I know what it is. Still, I choose to voice it in hopes to share his pain. To be young and in love like this is both a beautiful and torturous thing. I should know.
“What’s troubling you?” I probe him softly.
He shakes his head and puts on a smile. “I was thinking about visiting Uncle Ambrose.”
I duck under his arm and sidestep him in time with the music. “Oh? You haven’t been to Draconia in years.”
He spins me around, his tone and expression unaltered when he says, “Yes, but the Dragon Kingdom is always exciting this time of year, especially with the Fire Festival. I was thinking I could go there and return in the spring.”
My feet root to the spot at his words. “That’s six months. You’ve never been away from Zorya for that length of time.”
He pulls his lips into a lopsided smile and spins me once more. “A bird’s got to fly from the nest sooner or later. And it’s only six months. I’ll be back before you know it.”
The song ends and I lead Alastair over to a quiet corner of the room. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with Nieve, would it?”
As if electrocuted by my words, Alastair searches the dance floor for Nieve. She’s dancing with Hendrik, her long amethyst gown spinning around her. For a long while, my son is quiet, and I wait for him to open up to me. He’s not as quiet as his younger brother, but he can be a little apprehensive when it comes to talking about his feelings. He’s like Pitch that way.
“Grandpa says a prince can choose however many mates he desires.” My son follows Nieve, spinning into Henrik’s arm, the two of them laughing. “Why can’t a princess? Why must she choose only one?”
Despite my best efforts, I tense at the mention of his grandfather. While Hades has never stepped foot in the Forest since the day he tried to take Pitch from me, he’s doted on Alastair since the very moment he was born. Pitch says it’s because our son shares so much in common with him. Even though in the beginning that used to frighten me, I’ve come to accept it. I grew up desperately wanting to belong to a family and so I will never deprive Alastair of his.
At the end of the day, Hades is his grandfather, and he does love him. The good news is that he only communicates with Alastair through the magical mirror in my throne room, and either myself or one of my mates are always present during their encounters.
My son loves his dark magic and is proud of his heritage, but thanks to his father and I, his soul is blessed with the warmth of Danica’s light and Selena’s love. As the future king of Zorya, He’ll make a powerful leader one day, and I can’t wait to see him ascend the throne when he’s of age.
“No one says Nieve must choose one of you,” I say quietly, caressing the side of my son’s face. “It’s only that the Forest has never had only one queen before. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done, only that it’s new, and you know how fae feel about doing anything that isn’t traditional. They can be as stubborn as the Faery Pools when they want to be.”
His eyes search mine, and my heart warms at the vulnerable look I find churning within them. He looks like a little boy again, and yet he towers over me and is almost the same height as his father. I can’t help but smile. Even with Alastair’s military training and accomplishments, he will always be my little boy. Always.
Henrik appears and slings an arm over his shoulders. “Looks like I’m in the lead, cousin. Three dances down. How many have you had with her ladyship?”
Alastair glowers but doesn’t shrug his cousin away. With a bow, I remove my hand and join Zander by the buffet table. Still troubled by the conversation, I can’t help but glance back at the two princes. It’s incredible how opposing they are to each other. Alastair, with his black hair and eyes, his breathtaking ebony wings, is the epitome of darkness. Henrick is the mirror-image of his Draconian father—he’s tall, blonde, and his silver eyes make him the epitome of light. Even their natures are completely opposite to each other. And yet, despite this, the two of them have remained inseparable since they were babies. It’s only been