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“And now I must see to my other little beauties. Get some rest. Someone will assist you with your hair and make-up this afternoon. And this evening…” he bowed with a flourish. “This evening you will face the Empire.”

Eighteen

Vahn paced irritably about his quarters. Or rather, his father’s quarters. He hadn’t got round to re-decorating and they still didn’t feel as if they belonged to him.

He would have preferred to stay in the rooms he’d occupied since he was a hatchling, but Rhyn and Baelon had convinced him it wasn’t proper.

“Vannla’s Sword, what’s keeping her?” he muttered to himself. Someone knocked on the door and he whirled round.

“Enter.”

Ela walked in.

“Your Majesty,” she said courteously, bowing. Vahn rolled his eyes.

“Why is it you only do the faithful servant routine when you know I’m in a hurry?”

“Because it’s more fun that way,” she answered coolly. “If you wanted to know how it went you should have come with me.”

“No, that would have been counter-productive. Kara’s very unhappy with me right now and I did not want to distract her from the task at hand. Did she speak to her mother?”

“She did.”

“And?”

“It was a difficult conversation but the human made it clear the peace offer is genuine and that she supports it. She counselled the President to accept the will of the people and end the war.”

“Good. That’s good. And, um, what did she say about me?”Fountain of Zandarr, he sounded like a wet-behind-the-ears pup.He tried to affect a more regal expression. “I mean, how did she explain our betrothal?”

“Let me see.” Ela gazed at the ceiling, pretending to think. “She said it would bond our two species and bring the people together.”

Vahn was deflated.

“Fine. So she performed exactly as we wanted. I expect it’s too soon to expect a response from Earth’s Parliament?”

“It hasn’t even been a day yet. With the will of the gods, we may get through theshaa’baarachallenges before we hear. And then we won’t have to explain why the President’s daughter is being forced to run the gauntlet in front of the entire Vraxian Empire.”

“Not forced. She volunteered, remember? And she’ll be fine.”

“You really have that much faith in her?”

Vahn gave her a crooked smile.

“You have no idea what she’s capable of. That woman is the most stubborn being I’ve ever met. She saved my life on Minerva-6, Ela. So yes, I have that much faith in her.”

Ela’s chest tightened. The calm confidence in his voice, the unshakeable belief in Kara, were like daggers to her heart.

“I should go and start the security arrangements for tonight’s ceremony. We don’t want some disgruntled human-hater taking a pot shot at our little dove.”

Alarm crossed Vahn’s face.

“You think that’s a possibility?”

“Not under my watch.”Though it would solve all my problems.“I’ll check in with you later.”

She made to leave and he stopped her.

“Wait. May I ask you something?”