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Ryan must have touched some unseen device, because a door opened and a Jayronian woman came in and bowed to him. “Can you bring us some tea, please, Malik? And some of those little cakes His Highness likes?”
The young woman nodded and left, so that Ryan turned his attention back to his son. “I know you must be tired and want to get to your rooms, but I thought it would be nice if we got to know your betrothed a bit before the wedding.”
“Of course,” Mikol said, smiling at his omak. The affection between them was very apparent.
“I’ve taken the liberty of sending some sapphire robes to your room, Prince Kalen. I know the supply on the space station must have been quite low. I believe you’re too tall for mine to fit well, but we have others that were made for my husband’s brother, Rakkur. I believe they’ll fit you nicely.”
“You’re very kind.”
“Tell us, Prince Kalen,” Prince Mikos said, in regard to nothing at all. “How did you come to meet my son before the official meeting on the space station?”
“I’m sorry, Prince Kalen, but it seems my husband has forgotten his manners. He’s being nosy.”
“Don’t apologize for me,nobyo.”
“Then please do it for yourself. That’s none of our business.”
“I merely meant to say that it was odd that you were both there at the same time. And that you met at all. Quite the coincidence.”
“That’s right,” Mikol said, drawing his father’s attention. “It was. And it was love at first sight, I suppose. You’d know about that, wouldn’t you, Father?”
“Hmm. Indeed. Still, it’s perhaps a little too coincidental. Some might question it.”
“What is there to question? Kalen was nervous about our meeting and decided to stop by Belline. He’d heard a bit about it, it seems. And we happened to go to the same establishment. The Starlight. I noticed him right away and went over to him. We talked and realized who each other was. Things progressed from there.”
There was a silence as Mikos looked back and forth between them. “I see.”
“Now, about the ceremony. Has Blake managed to pull that together for us? We don’t expect anything elaborate.”
Ryan smiled at the Jayronian woman who had returned with a tray laden with cakes and teacups. The woman arranged everything on the small table in front of the sofa and everyone reached for a cup. Kalen noticed that no one expected Ryan to serve anybody.
“Where were we?” Ryan asked as everyone politely sipped their tea. “Oh yes, the wedding ceremony. It’s tomorrow morning. And it will be just the family and a few close friends. We had to keep it small, since your parents weren’t sent an invitation, Kalen.”
“Parent,” Kalen corrected, as he reached for a small, iced cake. “There’s only my mother left.”
“I heard about the tragic passing of your father. Please accept our condolences.”
“Thank you.”
They all sat quietly for a moment, enjoying the tea and cake. Then Ryan returned to the subject of the reception.
“We did plan a large reception for later, though. One that all of our big family can attend. You can give me the names of those you’d like to invite, Prince Kalen, and I’ll send them an invitation as well.”
“I-I suppose there isn’t any way to exclude my mother and her husband.”
“No,” Prince Mikos replied.
Kalen gave him a long look. “My uncle murdered my father, Your Highness. Then married my mother in a disgusting display only days later. Though I still have feelings for my mother, I don’t have cordial emotions about either of them, and I can’t pretend I do.”
Rather than show anger, as Kalen expected, Prince Mikos simply nodded. “The Tygerian religion teaches us to be calm in the face of those who hate us.”
Feeling rebuked, Kalen nodded miserably.
The prince continued. “And then to do to them whatever they would do to you. Only do it first.”
Surprised, Kalen laughed softly and nodded. “That sounds like a good plan, Your Highness.”
“We’ll invite them and keep a close eye on them. Your husband and I will ensure that nothing happens to you at your uncle’s hand again, Prince Kalen. You have our full protection now. As do your people. You can be sure of that.”
