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sp; We both looked at each other for a moment.
He chuckled. “It seems it will take you time to adjust that here is your home, no matter what. I meant that this is your hall as well, so if we must restore it, is there no art you wish to see on the walls here?”
It hit me then that Ulrik might have been right. Behind his childishness and silliness, he was very perceptive about his brothers, and the reason he threw Melora and broke things even when he didn’t need to was to give Theseus a chance to start something new. He all but said precisely that. It made me wonder more about Theseus, his thoughts, his desires, his fears. When we came here, he’d been worried I did not and would not care for him genuinely, but he did not say it. Instead, he did his best to hold his faith. He was also understanding and patient with me, but was that only for my sake? What was he really thinking and wanting?
“Druella?” Theseus asked, concerned, cupping my face when I did not speak. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, sorry. I was lost in thought,” I quickly said as we began to walk.
“In thought about what?”
I didn’t want to ask my questions now, so I changed topics. “Prince Jabari and Princess M’kena? Jabari is your younger brother, and M’kena is his mate. They’ve come, too?”
“Yes, of course. You are family. And Jabari and I are closer due to our ages. His mate is—well, you shall see,” he replied, opening the door for me that lead out to the family.
I gave him a look, unsure what he had meant, but he only nodded for me to go forward. And when I walked down the stairs to the family sitting room, everyone was there. Sigbjørn was dressed in a white linen tunic and pants, reading beside the fire. Sitting on the arm of his chair like a Greek goddess, in dark-colored robes and golden jewels and her dark hair in curls, was Rhea, drinking from a glass. Melora had changed into a simple silk blouse and pants while Ulrik was wearing jeans and a casual shirt. My gaze fell to each of them. Arsiein wore a standard suit along with his brother Hinrik. Meanwhile, their mates had gone all out. Atarah wore a bright blond wig with a large floral ball gown, and Matias had a bejeweled kaftan that showed off his chest and a robe over his shoulders, along with about six different necklaces around his neck.
The only two I didn’t know as I stepped down the stairs was a tall, dark-skinned man, the top of his head braided into two cornrows and pulled back into a bun while the sides were shaped very nicely into his beard. He wore a dark-blue suit with buttons on only one side. Of course, like every vampire, he was very stunning. His eyes were also the purest blue, which was such a contrast to the darkness of his skin.
“Brother,” the man spoke, opening his arms out wide. “I bid you joy and congratulations.”
To my surprise, Theseus accepted his hug and the man patted him on the back. He moved to speak to me. However, I saw her, a blur of white and brown, move and reappear directly in front of my face, so I was shocked though confused. The woman was dressed in a native print dress with skin that was part brown and part white. I stared deeply in dark-brown eyes, looking me over as if I were some creature, a crown of African cowrie shells on her headscarf.
“May I help you?” I asked her.
“Yes.” She nodded and looked me over more. “I do sense you may have hailed from my lands. Very good. You may bow in respect now.”
“Excuse me?”
“As you hail from my lands, I am your princess, daughter of King Orie, ruler of all Maduka, greatest of the five African kings. You may bow in respect.”
My mouth dropped slightly, and I looked over her shoulder to Theseus, who shook his head.
“I see time has not changed you in the least bit, M’kena,” he said to her.
“Thank you, Prince of Night. Perfection does not desire change,” she said to him while still looking directly at me, apparently waiting for that bow.
Luckily, her mate, Jabari, came up beside her and put his hand on her shoulders. “Mahaba, we are no longer in Maduka. She technically outranks you here. And it would be quite rude of her to bow to you when she has not yet bowed to my father.”
She frowned. “You have not bowed to King Sigbjørn?”
“Was I supposed to?” I asked quickly.
Her gaze narrowed, and she broke away from her mate’s hands. For the first time, she looked away from me to where Sigbjørn sat, still reading. She bowed her head to him. “Forgive her, Your Majesty. She is still young.”
Sigbjørn simply nodded his head.
“M’kena, how many times must we tell you that such procedures and formalities are not done among us here in Ankeiros…at least to such a degree,” Rhea said, tiredly, as she rose from the arm of her chair and placed her glass on the side table.
“Of course, Your Highness,” she replied, not seeming to get or maybe getting completely and still refusing to agree.
Jabari stepped forward, a gentle smile on his lips. And just like the rest of his family had done before, he grabbed me by the hands, pulled me to him, and kissed my forehead. “Welcome, sister. I am Jabari Dubaku Thorbørn. You do not know how pleased I was to hear of you. My brother, Theseus, has waited much too long for such happiness. May you both be blessed.”
“Thank you,” I said. Before I could say more, Jabari’s mate came forward, copying his actions and offering me a small nod.
“Jabari,” Sigbjørn called out as he closed his book, slowly, as if he were human, rising from his chair.
“Yes, Father.” Jabari turned to him immediately.
