Page 82 of The Omega Thief

“Certainly, Highness. Shall I take—”

“No,” Attiker interrupted and smiled at Fetch. “They can stay.” Attiker patted the bed invitingly, and Fetch, seeming reluctant, moved closer. Raz had gotten his robe on under the covers and got out, striding to the dressing room. Attiker patted the bed again. “Those smell like apple tarts,” he said encouragingly.

“See, told you,” Carry said to her brother as he came closer.

“What did you tell him?” Attiker asked.

“Fetch said we’re going back today because we’d brought the cats, an’ you didn’t need us anymore.”

Attiker glanced over at Raz as he came out of the bedroom with breeches and an undershirt on, and they met each other’s gaze.

“Actually, that isn’t correct,” Raz said solemnly. He walked to the tray, put two apple tarts on their respective napkins, then turned, and lifted Fetch onto the bed, giving him one of them before he knew what was happening. He poured two orange juices but left them on the tray, then passed Attiker a coffee and helped himself. Carry accepted the tart with a giggle and sat up, pleased with her spot in the middle of the giant bed. “I wanted to offer you two a job. An important one.”

Fetch’s eyebrows rose, and he looked so like Raz at that moment, Attiker had to stifle a laugh. “Do ya have marshes ‘round ‘ere?”

“Do you have marshes around here?” Raz corrected Fetch gently. “Not close, but you won’t be eeling.” Raz glanced at Attiker to make sure he’d got the term correct, and Attiker grinned.

“Now, Attiker has a very important job himself starting today, and he’s going to need you two to assist him. You are aware, I’m sure, he’s the new people’s champion?”

Both little heads nodded solemnly. “Good, well, your first task will be breakfast, then you’re going to need new clothes, then Attiker will need your help to reorganize the King’s Castles,” he said firmly and met Attiker’s gaze once again.

Attiker swallowed with difficulty. He’d explained what went on in them to Raz last night when Raz had asked him about the whole story.

“Of course, because you may be handling important documents, you’ll need a tutor. Reading and writing are as important—”

“But Angry said schooling wasn’t for the likes of us,” Fetch interrupted.

“Ah, but that’s where he’s wrong,” Attiker said. “What ifyoubecame the people’s champion one day?”

Fetch’s eyes grew wide, and he bit into his tart thoughtfully.

“And your very first job as my assistants will be to choose a title,” Attiker continued.

“A title?” Carry repeated.

“Yes, well, a new name, anyway. Think of something you’d like to be called.”

“Like a proper name?” Fetch said in awe.

Attiker cleared his throat and managed a smile.

“Good,” Raz said and drained his coffee, leaning in to brush a kiss on Attiker’s cheek while he listened to both kids discussing names. “I have to deal with the prisoners downstairs and talk to Carter about the bonding ceremony and the coronation.”

Attiker smirked. “Oh, I thought we bonded pretty well last night. Are you telling me we have to do it in front of the court?”

“And see what’s been done about the Abergenny forces,” Raz continued sternly, fighting a smile. “But breakfast awaits first, I think.” Bending down, he swung Carry into his arms. “Let’s go see what there is so Attiker can get dressed.” Fetch scrambled off the bed and eagerly followed, slipping his hand into Raz’s proffered large one.

Attiker waited a moment until they’d gone into the next room to get out of bed. Raz hadn’t said in front of the children, but Attiker knew Raz was just about tearing the city apart for Harcourt. Raz took his grandmother’s betrayal very seriously, and Attiker knew Raz had no intention of letting the man get away with it.

It would seem an hour later they didn’t have to look very far.

Attiker stared at Viscount Harcourt, now firmly tied up in a chair as Alastair, the Duke of Shemar, explained where they’d found him. Apparently, he’d been there to greet Grandmother as she’d returned to her bedchamber after sharing breakfast with them. He’d been full of groveling apologies and explanations that he’d been mistaken, panicked, only wanted what was best for her, which had lasted the time it had taken for Alastair to follow Grandmother back into her room a few paces behind her.

Which Harcourt hadn’t expected, and like most bullies when faced with someone stronger than them, had surrendered immediately. Alastair had chosen to use the ropes that Grandmother favored for other uses to tie him up, awaiting the guards. Grandmother had confided—much to Attiker’s horror about her oversharing—that Alastair was now the dominant partner in their relationship.

Scarred for life.

Attiker shook his head. He was pretty sure there was some royal decree somewhere to do with dowager queens having more sex than their grandson-in-law. Or at least being told about it in lurid detail. He was going to escape when Grandmother begged him to stay, and then he only conceded because the duke decided to escort Harcourt to the cells himself, and Raz was with Pinkerton being a king, or doing kingly things, and Fetch and Carry orFlynnthat Fetch seemed to like andCandaceor Candy for short that Carry seemed to find amusing had gone for new clothes. He’d assured Candy she didn’t need to pick a girl’s name if she didn’t want to, but she was rather taken to being named after the pink sugared sweetmeats found at the market.

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