House of Royale (Secret Keepers #4)(52)
Another group appeared in the transporter then, shuffling off into the very limited free space now. “We must start crossing to Earth,” Lettie stated, her tone suggesting this activity was akin to wading through a sewerage pipe. “Our warriors can congregate in Daelight Crescent.”
Everyone nodded, and the council dispersed, running off to talk with the different members of the houses. “The council is supposed to be a neutral, overseeing group,” Xander told me as we watched them move about. “Our houses have rarely had reason to come together like this, so it’s good to have them here to coordinate it all.”
“How can you handle being … a leader … having to make decisions like that … having the responsibility and happiness of your people rest with you? I’m not sure I could handle it. I just like to swim.”
Xander grinned. “All Royales like to swim, so as long as you make that a priority, you’ll find happiness is easy to achieve.”
I shook my head at him. “You know what I mean.”
He shrugged then, his expression sobering. “I’ve never known anything different. I won’t lie and say it’s not scary thinking about my mother handing the mantle over to me one day, when she’s had enough of her role. But … I guess I’ll just handle it how I do everything, one day at a time, work my ass off, and learn from those older and with far more knowledge than me.”
“It’ll be a long time before you have to worry about that, son,” Lettie said, an almost joking tone in her voice. “I’ve still got plenty of good years left in me.” Her eyes flashed to me for a moment and grew slightly chillier. “I’ll make sure you have a good match. Someone to help with the burden. So don’t stress about it.”
Ouch. Point received, mermaid bitch.
Xander sidled between me and his mother like he thought a chick fight was about to break out. “I’ve told you multiple times, it would be much easier if I arranged my own mateship based on what I think is the perfect match for me.”
The weariness in his voice told me this was an old argument.
Lettie’s expression softened. “I promise you, this is the best way. It’s tradition. And it’s tradition for a reason, because the most secure matches are ones made with your head, not your heart.”
“We did away with the old ways years ago,” Roland said from the side. Apparently everyone was listening in now. “Our children are capable of making decisions like this on their own.”
Tristall stepped up to stand shoulder to shoulder with his mate. “Royales have always done mateship differently, mostly because it’s not in our nature to be in long-term bonds. It works for overlords because of the energy we’ve absorbed from the network. But … there is less fighting … less controversy, when the bond is chosen based on mutual benefits to the two families.”
“Less love. Less passion,” I added bluntly. “Is it really necessary to accentuate our close ties to fish? Maybe we should try and be more like our Daelighter side.”
Lettie sneered at me. “You’re neither Daelighter nor fish. You are a human, one who cannot even breathe under the legreto. You get no say here.”
Her words cut, just a little … a deep paper cut. Still, I had challenged their way of life, so it would be expected that she’d retaliate.
“Watch your tone, Mother,” Xander said, and I noticed how tense his back muscles were. “Avalon makes some very good points. I see the flaws in our mateship arrangements. I have told you often of those flaws. I have told you about the time I spend in the Darken home, and how it’s warm and light and affection is given freely. If I ever have young, that is the life I want them raised in. I also think we should be encouraging our people to change their way of bonding and raising families. A lot of them are not happy about our way of doing things.”
“How do you know this?” Tristall asked. “No one has mentioned anything to us.”
I edged around Xander so I could see his face. “I talk to them,” he said, some of the anger fading from his voice. “They miss their children. They want to know who their children are. Some of them have been in long-term bondings for many years, but they hide it for the shame of not changing partners often. You’re not putting the people first. If traditions are failing, we need to readdress them.”
“Enough,” Lettie barked her command. “This is personal Royale business. Now is not the time. We will pick this conversation up later.”
Xander reached out then, wrapping his arm around me, drawing me closer to his body. “That’s fine. But you need to apologize to Avalon.”
Lettie inhaled sharply. “I’ll do no such thing. I spoke only the truth.”
Tristall placed a hand on his mate’s arm. He didn’t say anything, like he knew better than to question her, but that simple gesture seemed to calm Lettie anyway. She pursed her lips, meeting my eye. “I’m sorry if my words offended you.”
I tried not to laugh, because I was sure she wouldn’t appreciate me telling her that was the worst apology ever. “Your opinion doesn’t really matter to me,” I replied honestly, since she apparently respected truthfulness. “I’m not hurt or offended.”
Her mouth dropped open and Xander let out a low rumble of laughter. With a brief nod, he turned his back on his family and half carried me to the transporter. “No one ever questions my mom,” he said, amusement lacing his words. “I should send fate some damn chocolates for bringing you into my life.”