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He wanted to shout at them that he already had but kept his mouth shut.

“You aren’t getting any younger. And what happens to the Conclave if you are killed on one of these missions? There needs to be an heir,” Fentu, another of his matrons, kindly explained.

He instantly thought of Nadzia ripe with his young and a thrill coursed through him. But he quickly sobered. There was no guarantee she’d accept him and he highly doubted the Conclave would accept her or their mixed-race progeny. Undoubtedly the Conclave would push him to unite with the rest of his conclave as was tradition. But that was never happening. This was enough to give him a headache.

“Have you considered making Merus next in line?” he suggested yet again.

“No!” Axilla barked.

“Aculus, you are so headstrong and contrary. I found our male returning to his suite through the passages this morning,” Tellar admitted.

“Really?” Axilla said excitedly.

Just great.He closed his eyes. He’d never hear the end of this. And the last thing he needed was Axilla pulling at this loose thread.

“Yes. So don’t push him so hard. You know when we do, he goes in the exact opposite direction,” Tellar urged Axilla.

Helovedbeing compared to a petulant youth, as if none of his objections had any merit.

“How about you do whatever you want with the Trials and just let me know, that’s what you’ll do anyway,” he informed them and left the council room.

“Before we landed, I had no clue you were the heir to the Osivoire dynasty,” Payim said, catching up with him in the hall.

“I try to forget about it as much as possible.”

“I can see that. It sounds like quite a burden,” the red-skinned male added.

“It’s not the ruling that’s a burden, but other traditions that chafe.”

“I can imagine. Scala is going to take me on a tour. Would you like to come?” Payim offered.

“No, but thank you. Watch yourself. Scala can be a little wild when he’s not on duty,” he warned.

“Then I’m really looking forward to this tour,” Payim laughed as he headed toward the grand foyer.

Aculus went the other direction, intent on finding Nadzia, when he practically ran into Umerus.

“Do you have a moment?” she hesitantly asked.

“No. I’m sorry. I was just looking for Nadzia.”

He hated to brush Umerus off but where one of the conclave went the rest eventually followed, and he really didn’t have the time or the patience for that.

“Oh. Last I saw her she was in the new garden by the estuary, letting your pet get some exercise.”

“Good. Thanks.”

Umerus nodded and swiftly retreated, looking dejected.

Just great.He sighed in frustration, realizing he’d disappointed Umerus.And after the Trials there will be another female added to the ranks for me to disappoint.

He headed out of the Sanctuary and down the garden steps feeling like utter shit. When he reached the estuary, he looked around, but Nadzia was nowhere to be seen, neither was Tarsus.

Maybe she’s back in her suite.

He was about to leave when he spied her sandals near one of the benches.

“Nadzia!” he yelled, panning the water, as a terrible feeling overwhelmed him.