“My mom is pregnant,” Stella said.
Kate stared at her for a full thirty seconds before the words sank in. Her face twisted from an expression of shock to a smirk.
Stella held her hands up to ward off whatever obscene thing Kate was about to say. “Do not even say it?—”
“I knew your dad had it in him. I swear my life changed the day I heard him say the words ‘good girl.’”
Stella groaned. “My stomach is not strong enough to hear that story a second time.”
Kate fanned herself and held her glass against her neck. “I should thank you for inviting me to sleep over after our first Godsball. If I hadn’t, I would never have caught them in the act. I didn’t know older married people still had hot sex in their kitchens.”
Stella shivered with disgust and covered her ears. “Stop ruining my life, you deviant.”
Kate cackled and turned back to the party, which was beginning to fill with guests.
A squeal cut through the din of voices and Stella turned to watch her mother throw herself into the arms of the king of Argaria. Xander Savero laughed and whispered something in her ear before stepping back and making her twirl. Her mother’s cheeks pinked, and she laughed again as Queen Jessamin hugged her and kissed her on the cheek.
“It’s so weird how your family is so casual with King Xander,” Kate whispered. “You know he’s handsome for an older man. Your mother really knows how to pick them.”
Stella slapped her arm. “Stop it. I can’t think about him that way.”
“Do you not have eyes? What about his sons? Prince Jalen is gorgeous, though you can just tell from looking at him that he knows it. Prince Theodore is very good-looking. He has that whole intensely serious, broody thing going on.”
“Teddy is a jerk, Kate. Jalen is a year younger than us but at least he’s charming.”
“And a flirt from the looks of it,” Kate said, nodding to where Jalen leaned against the table, a rose in his hand extended to Lady Amy Sharp.
At the head table, Xander pulled a pink rose from behind his back and handed it to Cecilia.
“The apple doesn’t fall far,” Stella grumbled.
“Stella?”
She spun and came face to face with the two Savero princesses.
Juliana was twenty-two and had always been close with Rosie. The two were constantly writing letters to each other and spent all the solstice holidays practically attached at the hip. The princess was tall like her mother with flawless golden-brown skin, dark brown eyes, and hair that was always immaculately styled in intricate braids. She was all elegant grace and stylish dresses, but looks could be deceiving. The middle daughter of the Savero family was well-trainedby her warrior parents, as deadly as she was regal. Her dress probably had no less than six blades hidden within the bodice.
Juliana pulled Stella into a hug. “It’s good to see you. You’re looking lovely in lilac,” she said.
Stella smiled. “You look beautiful as well, Jules. The beadwork on that dress is gorgeous. Is it from Novum?”
Juliana nodded, glowing with pride in her mother’s homeland as she spun so the candlelight caught the silver beading on her dress. “I think it adds to my ice princess ethos.”
Stella nodded. “It certainly does. You remember Lady Kate Crawley.”
Juliana and Kate kissed cheeks as Stella turned to greet Alexandra.
Of all the Savero children, Alexandra was the one who bore the most striking resemblance to the king. Her skin was lighter and more olive than her siblings, and she had his bright hazel eyes that were always lit with mischief.
Kate looked at the king and then back at Alexandra. “I hope you’ll forgive me for saying so, but you look just like?—”
“My father. I know. Mother says it every day,” Alexandra said. “Fortunate for me that the men and women of Olney think that’s a good thing.”
Stella laughed. “So happy court life hasn’t tamed you, Alex.”
Alexandra brushed her hands together like she was trying to rid herself of crumbs. “I dared them to try. They haven’t risen to the occasion as of yet.”
Stella had never met a more self-contained twenty-one-year-old than Alexandra Savero. Alexandra had always had a steady confidence about her and no fear of the attention being royal brought.
