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“She was saying that you worry far too much,” Ivy added with a cheeky smile.

“I do worry, don’t I?” Nora smiled and shrugged, and I looked back at Eleanor. “But why are we speaking the Common Tongue?”

“We’re a merchant Pack, Elowen, from a very long line of merchants,” Eleanor said. “Your fathers conduct much of their business outside Azhara, so the Common Tongue is the language most frequently used in this household. We all speak Zharithian, of course, and use it regularly outside the estate, but you haven’t left home since becoming unwell.” She gave me a kind smile. “I should have realised sooner. I’m sorry, sweetling.”

“It’s all right. How could you have known?”

Her smile turned grateful, and Nora added, “Nearly everyone of high standing speaks the Common Tongue, Elowen. I’m certain your Pack will be fluent.”

“They are,” Eleanor confirmed. “They’ve also been informed that you no longer remember Kottarsht, and they’ve agreed to use the Common Tongue with you.”

I breathed out slowly, and she smiled. “Does that put your mind at ease?”

“Definitely,” I mumbled, more to myself than to them.

Eleanor settled back on the sofa and made a small, elegant gesture with one hand. “Then you may continue your presentation.”

“Right.” I took a deep breath and shifted my weight from one foot to the other. Where was I? Ah… yes. “My future father-in-law is one of the High Lords. His name is Magnus, and his wife’s name is Astrid.”

Eleanor smiled. “Which House do they rule?”

“Vaelor.” That one was easy. “Military and defence. And with that, I’m done.” I gave an exaggerated bow, earning a round of applause from all three.

“Very good,” Eleanor said.

“Thank you, thank you.”

“She’s rather pleased with herself,” Ivy said, laughing.

“I am.” I dropped onto the sofa beside her. “I just recited seven kingdoms, where they are, who runs them and how they’re governed. That has to be the most boring thing I’ve ever had to memorise. Can we please move on? I swear, if I have to study any more geography or politics, I’m going to pull my hair out.”

“You seemed very proud of yourself just now.”

“I can be proud and bored.”

“It’s only been a few hours,” Nora reminded me.

“It feels a lot longer.”

“At least you needn’t relearn mathematics.”

I looked at her and laughed. “You’re so right.”

“Well,” Eleanor said, reaching for her pad, “I have something rather more entertaining for you now.”

That got my attention. “How entertaining?”

Eleanor touched her pad, and the room slowly dimmed. Light shimmered into existence in front of us, suspended in the middle of the room without a screen or anything I could identify as a projector. I sat straighter, watching faint ripples move across it like water before the image sharpened. Whoa. I’d seen plenty of strange technology here, but nothing this impressive.

The image showed a man with dark hair threaded with silver, grey eyes and broad shoulders beneath a midnight uniform. A name formed beneath him.

ALARIC STORMFORGE

I stared at him. Beside me, Eleanor spoke softly. “Elowen, allow me to introduce Alaric, the Head Alpha of Pack Stormforge and your future mate.”

“T-that’s my future mate?”

“Yes,” Ivy replied.