Elysia had barely composed herself before the carriage door swung open and sunlight flooded the plush interior, dazzling after the velvet shadows and warmth of Malvoria’s arms.
The city’s noise returned in a wash laughter, bells, the distant cry of market vendors.
Elysia blinked against the brightness, adjusted her cloak, and reached for Malvoria’s hand, letting the Queen help her down onto the cobbled drive.
Before either could properly smooth their rumpled clothing or check their hair, a flash of silver and black darted across the stones—Kaelith, as always, faster than expected for a not-quite-one-year-old.
She hurled herself at Elysia with such force that Elysia had to crouch and brace herself, catching her daughter in a whirlwind of chubby arms and high-pitched laughter.
"Mama!" Kaelith crowed, burying her face in Elysia’s shoulder. She slled like honey and wild wind and—Elysia’s heart squeezed—freshly turned earth.
There was always a hint of fire about her, a flicker of sothing elental beneath the surface, but this was layered now with sothing new: the unmistakable, utterly damning scent of her parents’ recent escapades.
Veylira stood a few paces behind, hands on her hips, grinning like a wolf at a banquet. Her eyes a shade darker than Malvoria’s danced with mischief as she took in the scene: Elysia flushed and glowing.
Malvoria a step behind, her usually impeccable coat a touch askew, both wearing the faintly dazed, deeply satisfied expressions of people who had forgotten the rest of the world for a little while.
"Well, well," Veylira drawled, sauntering closer, making a show of fanning herself with a stray parchnt. "Back from your ’shopping trip,’ are we? Did you find what you were looking for, or did you get a bit... distracted on the way?"
Malvoria shot her mother a withering glare, but it only seed to encourage Veylira. She swept Kaelith into her arms, much to the baby’s delight, and sniffed the air with exaggerated concern.
"Oh, stars above. That’s quite the aroma you two are giving off. If I didn’t know better, I’d say a pair of wild beasts had gotten loose in that carriage. Poor Kaelith—co here, darling, let cover your innocent little ears before you learn any more words than ’mama’ and ’cake.’"
Kaelith giggled, squirming as Veylira pressed her hands—far too late—over the baby’s ears. "Mama!" she repeated with gleeful emphasis, clearly picking up on the general chaos if not the specifics.
Elysia tried for dignity and failed spectacularly. She could feel her cheeks burning and she was certain Malvoria was only seconds away from a full retreat back into the carriage.
"Veylira, honestly," Elysia managed, voice tight with laughter. "Do you have to announce our every move to the entire courtyard?"
Veylira arched an eyebrow. "Darling, it’s hardly necessary. You two are glowing. I’ve seen less obvious bonfires in the demon plains. But don’t worry—no one but the guards, the kitchen staff, and the gardener have noticed."
She paused, as if considering. "Oh, and the stable master. And possibly the cook’s apprentice. You know how sound carries."
Malvoria groaned, running a hand over her face. "Mother, please."
"Don’t ’mother’ , Malvoria. You’re the one who brought her ho slling like that." Veylira’s grin softened, just a touch, as she passed Kaelith back to Elysia.
"Besides, I think it’s charming. You two finally got so ti alone. It’s about ti, after all these months of kaiju-level baby chaos."
Elysia lifted Kaelith onto her hip and pressed a kiss to her daughter’s soft hair. Kaelith was squirming again, eyes bright with the mischief she’d inherited from both sides of her lineage.
"I’m just grateful you kept her from setting anything on fire in our absence," Elysia said, a bit pointedly. "That’s the only thing that keeps up at night these days."
"Oh, the day isn’t over yet," Veylira replied cheerfully. "You should have seen her at lunch. She very nearly turned the dessert tray into a blazing cot. The kitchen staff will be telling stories for weeks."
Malvoria, finally regaining her composure, strode over to Kaelith and gathered her up with a gentleness that belied her reputation.
"Did you miss us, little one?" she murmured, brushing her lips against Kaelith’s temple. Kaelith squealed and flailed her arms, clinging to Malvoria’s collar.
"Mama, mama!" she chanted, switching her attention between the two won, eyes wide with adoration and the subtle calculation of a born mischief-maker. She gave Malvoria’s braid a good yank for emphasis.
"She missed you, all right," Veylira observed, crossing her arms. "And you, General, clearly missed your wife. You might want to brush your hair before dinner, though. Unless you want everyone at the table to know exactly how you spent your afternoon."
