Page 64 of Savage Throne
I nodded absently, struggling to stay present. Every thought circled back to Moni like a gravitational pull I couldn’t escape.
“Perfect.” I cleared my throat. “Staff made sure they had tea, snacks, and toiletries?”
“Of course. Everything, Lei.”
“Do they seem happy enough?”
“Yes. And by the way, you’re doing all you can.” Duck’s voice was gentle but his words didn’t soothe me. “They’re fine. Moni would be happy.”
I rubbed the light pounding in my temples. “It’s still not enough.”
We rounded the other corner and I spotted Aunt Min and Aunt Suzi seated on extravagant loungers just outside TT’s door.
“Oh yeah.” Duck sighed. “I forgot to tell you about this.”
“Yeah. What the fuck is this all about?”
Palace staff members bustled around our aunts, carefully arranging a dainty tea table with crisp white linens and delicate China cups.
The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of freshly cut flowers which were arranged in vases of varying heights in the hallway.
The gentle clink of teacups being set down and spoons stirring sugar cubes could be heard as the staff meticulously prepared my aunts’ area like it was afternoon tea.
Meanwhile, our aunts sat gracefully, sipping their tea and chatting amongst themselves while the staff attended to their every need.
One man was massaging Aunt Suzi’s feet while another fanned Aunt Min and fed her grapes.
It was absurdly lavish even for them.
Meanwhile, across from my aunts, Moni’s three ladies-in-waiting—Thandi, Fen, and Lan—stood in a tense huddle, whispering among themselves.
Their faces were set with stubborn determination and their weapons were out.
What the fuck?
Duck shook his head. “I tried to handle this situation but I’ve found it incredibly hard to argue with these two sets of women.”
“That still doesn’t explain what is going on.”
“Our aunts want to watch overtheir girlsthis evening.”
“Their girls?”
“Yes, apparently Chloe, Jo, and TT are all theirs now and we should mind our business when they are concerned.”
Here we fucking go. Moni will return to our sisters being kidnapped by my aunts.
I shook my head. “And Moni’s ladies-in-waiting?”
“They refuse to go to sleep. I think they’re feeling guilt for Monique being taken on their watch, so. . .”
“They’re overcompensating?”
“Exactly.”
We got to them and Aunt Suzi beckoned at one of her men to refill her teacup.
He rushed over and immediately poured.
