Page 19 of The Sovereign: Part One
“And before I forget,” Stellan added, “happy early birthday, Isara.I do hope you’ll invite me and Ione to the Oathbond ceremony.It’s a momentous occasion, and we would be honored to be there.”
I smiled at Stellan requesting to be a guest with his wife.As magnanimous as Stellan was, his wife, Ione, was uniquely warm, kind-hearted, and had always welcomed me with open arms.
“Calyx?”I prompted.
“I’ve added Mr.and Mrs.Dorne to the guest list,”Calyx responded.
“Perfect,” Stellan said, clapping his hands together once, letting them slide past each other.“I know this is a lot, but you’re more than ready for what’s ahead.I’m thrilled for you, Isara.You’re a good egg.”
“I’m a… I’m sorry, sir?”
He chuckled as he stood.“Something my great-grandfather used to say.”
I stood as well, and he offered his hand to me.I took it, sure to use a firm grip as my papa had always directed.“Thank you, Stellan.Your belief in me means a great deal.”
He gave me one last grin, then turned toward the threshold.“I’ll leave you to prepare for your meeting with the brass.”He pointed at me.“Don’t call them that.I’m sure you’ll handle it with the same poise and grace you’ve shown throughout your Veritas year.”
As Stellan left, I sat back down at my desk, my thoughts a whirlwind.The meeting was in five hours.My role, my place, was about to become more defined in multiple ways, and with it came a new set of responsibilities.
I glanced at my calendar.My Court Date was five days away.
Five Days.
The thought sent a tremor through me.How was I supposed to concentrate on work, whip up an outline for my meeting with the brass—no, Stellan, I won’t call them that—and mentally prepare for Saturday?I needed a dress, and… I paused.It didn’t matter what I wore, Maxim would love it.I could roll in mud, shave my head, and Maxim would still be sure about me.There was undeniable peace in that certainty.
I wasn’t sure how the old world operated without the built-in assurances we had now.I was confident Maxim would want me.He’d find me desirable, make me the center of his world—and I knew with absolute certainty he’d be a permanent part of mine.Our days would be effortless, happy, and fulfilling.There would be no conditions, no thresholds, no secrets or lies.It would just be us, building a life together, from the spark of new love to reliable comfort, to the steadiness of knowing we had found a rhythm only we could understand, where even the silences between us felt full.No Sovereign had to question it, a promise written in every moment, a certainty I could hold on to with both hands, without hesitation.I didn’t know how anyone found happiness before, but it didn’t matter, because in less than a week, I’d be living mine.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the delicate auric interface projection above my desk before instructing Calyx to place my first call of the day.The connection established, and after two soft chimes, Avaryn’s face filled my interface.Her long, dark waves were still a mess from the night before, and the groggy look in her eyes told me she had only just woken up.
“Finally recovered from your month-long birthday bender?”I teased, arching a brow.
“Barely.”She groaned, stretching before slumping back into her pillows.“I think I still have cake in my hair.I don’t even remember eating cake.”
“You probably didn’t,” I quipped.
“It’s not my fault my friends keep wanting to throw me parties.”
“You can say no, you know.”
“What kind of monster would I be if I turned down a birthday party?”
“After the second party, I guess that monster would look a lot like me,” I shot back.
“No, you’re just boring.”
“I wasn’t so boring at the family party.Do you remember what Mom said?”
Avaryn chuckled, wiping her eyes.“She was so fascinated.”
I tried to keep my laughter from filtering out into the hall.“I’ll never forget the look on your face when she stood up and got everyone’s attention to deliver a full breakdown of alcohol’s effects on the human body.”
“She actually said that she found it absurd that turning twenty-one is so significant.”
“She sure did,” I giggled.“When did she get so sassy?”
I listened as Avaryn did a spot-on impression of our mina.“‘I’m simply saying it’s absurd.Alcohol is an ethanol-based beverage composed of fermented sugars and other organic compounds, yet its primary effect is a controlled form of bodily impairment.The dizziness you feel is a mild disruption of the cerebellum, which manages motor function and coordination.It’s an absolute mystery to me why anyone thinks it’s a milestone to legally consume something that hinders optimal function by essentially poisoning you.’”
I covered my mouth to stifle the sound threatening to disturb my colleagues.“I had to physically steer her away before she conducted a real-time biochemical analysis just to prove her point.”
