I rested my hands on his chest and was heartened by the softness that invaded his features, the contentment that faded the weariness in his eyes at my touch.

“Ophelia arrived this morning,” he informed me.

“Good,” I replied. “Did you see her?”

“I did. We spoke at some length.”

“She is well?”

“She looks better than she did in Fire City.”

“Good,” I repeated.

“She brought many prisoners. They will be detained in Crittich Keep,” he shared.

I nodded.

“However, that business sorted, she doesn’t wish to delay. As discussed, she and the Nadirii will be launching a rescue effort to release the Airenzian witch, Fern, from her confinement. Thus, later this morning, we will have the summit. Her, her lieutenants, me, Father, Apollo, Tor, Rus, Tint, and the representatives of Go’Doan. However, she asked to speak to Serena immediately. They’re talking now.” He gave my waist a squeeze. “Do what you will this morning, but I ask you to meet me at ten o’clock in my formal study.”

I was surprised.

“You wish me there?”

In return, he appeared surprised at my question.

“Of course.”

“But, I—”

“You’re very wise, Farah,” he said over my words. “And I learned many things from my mother, one of the most important being, if you have wisdom around you, no matter the gender of the person who wields it, you utilize it.”

I veered closer to him, putting some weight into my hands at his chest.

“And you are queen, my queen, this country’s queen, and as such, you will have a voice,” he went on.

One could say Mercy and I did not have a very easy start.

And we did not have time to change that when she made it clear she wished to do that.

Even so, this was not the first time, and I knew it would be far from the last, that I wished she was still among us so she could witness what she had wrought in her son.

“I will be there,” I promised him.

True slid his hands around to the small of my back, pressing my hips lightly against his, asking, “And what will you do in the meantime?”

“I will visit with Alfie.”

He drew in a breath so deep, it pressed his chest against my hands.

“I will escort you to do that,” he said as he released it.

“He will be happy to see you,” I lied.

“Liar,” True whispered.

I pressed my lips tightly together.

True visited with Alfie as often as he could.

With more time to do so, I visited with him more frequently.

What could heal for Alfie was doing just that.

What could not heal was the problem.

It was not that he was angry with True.

I was that Alfie didn’t wish to see anybody.

True’s gaze moved over my hair and face and down my gown, which was Dellish, thus heavy. A flaxen velvet with an embroidered trim in gold, red and green at the deep vee of the chest and the wide hem at the bottom. The sleeves poofed at my shoulders and upper arms but were dotted with pearl buttons down my inner arms from above the elbow to my wrists, these buttons closing the material tight against my skin.