Page 130 of His Realm

“When you’re at court?” Varic asked her.

“Yes, my prince. I plan to travel. The queen has invited me to join her and the king on their adventure around the world. I will come home to deliver and nurse children, and then be off again to see the lights of Paris, the ruins of Machu Picchu, and the great city of Kyoto. The queen and I are both interested in seeing what Stonehenge looks like after all this time as well. We both wonder who moved it to its current site.”

“Okay,” Varic said, looking at me like what the hell.

I was so happy.

Carice came with her son, and I was pleased to see them. Varic hugged both, which he normally didn’t do. Chryos, yes, but never Carice.

“Jason likes you, lady,” Varic stated, eyes narrowed as he looked at her.

“We have an understanding between us,” she said, studying his face.

“As long as you sit in the glow of his friendship, you also sit in mine.”

She nodded and smiled at me. “Keres told me she was to be your surrogate. I cannot think of a kinder, fiercer, better choice than her.”

I bowed to her, and she returned the motion. We weren’t friends, but we weren’t enemies either. In time, we’d see.

The next day, Varic and I were walking the main thoroughfare in Ophir together. We had checked in earlier at the castle, and Carice was doing well with the renovations. Between walls coming down, paint going up, new fixtures and furnishings, and her directing the people there with respect and them clearly adoring her and her communication style, everything seemed to be going well. Chryos had brought a friend of his, another of Varic’s half sisters, Tamara, to do the running of the school while he concentrated on curriculum. She bowed low to Varic and thanked him for the chance to serve the realm. He took her hand, told her never to bow again, and how much he appreciated her service. She nearly swooned with happiness.

“I never knew they could feel the call to service as well,” he told me.

“Everyone needs a purpose.”

“As you always remind me,” he said, kissing my cheek before tugging me after him. Walking on, Varic asked, “Are you tired?”

“We can head back in a bit. I would like to ride you, and then I might like a nap.”

He immediately reversed course toward the sexton’s house.

I was laughing at him when he turned and looked at me, his face serious.

“Listen, I will speak to Ode about changing her blood. I don’t think she’d be comfortable with my father doing it, but I think she would allow me. It will give her a lifetime with Duro and her children. I know she’ll be sad when her mother and sister pass, but that is human life. She was able, and I’m not sure how, to bond with a member of the dreki. That’s unheard of for a human, so there may be something in her family tree as well. But regardless, because of her mate and because she’s with child, I can alter her heart and blood.”

“She won’t even consider it if it will endanger her child.”

Varic looked back at Brenna, who, along with Kamari, had been restored on my order, no other needed.

“He doesn’t mean to insult you, my prince,” she told him. “He simply didn’t think before he spoke. Because of course you would never attempt something that could hurt her child.”

He gestured at her for my benefit.

“Yeah, fine, I knew better once it popped out of my head.”

Kamari coughed loudly, I groaned, and Varic laughed at me. It was a very good walk.

Once we were close to the house, my guards peeled off as they had to pack. We were going back home the following day, and while I would miss the house I’d been convalescing in, I was very excited to return and see the changes in the king, talk to Zev, who I now needed a replacement for, and hug Isabella. Keres was traveling with us, as were Hadrian, Tiago, and Dae-Jung. We would be back to check in on Ophir after the wedding and coronation.

“I told Cirillo, Carice, Chryos, and the others that if they wanted to come for the events, they were certainly invited. You have to invite Alrek if you want him there because he’s still not my favorite person. I’m not sure that will change, but I’m willing to try.”

“Events?” Varic repeated like I was insane. “Our wedding is not an event. It will be a transformative experience for all those blessed to bear witness.”

“Oh, of course it will,” I placated him.

“And my coronation is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Everyone in attendance will be fortunate to see me crowned.”

“I love you so very dearly, even though you think a bit much of yourself.”