Exit Strategy (Tales Of The Citadel #58)(10)

“She will still be a royal.”

“She will be living with Huknos; that will give you a lot of time to verify any ladies that you bring to family events.”

“What if my match is in the stars?” He gave her a sober look.

“Then, I suppose you will just have to search for her.” She patted his shoulder and left him to go and stand near Ahlgos.

The first few hours with his family were far more eventful than she had anticipated.





Chapter Five


“Are you having fun?” Ahlgos smiled.

Yna sighed. “This is complicated.”

“Family usually is.”

“I have a vague memory of that.” She smiled.

He shifted closer to her, and with his family watching, she rested her head on his shoulder. It took her a bit of fidgeting, but she eventually got comfortable as they looked out over vineyards and orchards.

Likiada came up to her after a few minutes. “Just stick with me during the procession, you will be fine.”

“You are going to be there?”

“As the sister of the groom, I have to be. I can hardly wait until my brothers are married and I can start a family.” There was an intense look offered to Yna.

“I am sure it will be sooner rather than later.” It was all Yna could offer.

Ahlgos wrapped an arm around her and squeezed. “Not soon enough.”

Miett came toward their small group and smiled. “There isn’t enough time tonight for a tour of the grounds, but Ahlgos planted all of those vines when he was just a child. He wanted his father to resign from peacekeeping to become a vintner, and Ikato wine is consumed all over Remuyan now.”

Yna didn’t have time to comment.

“Well, you have to get up early to have your hair done with the others. Since she isn’t used to our time zones, it is best if Yna gets some rest.”

She straightened, her skin still warm from contact with Ahlgos. “That is sensible.”

“Likiada, please show our guest to her room.”

Yna reluctantly moved away from Ahlgos and inclined her head. “I will see you in the morning.”

He gripped her by the arms, and to her surprise, he kissed her in front of his family. When he pulled back, he smiled, “Sweet dreams, Yna.”

Likiada sighed. “Right. Come on, Yna, before things get a little less suitable for public consumption.”

Yna felt her blush grow as she met the knowing and amused gazes of Ahlgos’s family.

“Likiada, you just need to point the way, and I will be fine.”

“Call me Li, the whole family does, and as for finding your way around here, I really doubt it. The house is built—”

“On a spiral with offshoots of larger rooms in the centre and a multitude of smaller rooms on the outside walls. Based on my social standing, I am somewhere in the middle.”

“How did you know that?”

“Everybody has their talents, mine is related to special awareness, plus I saw a schematic while I was on the way here.”

Li chuckled and then redirected the conversation. “You are here because of me.”

“Yup.”

She sighed. “I can hold the embryo dormant for another seven months. It isn’t that much of a rush.”

“You can withhold development?”

“For up to three years. I have been in holding since Ahlgos came home and announced his broken betrothal. The high family wasn’t happy, nor was his fiancée, but she got over it.”

Yna blinked. “It was an arranged marriage?”

“Demanded is more like it, but he put his foot down and refused to go through with it, which sent a ripple through the nobility and separated me from Groven for a time. We resumed our courtship after Huknos’s wedding was announced, and that is when I told my family what was going on. Ahlgos set out in search of you immediately. You were the only one he wanted.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you know? Since he first met you, he has been fixated. I didn’t know your name until now, but I have seen the truth of his attachment.”

“You see truth?”

Li sighed. “It is odd, but when someone is pure of heart, I can see it. Groven may have to give into his family, but he loves me with a pure heart. The moment we are clear to marry, we are going to register at the imperial court.”

“You are content to wait?”

“Hell, no, but I am a citizen of Remuyan and want my family to be proud of having me as a member. I may go to live with Groven’s family, but I am always an Ikato, as my children will be. We have already drawn up the contract.”

Li’s smile was blinding as she settled a hand over her belly. Suddenly, she looked around. “Here we are. I honestly don’t know where they are going to get a dress for you.”

“Oh, do you have yours?”

“I do.”

“Can I see it?”

“Sure. You have a bath, and I will be back within the hour.”

Yna nodded and headed into the burgundy, gold and brown room. The colours were all wine and autumn. It was a lovely space.

As she walked into the bathroom, her Masuo retreated into a series of bands down her thighs. She ran the bath with a minimum of fumbling and slid into the water with a happy sigh. Gel showers and sonic scrubs were fine, but nothing beat a good soak.