Page 135 of His Realm

“Begging your pardon, my consort, but as you have no hendr at the moment, Hadrian has given me the honor of filling that post until you choose another.”

Standing there, looking at me, I couldn’t imagine that such a fierce warrior wanted to be my hendr. “I’m sorry about that. You’re going to be so bored.”

Her smile transformed her face, making her teak-colored eyes glow. “I think not, my consort. You and Zev had many adventures.”

“Yeah, but that wasn’t on purpose.”

“That’s the point, is it not?” she asked, her tone playful.

It was.

“I love your Bantu knots,” Ode complimented her. “My hair won’t do that, and I always wanted to have them.”

“You have so much hair,” Merikh told her. “And your curls are stunning. You looked like a princess beside my consort.”

“Thank you so much,” Ode told her.

“Before you both retire for a bite to eat, would you like to place Princess Nerilla’s seal back in the case where it’s kept?”

“Oh, I would love that,” she said, turning from Merikh to me. “Not that I wasn’t honored, but I’m terrified of losing it.”

We walked with Merikh toward the palace entryway, and I noted that Hadrian had also returned Cassius’s livery collar.

Gently, Merikh opened the shatterproof glass case, then took the necklace from Ode and placed it back where it belonged, next to the collar of her prince. A warm breeze blew through then, bringing the scent of the sea.

“I think she liked that,” I told both women.

“I think so too,” Merikh agreed, and I saw her eyes glisten.

“Did you know Princess Nerilla well?”

She nodded. “I did. I miss her warm smile.”

“Would you tell me about her?” Ode asked as we left the now locked case and started for the stairs. “I’d love to know more.”

“It would be my privilege,” Merikh answered, moving to Ode’s side.

I enjoyed our stroll toward my quarters.

Taking off the heavy silk-and-brocade cloak was a relief, and Ode helped me remove the brooch and put it on my suit lapel.

“That is gorgeous, but your wedding ring is better.”

I had to agree.

“I thought you had a pipe burst in here,” Ode said, looking around. “It looks great to me.”

It certainly did.

“How did they get it cleaned up so quickly?”

“Vampyr speed is a real thing.”

“I guess so.”

Dae-Jung, who had returned ahead of us, had ready a wonderful meal of grilled salmon and asparagus, fluffy mashed potatoes because those were my favorite, couscous for Ode because he’d heard her say how much she loved it, and ensalada de bacalao to begin with. I was going to introduce him to Merikh, but they had crossed paths many times, she said, and she was pleased that he was a part of my household.

“It’s amazing that he cooks so well and doesn’t eat,” Ode told me.