Page 16 of Immortal Bonds

The spell was broken a few moments later when a shout echoed from down the hall. All eyes turned to the cracked doorway Soren had come from. They waited, and waited, and then waited some more, but nothing else happened.

Had someone made noise just to distract them? And if so, who was it and why?

"As it stands, these will be the candidates. My sibling has gone through the effort and work of talking to the people for us, and it saved the headache of having to take multiple votes. We know people don't want to show up for these things — they have to miss work and family time. I'd rather get it out of the way as quickly as possible."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the group chorused before filing out of the space.

Silas, Romilly, Archer, and Thalric were the only ones left. Soren had also slipped out, taking the pages with them. That was interesting, Thalric noted, standing up and moving over to where Romilly and Archer sat.

"Is it always this tedious and thrilling?"

Archer laughed and tucked his head into Romilly's chest. Romilly stroked his mate's hair and shook his head. "No, not typically. There’s always some drama, but this is an extraordinary circumstance. I'm sure you heard what happened with Nicholas."

"I did," Thalric responded. "Well, he’s rotting away in a cell these days. The council is happy to not have him here — he manipulated a lot of them — but they're also hesitant to make the wrong choice because they fear being in the same position as him."

Thalric crossed his arms. "How could they be in the same position as him unless they commit treason and try to kill your mate? It's really quite simple — if they behave, they live; if they don't, they suffer."

Romilly smiled up at his uncle — or down at his uncle. "I'm glad to see that you're on the same page as me. It will do great when I bring you on to my advisory team."

Thalric shook his head and laughed. "You Saints are relentless. I have been told by more than one of you that I'm staying, and I have yet to agree to a single thing. Your mother, my dear sister, has already made a room that looks like the one I had back in the horde."

"Back in the horde." Romilly was still smiling, and Thalric couldn't quite figure out why. Silas was chuckling beside him, his hand over his mouth.

Thalric looked at Archer. "Do you know what these two are going on about?"

Archer nodded rapidly. "You said 'the horde,' not 'my horde,' which means you don't claim them. Daddy always says 'my horde.'"

Archer quickly threw a hand over his mouth, his eyes going wide.

Everything in the room froze, and static filled Thalric's ears at the title. It was one he longed to hear from his own mate, and knowing that Romilly and Archer had that type of connection had him envious beyond all measure. It made him happy for the pair, of course, but also fully aware of what he was lacking.

"No need to apologize, little one," Romilly said. "I have a feeling my uncle also wants a Little of his own."

Archer's hand fell away as his jaw dropped open and he looked Thalric over.

In response, Thalric eased his arms to his sides, making himself as unthreatening as possible. "He's right. Just as my nephew has a little one, I would love a darling boy all my own."

You have a darling boy all your own, he told himself. No need to discuss that with family though. Not with the complication of the scent from his fated mate and the Little Biter situation.

"When you find yours, can we be friends?" Archer said, completely oblivious to the inner turmoil Thalric was going through.

He chuckled softly. "Yes, of course."

Archer clapped, then burrowed into Romilly's chest. Romilly wrapped one hand under Archer's knees and placed the other behind his back and stood. "I believe my mate is tired. We’re going to go take a nap, and we’ll see you both at dinner."

"It was nice to see you again, Romilly, and very lovely to meet you, Archer," Thalric said before they were able to leave.

Archer turned slightly and stuck his hand out, waving it. His other thumb was in his mouth, and Thalric admired the sweet boy, happy that his nephew had a person who fit his every need, his every desire.

After the two left, Silas gripped the back of Thalric's neck. "You will find yours one day. Don't reflect on the negative or be sad that it hasn't come. Fate does not make mistakes, and she will lead you in the direction you need to go."

Thalric wanted to agree with him. If it had been three years ago, he would have. But since finding his Little Biter and falling in love, he questioned fate often. At one point he thought maybe his Little Biter could be his fated mate.

Maybe this was the method in which they would meet and grow together, then fall in love and live happily ever after.

But as more time went on and they hadn't seen each other in person, his belief in that became less and less. And now, here in San Noctis, having picked up the scent of his mate in person, he felt hopeless. Like there was no possible chance of his dream coming true.

CHAPTER 6