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A few moments later, I had a new shirt on and ran a quick brush through my hair, then I was headed out to the hall. I half-expected to see Mad Dog on my way out, as he was about as unhappy with my injury as everyone else, if slightly better at hovering, but there was no sign of the soldier.
Perhaps he was out in the training area. I knew there was an increasing worry about soldiers and guards falling ill, so they were more than grateful for his expertise. We’d need all the connections we could get if we were to eventually face down my father, so I certainly wasn’t complaining.
“Mother,” I said as I left the large doors that marked the end of my personal wing.
She was standing in a casual dress. It wasn’t like the traditional gowns she normally wore and looked more like a designer suit. I didn’t think I’d ever seen my mother in pants before and I was bemused by the change.
“You look stunning,” I said, walking forward and kissing her cheek.
“You think so? This was a gift from my baby cousin who’s traveling up north. She said slacks are considered sophisticated on a woman.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell my mother that most women outside of the palace preferred slacks for day-to-day life. She wasn’t naïve, per se, but her world was so thoroughly shaped by the palace—the place which served as her prison as well as her home—that it seemed cruel sometimes to give her a taste of what she couldn’t have.
“I would say your baby cousin is most certainly right.” I cleared my throat, trying to ignore how I could feel the eyes of her entourage on me. Gods, I hated being in the palace. Instead of being a wolf, it made me feel like a bug under far too small of a microscope, being examined this way and that. “Your servant said you wished me to escort you to the dining area?”
“Yes, please, darling. Your sister is there, and I thought it’d be so nice for the three of us to speak, even if it’s just in passing.”
My sister? That had to be Amelia. My stomach soured at the thought, but I didn’t let it reach my face. I missed the simpler times of punching enemies in the face and occasionally ripping out their throats.
“Ah, I see.” I offered her my arm, and she took it, smiling so broadly that I felt an usual twinge of guilt at leaving her side. Still, I couldn’t live my life for her, not when I was so obviously unfit for royal life. “Shall we go, then?”
Naturally, the short walk to the dining area took way longer than it ever should’ve, but that was because of higher born nobles and dignitaries stopping to speak with either me or my mother. There were also far more protocols for approaching the queen than there were for the prodigal prince. But my mother did still manage to slip in short snippets of conversation with me, keeping her voice low.
“How is your health, my sweet?” Ah, code for my arm.
“Improving every day,” I answered vaguely, hoping it put her at ease.
“Wonderful. But I would have thought that the witch on your auxiliary staff would have had it all sorted out by now.”
I didn’t miss the little wrinkle of her nose when she mentioned Ayla, and I did my best not to let my hackles rise, but it was difficult. I didn’t like her disrespecting my mate like that. I knew that if my mother got a chance to know Ayla, really know her, she’d love my mate, but that’d be too risky.
Not for the first time, I felt suffocated by our family dynamics. I wished we could all just be happy and love each other, root for each other, but the trappings of royalty and the venom of politics stood like steadfast walls between us.
Exhausting.
Eventually, however, we did make it to the dining area, and my mother bee-lined for my sister. I wasn’t surprised to see her there with another boy toy, since I’d been warned of her presence, but I was surprised to see Seraphina as well. Had she just followed along or was she invited? I’d be quite pleased if that were the case, as it would mean my mother was trying to interact with her youngest daughter. As much as I hated being in the capital, my influence would be a net positive if it meant Seraphina was welcomed into the fold.
If that didn’t turn her into someone like Amelia. I hoped no matter how embroiled my youngest sister would become in court politics, her personality would never shift.
But as we crossed the table, I quickly realized that, no, my mother hadn’t suddenly offered an olive branch to the sweetest member of her family. Not the way her nose slightly wrinkled and her pheromones took on another tinge like burnt sugar.
Had… had Amelia just brought Seraphina along to have someone to pick on during the meal? Or was my baby sister being brave and trying to assert herself? I really, really hoped it was the latter. I didn’t want to have a fight with Amelia in the middle of the dining hall, but I absolutely would if I found out she was trying to use Seraphina as a punching bag.
“Hey there,” I said, sitting beside her and giving her a small peck on the cheek. Goodness, I missed my sister. The one thing I regretted was leaving her behind and not even writing. I’d messed up on that front, and I wouldn’t do it again. Even when Ayla and I returned to Fort Canid, I’d make sure to at least write to Seraphina. And if I ever got my dream of a peaceful home with Ayla, I would most certainly invite my baby sister to come and stay as long as she liked. “Good to see you.”
“Good to see you, too,” she said with one of her cutest smiles. I really was lucky she’d forgiven me for abandoning her. It was certainly more than I deserved. “What bring—”
“You know, I have a wild theory,” my mother cut in, as if Seraphina hadn’t been speaking at all. I hoped that she was just excited.
“Ooh, what is it?” Amelia asked.
My mood quickly deflated. Was I ever going to be able to interact with my family without a fight?
“Well, I’m not sure if you know, but your Uncle Graham’s been active in the city, but every time I try to talk to him about it, he gets all cagey. Normally, I’d assume he was just up to his normal machinations, but there’s something different now. I think…” She leaned in like she was whispering about a grand conspiracy. “I think he has a lover.”
I honestly couldn’t care less. My uncle had had a couple of low-key flings I vaguely remembered from when I was younger, but they never lasted long or were overly dramatic. He had his fun, paid his mistresses well, then set them up for a comfortable life when they were done. It was honestly generous of him, considering his contempt for everyone but himself.
Well, if my mother was going to blatantly ignore what Seraphina had to say, I was just going to bypass the conversation I had absolutely no interest in. A little dose of her own medicine, as it were. Relatively harmless, but hopefully it would help her realize how her actions felt to Seraphina.
