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“I’ll talk to the captain and Jade and tell you our departure plans right away,” Ardol informed him in a flat voice.
“There you are, my boy. I was afraid that all those foreigners had clouded your vision for a moment. Although I admit that the pleasures of your own Queen can turn a King’s head for a bit. Just remember, now that you have one who can produce an heir, you are free to take Queens purely for your own enjoyment. After the first son is born, a Queen’s usefulness is diminished, and she should be extra attentive to ensure that you don’t weary of her. Your mother... She failed me often. Aside from you, she only produced females, and then only after many heats of failing to get pregnant.”
Ardol’s claws dotted his knees. “My sisters would be greatly prized now, wouldn’t they, Father?”
“Ah, yes, but how could I know that? Such a frustrating creature your mother, but there were a few weeks after we were first wed when I was all but her slave. Be careful your Queen doesn’t forget her place.”
“Her place...” Ardol dug his claws in forcefully to control the angry outburst he wanted to let fly, “Her place is at my side.”
“Exactly! Your loyal Queen. I am sure the press will have a wonderful time with her. I’ll let you go, Ardol, but let me warn you—this is a serious move that could bring our family and our district back to the height of its powers. If you dilly-dally with this glorified stockroom position, I will order my second son, Behemet, to leave his studies at half-term and announce him as my heir and Lord Apparent, and he will be the next District Lord.”
“Leave Bay alone, Father. I’ll be home soon.” Ardol rubbed his brow and cut the conversation off without a proper goodbye. He wasn’t close with the half-brother six years younger than him, but he did know the young Knight would just be in his first year at the Leopardine Military Academy and that leaving early would look cowardly—something his father wasn’t considering in his new machinations.
“My father’s not a nice Felid,” Ardol mumbled to himself and went to find Elio. The human was going to have to speed up his training by a lot.
“JADE?”
“Here!”
Ardol stopped walking just over the threshold of his quarters, which caused his tail to get caught in the door. Once he was done cursing and freeing it, he still stood frozen just inside the doorway.
Jade rocked baby Alana in her arms, hugging the little cub tight as she slept. “I’m helping Layla. Chance has a cold, and he was up all night. They’re both sleeping. Wendy is having an exam with Marcus, so I said I’d watch the little one for a while. What’s wrong? Why are you being a statue?”
“I... You. You with a cub.” Ardol put a paw to his chest and massaged it. “I never wanted to be a father for any reason other than to save my kind and help my family’s legacy. But when I saw you with the baby... Sorry.” He blinked and smoothed his fur nervously. “I’m babbling again.”
“You wanted to be a dad?”
“A dad. I like that. Dad! Father is so formal. So stiff. Distant.” Ardol nodded and came closer. “Yes. I want to be a dad—if you want to be a mother. A mom.”
Jade looked at the sleepy, cream-furred cub in her arms. Only a few months old, the baby was probably the size of a one-year-old human toddler. Despite its size, it was snuggly, helpless, and utterly adorable.
“If you’re the father, I want to be the mother. What will we name them? What if it’s a girl?”
“We will name her Aster, because she will be our star, our jewel. What will you call him if we have a son?” Ardol scooted onto the bed next to her.
“Hmm. Spot?”
Ardol swatted her on the arm. “You’re ruining the moment.”
“Ardol Junior. AJ. So he takes after his dad.”
“And not his grandfather,” Ardol mumbled.
Jade cocked her head, gently putting the sleeping cub in a nest of blankets in the middle of the bed. “Pull the pillows on either side of her. I don’t want her rolling off.”
“Can she roll?”
“I don’t want to find out. I’m only watching her for two hours. If I fail at this, I’ll be kicked off of the ship tomorrow.”
“Funny you should mention leaving the ship tomorrow,” Ardol gave a nervous laugh.
Jade’s eyes widened. “What’s going on?”
“Long or short version?”
“Short version for now. I’ll decide if I need more details after,” Jade said, a pit forming in her stomach. Why were they leaving the ship? Just her? Both of them? Why?
“My father intends to run for Archlord. Unlike District Lords, a position that follows from father to son, the Archlord is elected from Districts Lords and Regents. Regents are also elected, chosen from the so-called ‘common’ folk. They may be the richest and brightest, but they cannot come from noble families. Every six years, a new Archlord is elected, and every eight years, a Supreme Archlord is appointed from among the Archlords and their ministers.”
