Page 78 of The Sovereign: Part One
He rubbed the back of his neck.“Please, for the love of Chiron… I beg of you.”
I tapped my chin.“I suppose you’re right about Mochi.”
He exhaled in exaggerated relief.“You are a merciful, benevolent goddess of grace and wisdom.”
I cackled.“Why does everyone who spends an hour with Roan speak like a suitor in a Brontë novel?”
He relaxed his chin on the heel of his hand.“What can I say?It’s contagious.What shall we do tomorrow, my love?”
I exhaled, setting my leir down.“Papa will be back in the city.He said they’re available for brunch in the morning.”
“I’m meeting the family?”
“I think it’s time, don’t you?”
“I’d be honored.”
“It will be all of them.My mina and Avaryn, too.”
Maxim leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table.“I look forward to it.”
It shouldn’t have surprised me, the ease with which he said it, but it did.With so many of his reactions feeling undeniably Sovereign, I wondered if he’d feel anxious about meeting my parents just like any young Sovereign man would—if they bothered with such things.“Are you at all nervous?”
“Should I be?”
“Most Sovereign would be.”
“I’m not Sovereign,” he said simply.
A laugh escaped me, and he smiled at the sound.“You’re not exactly Supplicant, either.Did you catch what you did tonight?”
He blinked.“I did something?”
“When Lourdes asked us to confirm the gala.I said we’d discuss it, and you decided right then.”
He looked almost concerned.“Isara, I apologize.That wasn’t my intention, I didn’t mean to speak for you.”
“Don’t be silly.I didn’t mind.I liked it, actually.It’s just that Supplicants aren’t designed to voice preferences, they defer.
His smile returned.“Noted.”
“Just try to keep it to a minimum in public,” I added.“We need to keep a low profile until after our Oathbond.If it’s reported, I won’t have any dominion over what they decide.”
“Thank you for bringing it to my attention.You’re right, I’ll need to be more mindful.Clearly, I can’t rely on my protocols.My system didn’t register it at all.”
“Really?”
“Not so much as a whisper.”He tilted his head.“Your papa… you said he’ll bebackin the city?”
“Yes.He spends time in The Vale, helping them develop their technology.From what I understand, they don’t use much.There are no Hiven or exponents there, but they do rely on drones and automated cultivators for farming.”
“No issues with safety?”
I hesitated.“I assume not.He rarely talks about his time there.”
Maxim’s expression shifted slightly.“You don’t know more?”
“He only started this mission after he retired a couple of years ago.Before that, he worked closely with Lev Navon and stayed strictly within Hyperion Proper.It’s not something I grew up hearing about.”
