way too much credit.”

Liv glares. “And I think you’re not giving yourself enough.”

I exchange a bemused look with Lindsey, because these two are always bickering. “Okay ladies, how about we head to dinner?”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Linds agrees with a soft chuckle.

Together, the four of us leave the sitting room and stride through the palace toward the front doors.

“Where’s Mak?” I ask Olivia.

“She’s spending the afternoon with Janik since he’s in a meeting with the High Council. He finds it funny how unnerved they get when she’s around,” she says. “Plus, there are still a few members who haven’t accepted the fact he’s the current reigning prince. I’m not sure they’ll ever forgive him for leading the rebellion that caused so much devastation, no matter that Mohneek was the real villain behind it.”

It really is a shame that certain people continue to blame Janik given the circumstances, but it also doesn’t surprise me.

“Horek went and saw Alik earlier,” Quinn announces after a short silence, making me stumble slightly.

Lindsey sends me a questioning glance, but I wave her off.

“How is he?” Olivia asks.

Quinn sighs. “The same for the most part. Except apparently, today Horek’s patience hit a hard wall. He mentioned Janik’s name—which set Alik off—and Horek reacted by slamming his fist against the containment cube and yelling at his cousin. It was enough to actually shock Alik into silence, he said. As soon as Horek was done reading him the riot act and reminding him that he’s the son of a king and a queen, Alik had some kind of attack. It was brutal enough that he passed out.”

My heart drops at the news. It must have been after I left, because he seemed fine while I was there. God, I hope he’s okay.