Calli’s nose wiggled. She hadn’t a clue what Lou meant. Confusion was one of my wife’s favored tactics with our children. It usually shut them up. Smart woman.

“I’m starting to get jealous,” I said to Savina as I plucked Adelphi off my shoulders and placed him on his feet. He’d started walking a couple months ago, but he never strayed far. I pulled his thumb from his mouth. “Don’t do that. You’ll have teeth like Bernard.”

Adelphi tilted his head and smiled, placing his thumb back into his mouth. His inherited dimple popped, tickled by his disobedience.

I shook my head. He was his mother’s son. Defiant.

Savina released Lou and flung her arms around my mid-section. “I missed you too,” she breathed. Her big cobalt eyes flashed up at me. “I wish you’d move into the castle and give up pirating. It’s too dangerous. I’m nervous every time you sail away.”

I stroked her red hair, which had darkened to auburn the past few years. “My wife will protect me.” I laughed. “You know that.”

Savina rolled her eyes and released me. “You’re lucky you have her then.” She bent down and picked Adelphi up, resting him on her hip. “I missed you too, my little bear.” She rubbed her nose against Adelphi’s, and he giggled. That large, cherubic head and those chunky limbs of his were part of why Lou refused to have a third child. If it were up to me, we’d have a crew of little ones running around. Every time I mentioned having another, Lou reminded me it wasn’t my body stretching to accommodate and then deliver a human.

“How is the king?” I asked, my brow lifting.

“I think it’s best you see for yourself,” Savina said as she peppered kisses onto my son’s flushed cheek while he cooed.

Lou and I exchanged a look.

“Is he okay?” Lou whispered.

As a disguised god, King Delphi couldn’t really be ill. So whatever Savina alluded to had nothing to do with death, piquing both Lou’s and my interest. He had called us here through Hermes, calling the matter urgent but never disclosing its nature.

“It’s something you must see to understand. I can’t really explain it,” Savina said. She grabbed Calli’s hand and kissed the top. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

The five of us traveled through the castle and down the right wing toward the vast royal bedchambers.

“Mother and father sleep in different rooms now.” She chuckled. “You know, because he’s so unwell.” She rolled her eyes. “Why don’t I take Calli and Adelphi to the gardens, and you can spend time with Father before his impending doom.”

“I’m utterly befuddled now, but yes, you may take the kids to the garden. Please do not let Adelphi sing,” I cautioned.