Malvoria tried and failed to ta her hair with one hand. Elysia stepped in, smoothing a lock behind Malvoria’s ear with a touch that lingered a fraction too long.
"Oh, for the love of—" Malvoria muttered. But she couldn’t hide her smile. Elysia leaned in and whispered, "We’re dood, aren’t we?"
Elysia shook her head, laughter bubbling in her chest. "Utterly dood. But at least we’re dood together."
Kaelith, apparently finished being the center of attention for a mont, began wriggling in Malvoria’s arms. "Cake," she said, expectantly.
"See?" Veylira said, smug. "A proper royal—knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to say it."
Malvoria handed Kaelith back to Elysia, then straightened her uniform as best she could. "I suppose we’d better go inside before we scandalize anyone else."
"Too late for that," Veylira called after them as they started toward the castle doors. "But don’t worry. I’ve always said a little scandal is good for the blood. Keeps the nobles guessing."
Inside, the hallways felt warr than usual, suffused with the aftermath of their laughter and the scent of family.
Elysia set Kaelith down for a mont; she imdiately toddled off toward the grand staircase, only to be intercepted by a vigilant footman, who bowed low before her as if she were already queen.
Malvoria caught Elysia’s hand as they followed, her thumb tracing soft circles across Elysia’s palm—a silent promise that the closeness they’d found in the carriage wasn’t so easily left behind.
They caught up to Kaelith just before she could make her customary ascent up the stairs, and together the three of them made their way to the private family sitting room.
Veylira swept in behind them, carrying a stack of papers and a sly grin.
Kaelith plopped down in the middle of the rug, reaching for her basket of wooden animals.
Elysia sank into a chair with a sigh, stretching out her legs and letting the gentle chaos of their ho fill the air.
Malvoria stood for a mont, gazing at her family her wife still glowing from laughter and love, her mother entirely too pleased with herself, her daughter the very embodint of impish joy. She cleared her throat, adopting a tone of utmost solemnity.
"Veylira, thank you for watching Kaelith," Malvoria said, deadpan. "We apologize for any... collateral damage."
Veylira flicked an imaginary speck of dust from her sleeve. "You’re welco. But next ti, I’d appreciate a bit more warning before you leave alone with a budding fire elental and a kitchen full of flammable pastries."
Kaelith, as if on cue, produced a spark from her fingertips—just a flash, a harmless flicker, but enough to make Veylira leap back, hands flailing.
"Oh no you don’t, little tyrant," she scolded, but her eyes were fond. "Not on my watch. Not unless you’re planning on roasting marshmallows."
Elysia burst out laughing, pulling Malvoria down beside her. "What would we do without you, Veylira?"
Veylira winked, sinking into a chair. "Probably burn the whole castle down. Or die of boredom."
She reached for a tray of candied nuts, popping one into her mouth, her gaze never leaving Malvoria and Elysia, who were side by side on the edge of the couch, Kaelith climbing determinedly over their knees.
Malvoria arched an eyebrow at her mother. "If you’re so worried about the castle, perhaps you’d like to oversee the banquet preparations tomorrow?"
Veylira snorted. "Nice try, General. I already wrestled a firestorm and a sugar high today." She leveled a knowing stare at the two won.
"What I think you need right now is a long bath before dinner. A proper, steaming, lavender-scented soak to get all that ’carriage chaos’ off you both. You reek of mischief—and other things."
Elysia tried to hide a smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "We’re not that obvious."
"You are," Veylira said flatly. "And you’re both still rumpled. Go. Clean up. I’ll keep an eye on the tiny tyrant until it’s ti to eat."
Kaelith, upon hearing the phrase "tiny tyrant," grinned and imdiately attempted to scale Veylira’s lap.
Veylira caught her easily, bouncing her on one knee. "See? She’s already plotting her next campaign. If you’re not careful, she’ll be ruling the kitchens by midnight."
Malvoria rolled her eyes but didn’t object as Elysia rose and gently tugged her up as well. Kaelith reached out with both hands, clearly torn between her mothers and her grandmother, but Veylira expertly distracted her with a carved wooden dragon.
"Go on," Veylira urged, giving them a shooing motion. "Take twenty minutes. Take thirty. I’ll tell the staff not to bother you—and I’ll tell them to hide the dessert trays until Kaelith’s ready for them."
Reviews
All reviews (0)