Page 44 of Home

“Yes, you do. You just don’t have the courage to make her yours. Seems you don’t want anyone else to have her either, and you’re not very happy about the fact that she pays you no notice.”

“Keep your attentions on your own life, not mine,” Zahn said.

Moments later the kitchen staff were admitted to the suite and with great flare set up a meal for all to share. Zahn and Rel only waited long enough for the kitchen staff to leave, before they, too, took their leave.

“Are you sure you don’t wish to have a meal with us?” Quin called out as the two males came quietly down the stairs and turned toward the door.

“No, thank you, Sire,” Rel said, giving a regal bow.

“No, thank you. I do not have much of an appetite,” Zahn said.

“I suggest you find an outlet for some of that aggression, or preferably address the cause.”

“I will, Sire,” Zahn said.

Both males bowed once more before leaving the suite. Once out in the corridor, all pretense of stealth was dropped. It didn’t matter how much noise they made, they weren’t trying to blend in. “Do you want company?” Rel asked.

Zahn shook his head. “I just want some sleep.”

Rel nodded understandingly. “I’m going to find something to eat, then I’m going to sleep myself. I think these next few days are going to be hectic.”

“How so?” Zahn asked.

“The Sirena is going to give birth. It’s apparent.”

“How do you know that?”

“Six sisters, half younger than me, half older than me. I know the look of a female ready to give birth. Mark my words, it will be soon.”

“Rest well, Rel,” Zahn said, before disappearing into his own rooms across the hall from the royal residence.

“And you,” Rel answered as he whistled to himself on his way to the dining room.

~~~

Bart stood at the juncture of the service hallway with the royal corridor in the East wing. His hands rested on Mirilla’s waist as he looked down into her eyes. “I don’t understand why I can’t walk you to your door,” he said for the third time since leaving Vivian and Quin’s quarters.

“Because my rooms are in the West wing, it’s just better if you don’t. You will be stopped at multiple checkpoints and pointedly asked for your reason for asking entrance.”

“To see you,” he said, grinning down at her before lowering his head and pressing a kiss to her lips.

She didn’t answer, lost and breathless in his kiss and embrace.

He pulled back slowly, smirking as he waited for her to open her closed eyes.

When she did open her eyes, her lips still slightly apart and glistening from his kiss, he smiled at her. “I don’t want to let you go, and from the look on your face, you don’t want to go either.”

“I don’t. But I can’t very well spend the night in the royal residence.”

“Why not? I am.”

“You’re family. I’m not.”

“I have a private bedroom on the first floor. There is no reason you can’t spend the night in my private bedroom.”

“I’m sorry. As much as I’d like to, I just wasn’t comfortable with everyone seeing us going to your room together for the night.”

“It didn’t bother you the last time I was here.”

---