“Good morning,” I replied. A breeze gusted through the windows and brought the smell of rich dirt, flowers, and grass. “I like this.”
His hand slid down the back of my hoodie and stroked my bare skin. “As do I.”
Suddenly, like a bad stench, I remembered I had to meet his parents and siblings tonight. My breath increased and my muscles tensed.
Kal shimmied down until he was next to me. “It will be alright. It will be you and me, my parents, and siblings. No one else.”
“What if they don’t like me?”
“They will love you as I do, my Seth.”
I burrowed my head into his chest, winding my arms around him. I would trust Kal. It would work out. It had to.
I tugged at the dark blue tunic for the thousandth time. While I wanted to wear my hoodie, I understood the wisdom of dressing formally, though that didn’t stop the shot of longing for the bulky shield. Everything was easier with my hoodie.
Kal wore an almost identical outfit, though his didn’t have sleeves, and he looked much better than I did. I brushed the swell of my gut before yanking at the fabric again.
Kal kissed my neck, whispering, “You’re so handsome that I’d much rather stay in our room.”
Swallowing the sudden desire that awakened my dick, I said, “Don’t say that or I might agree.”
He groaned. “We should cancel.”
“No.” I didn’t spend the entire day stressing to chicken out now. “Let’s go.”
Our fingers intertwined, and Kal led me through the palace. We didn’t see anyone, which wasn’t too surprising. Kal had informed me this wing, all the way up to the spire, was for the royal family exclusively.
Tall windows, with a railless terrace and sheer curtains, lined one of the walls. Plants, vines, flowers, and small trees filled the corridors. There was an occasional door, but something felt missing. There were no paintings or statues. No unnecessary furniture cluttered the palace, and there was no art of any kind. Nonetheless, it was beautiful.
One day it would be nice to explore the palace by Kal’s side. One day. Not yet, but sometime.
We came to a spiral staircase with a wide enough center that Kal could have flown up. Sweat began to gather on my brow after a few steps. “There’s not an elevator?” I asked, huffing.
“No,” he said with a lilt in his voice. I glared at him when I glimpsed the smirk on his lips. Kal said, “I will fly you down to our room.”
I grunted. I hadn’t exercised much since being sick, and definitely not enough to climb several flights of stairs. Relief surged through me at the sight of the landing.
At the top was an elegantly carved archway. Past it was a round room with a glass ceiling pointing into the sky. Windows framed by white sheer curtains made up the walls. Potted trees rested between each window, and a table toward the left of the room was covered with plates of food and a pink fizzy drink. But none of that held my gaze.
A line of people stood in the center of the room. My new family.
Kal whispered in my ear, “Be yourself.”
Three of the people I recognized. Kal’s father and mother plus his eldest brother; the others, I’d never seen. Kal tugged me in front of him, arms going about my waist, and gestured to the tall man in the front of the line. “You remember my father, Emperor Kontolmakqilnen.”
“Yes.” The last time I’d seen him was when he’d caught Kal blowing me, so it was safe to say I remembered him.
“It’s lovely to see you again. I’m glad you’re more clothed this time.”
My mouth dropped, and Kal snapped, “Father.”
“Stop,” Kal’s mother said, smacking his arm.
“You remember my mother, Empress Vyn,” Kal said, though he continued to glare at his father who grinned.
“It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”
Steadily, Kal introduced me to his siblings and his eldest brother’s mate in a blur of ridiculously long names and faces. I was overwhelmed. I didn’t want to be, but I was.
