The Bound (Ascension #2)(74)

Cyrene’s mouth dropped open, and she quickly closed it. Then, she dropped into a deep curtsy. “Your Highness, no debt at all. Prince Dean would not have been in any trouble if he had not helped me.”

Dean opened his mouth to protest, but the Queen silenced them both.

“No matter the trouble, you saved my son’s life. You are most welcome in Eleysia. I pray that both you and your companion enjoy your stay, and I hope you will bless us with your company at least through the Eos holiday,” the Queen said with a smile.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Cyrene said.

The Queen rose from her throne and signaled an end to the meeting. The Privy Council began to whisper to one another as they circled the room to talk to neighbors. With a pang in her chest, Cyrene realized how much it reminded her of Presentings back at home with all the Affiliates and High Order congregated in one place.

Dean turned to her then, and his smile stretched from ear to ear. “You’re staying.”

“I’m staying,” she confirmed.

Maelia wrung her hands together next to Cyrene. “That was well done.”

Cyrene winked at her. “Not so bad as a Presenting, was it?”

“Not half as bad,” Maelia confirmed.

“Your Presenting ceremonies are the strangest thing to me,” Dean said.

Cyrene shrugged. “When you were raised your entire life for them, they aren’t that strange.”

“Even when you’re not as fortunate to be First Class, like Cyrene, and didn’t train your whole life for the opportunity,” Maelia said.

Just then, a figure stepped down before them. Dean smiled and pulled his sister in for a hug. The heir to the throne of Eleysia was publicly hugging her brother, as if it were commonplace. Cyrene was definitely going to have to get used to this place. The people in Byern weren’t so affectionate.

“We’re so glad to have you back, Dean,” Princess Brigette said with a sincere smile. “Home wasn’t the same without you here.”

“Well, I’m back to stay,” he confirmed.

“Good.”

“You know I could never stay away. Who would I have to nag me all day?”

Brigette raised her eyebrows in a surprisingly accurate imitation of their mother. Dean just laughed.

“Brigette, meet Cyrene and her friend Maelia.”

“Pleasure,” Brigette said.

“Nice to meet you,” Cyrene said, dipping into a small curtsy.

Maelia did the same and nodded in her direction.

“Come,” Brigette said, taking Cyrene’s arm and pulling her away from Dean. “I think we will be fast friends.”

“Oh no,” Dean grumbled behind her. He followed, offering Maelia his arm.

“Don’t listen to him,” Brigette said with a smile. “I haven’t met an Affiliate in nearly a decade, and I would love to know everything about your homeland.”

“Oh. Well, of course,” Cyrene said.

“Perfect. I hope you have found Eleysia to your liking.”

“As much as I have seen so far.”

“Not much, I’d wager, but we’ll fix that. But, first, let me introduce you to my sisters.”

Cyrene steeled herself to meet all the girls standing before her. There were so many. She had no idea how she was going to keep them all straight. Even with her quick memory, it didn’t seem likely.

“In age order, my sisters, Princesses Susann and Karin.”

Both were tall with straight blonde hair to their waists. Susann had a book open in her lap and barely glanced up at Brigette’s introduction. Karin had on an extremely low-cut dress and the most makeup. She flounced over to them and curtsied to Cyrene.

“So, you’re the reason Dean came home,” Karin said bluntly.

“I…” Cyrene began.

“We thought he’d be gone forever.”

“Must be important to bring the girl home to meet the family,” another girl said, after Karin.

Two other girls followed close behind, and they looked similar with frizzy bright red hair, a splatter of freckles, and round faces.

Brigette pointed at them in order. “The triplets, of course—Princesses Lissa, Lara, and Livia.”

Lara pushed past Lissa to get to the front. “Is that what this is all about? Dean, have you finally found yourself a girl?”

“And Byern born at that?” Livia cried in protest.

Cyrene’s cheeks flushed at the comments, but they wouldn’t let her or Dean get a word in edgewise.

“And an Affiliate at that,” Lara said in disgust.

“Didn’t the last one try to kill him?” another girl with fair hair and big, round green eyes said. Her gown was plainer than the other girls’, and she was a bit wider than the rest. She seemed bored by the conversation.

“That’s Princess Ruthe,” Brigette said. She was making no move to correct the girls or any of their accusations. She seemed perfectly happy to let it continue as she made introductions.

“I distinctly remember the Truffle Incident,” Ruthe continued.

Another girl behind Ruthe just shrugged. She was petite with hair the color of burnt copper and a hawk-like nose. “Who cares? She’s not here to stay.”

“That’s Princess Hether.”