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There’s a moment where we all know that if my aunt were anyone else, her challenge and demeanor would have been met with the king’s anger. I brace for it,even, readying myself to try and deflect the conversation, distract him away from her. But, the anger doesn’t come. Instead, the corner of his lip lifts ever so slightly as if he’s pleased by her lack of airs and graces.
“Yes, well,” my father chuckles, turning his body toward my aunt now, but glancing back at my brothers and I. “One of my idiot sons has surpassed himself in his idiocy,” he quips, giving a fraction of a nod to his security detail. In turn, they allow Za
My aunt’s smile is tight. “Well, why don’t you accompany me to her rooms and you can tell me all about it.”
My father nods, his shoulders relaxing as he lets out a breath. “Yes, please, Zalora, that would be most welcome.”
We watch them go, my father offering his arm to my aunt. She takes it, but issues the mother of all warning glares over her shoulder aimed at Za
My gaze snaps back to my idiot brother, and I don’t even have to say anything - he already looks chagrined. My jaw ticks nonetheless.
“In my defense, I made sure she had a really good time,” the idiot says, lifting his palms as if that would placate me.
“You stupid fucking geliklik! What the fuck were you-”
As soon as I’d launched myself at him, Az is in front of me, tackling my onward motion and stopping me from advancing. Vel is in the middle of us, too.
“Look, look, look,” Za
“You don’t fuck your friends, Za
“She was scared, alright?!” Za
I snort a short breath from my nose and shrug out of Az’s hold. He keeps his hand on my chest, giving me a look that asks if I’m going to try and launch myself at our youngest brother again. I shake my head minutely, but continue to glare at Za
“I’ve known Xoe for years.” Za
I tip my face up to the ceiling, closing my eyes as I let out a long, weary sigh.
“She asked me,” he repeats.
“Oh, and I suppose you got nothing out of this, huh?”
Za
Of course he doesn’t. He’s the one that flits here, there and everywhere to meet new women of every different species. It occurs to me then, that this probably happened a few months ago when he’s suddenly made a trip to the capital without warning or much explanation. I groan and scrub my hands down my face. “You do know that father is going to demand you make this right, right?”
Za
He must know what I’m talking about.
“He’s going to demand you enter a contract with Xoe… probably a long, recurring one, too. Until you’ve made amends with her senator father by binding our two families together through you siring a child on her. Maybe more than one. They may even make you keep going until she bears you a daughter.”
Za