Page 127 of My Eternal Light

She felt him rubbing his chin, she had him thinking so she kept going. “They’re hella cool.”

“You just want to bring Gilheim home,” Aiden said.

She shook her head. “No, because I don’t think he’d be happy in Lycaonia. He’s happier in the forest.”

“I’ll think about it.”

There was a knock, then Portia walked in. “Your Majesty,” she paused and blushed. “I mean…” She looked from the queen to Darian and back.

“Awkward,” Meryn sung. “Is Auntie still a majesty?”

Darian stood. “My mother will always be the queen of the fae.”

“So, two majesties?” Meryn asked. “How does this work, Portia?”

The woman simply shook her head. “There is no precedent for this.”

Zadie spoke up. “In the academia world if a person of distinction steps down, like a professor, they are called Professor Emeritus. Could you create a term like that?”

Anne turned to the queen. “There’s also the title of Queen Mother, used for the mother of the king or queen.”

The queen smiled. “I like that. I am very proud to be his mother.”

Portia looked relieved as she began to take notes. “Will you keep the title, Her Majesty?”

The queen shook her head. “I have heard that all my life. I think I’d like something different. There must be a clear distinction between my rule and Darian’s.”

Meryn grinned. “Be a Royal Highness like me and Izzy. We can create a Bad Bitches club!”

The queen looked surprised for a moment then began laughing. “Why not? Let us go with that Portia.”

“Do you gotta share Cord and the palace and stuff?” Meryn asked, reaching for the bowl of chips.

Without looking Oron simply grabbed them from the table and passed them backwards.

Darian looked from his mother to Cord, to Portia. “I quit. Things were easier when I was a unit warrior.”

“Amen,” Aiden muttered behind her.

Cord set a tray of cups on the table and began distributing them. “Your Majesty, you are making so many changes in the city, why not here in the palace as well?”

Darian flushed at the new mode of address. “What do you mean?”

“Embrace our heritage. Build a Summer Palace for Aleks and you can live in the Winter Palace. Create a shared executive building in the middle for administration,” he suggested.

“What about you?” Darian asked, looking sad.

“Portals not withstanding, you’re young. I’m fairly certain you can walk over here for meals,” Cord said, handing him a cup of tea. “Though after the arrival of your little one, you might want a squire of your own.”

Portia stared. “Molvan will stroke out if you tell him we are building two new palaces.”

Meryn giggled. “He’ll be fine.”

“Portia, make sure there is plenty of space in my palace for my grandchildren to play,” the queen requested.

“Of course, Your Royal Highness.”

The queen wiggled in her seat. “This is so exciting.”

---