Page 28 of Their Princess

“We do not have plans tonight,” Trey said before I could even ask. “You are available to attend if you wish.”

I nodded. “Then we will attend.”

Jol sat and smiled. “Wonderful. That makes me feel better. Please, eat.”

Elrith sat perfectly still and I could tell he was uncertain what he was allowed to do.

Mason sat on his other side, so he picked up Elrith’s plate and asked, “Are there any foods you see that you don’t want to eat?”

Elrith frowned and shook his head. “I eat all edidble.”

“Edible,” I whispered to correct him.

“Edible,” he corrected.

Mason piled Elrith’s plate high with food and set it before him. “If you finish this and want more, you just let me know, okay?”

Elrith’s eyes welled a moment and he nodded. “Okay.”

Kayden grabbed a bread roll and set it on Elrith’s plate, giving him two now. “For winning our race.”

Elrith smiled and popped the entire roll into his mouth, chewing with unadulterated delight.

Jol took my plate before any of my mates could and filled it up, then set it in front of me. “How are you feeling now that it’s been a bit since the battle?”

“Still a little drained,” I admitted, which caused all three of my mates’ heads to whip in my direction. “Losing that piece has definitely caused a change in me that I think I’m just not used to yet.”

“Have you been able to summon your serpent?” he asked.

“She was a snake this morning,” Elrith commented.

“He meant my shadow snake,” I explained to Elrith, whose eyes widened.

“You have a shadow, too?”

Jol paused with his fork midway to his mouth and raised his eyes to look at Elrith.

“I think our shadows are slightly different,” I explained. “Can yours form into a shape?”

Elrith frowned. “Not a creature shape, but it can be a ball. To protect.”

“Interesting,” I said and smiled warmly at him. “We’ll have to do some training later.”

Elrith gasped and gripped my forearm. “Really? You’ll train me?”

“Yes,” I said and nodded.

He jumped up in his seat and did a little dance. “Yay!”

Kayden and Mason snickered into their hands and turned their heads so he wouldn’t see their laughter.

“Sit and eat,” I ordered, though not sternly. “You need to fill your belly so you can stay strong.”

“Yes, Princess,” he said, plopped down, and began shoveling bites of food into his mouth.

We ate the rest of the meal in silence and once Jol and I were done, we walked to the far corner of the garden.

“I’d like your approval to help create an orphanage here,” I told him. “For those like Elrith.”

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