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“Of course, Au’revele can join us! And Kitty can, too!” Eula said, practically ecstatic that she would once again have an active family filled palace.

“Kitty’s racing around outside,” Vivian said laughing. “The last time I saw him he was making his second lap through those gathered outside while Kail and Asl tried to corral him.

“Aren’t you afraid he won’t come back in?” Au'revele asked.

“We couldn’t be so lucky,” Quin grumbled.

“He’ll always come back. I’m his person,” Vivian said, reaching up a hand toward Quin’s horns to pull him down for a kiss before she followed her mother-in-law to tour hers and Quin’s new living space.

Quin was speaking to his father, but caught sight of Vivian’s hand reaching toward his head from the corner of his eye. He turned toward her and realized what she wanted. Dutifully, he leaned over so she could take hold of one of his horns and tug him down to kiss her.

“Love you,” she said, pecking his lips noisily. “Be nice.”

“Love you,” he repeated. “Take care of yourself. Rest. I’ll come find you shortly.”

“Do not worry, Zha Quin! I will make Vivi rest if she seems tired,” Eula promised.

“She is always tired, Mother,” Quin said.

Vivian smiled up at Quin once more before she followed Eula out of the great hall and toward a massive archway that ledaway from the common areas of the palace and toward Quin and Vivi’s East wing.

Zahn made eye contact with Quin before he and Rel ducked out of the great hall to accompany their Sirena and Au'revele.

Quin gave Zahn a quick nod of affirmation, and with the women gone, Zha Tahl began to speak in hushed tones. “We’ll have a formal meeting to update Zahn and the rest of your security after you get a moment to settle in.”

“For introductions, or is there something of particular importance?”

“We’ve had a few rumblings of dissension, pieces of intelligence that indicate there are those who are not happy that we’ve allied with the Unified Consortium Defense.”

Quin nodded resignedly. “Regardless of the positive strides we’ve made, there are always those who preferred the more violent ways of our people.”

“Without fail,” Zha Tahl agreed.

“It is a shame they do not realize we can move forward with both. Civility and reason are the weapons readily at hand, but it takes only a moment to shift into a warring people if necessary.”

“I could not have said it better myself, Quin. I’ve not made it common knowledge to your mother. There’s no reason to go overboard with security. Our own is more than capable, and the added security of your own people accompanying you and Vivian have brought our overall protection to a level I’m not sure we’ve ever striven for in the past. All will be well, I simply meant to bring you up to speed.”

“I understand, but with Vivian here and expecting any day, I am already on edge. I have no doubt that your security forces are quite capable, and when ours are added, I dare say there isn’t anyone who could slip in undetected. But I can’t help being more overprotective than usual.”

“As was I in your position.”

“Li’Don,” Quin said, looking around the small crowd assembled.

“Sire,” Li’Don said, stepping forward.

“Li’Don has agreed to join us here. His normal assignment is as one of Kol’s most trusted Elite Warriors. I feel sure that he will be able to perform certain duties that others may not if a situation calls for it. I felt it prudent to have someone with his talents with us for a while at least. Li’Don will be assuming a position with our security forces, but he is so much more.”

Zha Tahl smiled as he inclined his head toward Li’Don in greeting. He knew well of the Elite Warrior Unit that Kol had assembled and trained. They were unequaled in not only stealth but certain other deadly talents as well. In fact, some of his own personal guard had trained under Kol before transferring to the Palace.

“I am aware that our security forces will become one basically, but I would like both Zahn and Li’Don especially to be apprised of the situation, any situation really, at the highest levels and kept so,” Quin said. “They can then coordinate with those under them.”

“Of course. And do not forget that this palace is almost impenetrable,” Zha Tahl said. “Our women reside here, there will be nothing that threatens their safety.”

Chapter 3

“Eula, I just can’t believe this is going to be my home! I knew you’d mentioned a wing of the palace when we spoke last, but I don’t think I truly grasped all that it is. I figured we’d have a small apartment as our own on a different side of the palace so that your privacy would remain unaffected. I had no idea this was what you meant,” Vivi said, walking slowly through the entire suite, not sure which part to look at first. “It’s just, it’s overwhelming. It’s an entire home. With other homes for our people nearby, making it a neighborhood. Inside a much larger home. Which is actually a palace.”

Eula laughed. “You are family. And the only female strong enough in all ways to take my place and to support Quin when he assumes his role leading our people. You deserve this and so much more,” Eula said. She gestured toward a large sweeping staircase to the left of double doors that were the entrance to the residence that was Vivian and Quin’s new home. “You’ve two separate spaces for the moment actually. One upstairs and one down. Normally, the bedroom on the first floor would be for the nanny to be near to the youngling. The parents would sleep upstairs. But I know your thoughts on this, so I’ve adjusted your quarters. You and Quin will have a small version down here of your upstairs quarters. Rooms that are normally meant for visiting with and welcoming visitors to your home if you’d so choose have been turned into an optional royal suite of rooms so that you don’t have to go up and down the stairs until you’re ready. Three full bedrooms down here, the living room you’re standing in which is always a living room, a large office complete with all the technology needed for remote meetings, two cleansing chambers — one attached to the bedroom that is yours and Quin's, one for guests to use, and a small kitchen in case you’d like the opportunity to prepare something to eat withouthaving to leave your home. You could always just call for a meal to be delivered from your East wing kitchen, but I remembered how much you liked to be able to cook for yourself from time to time as well. The nursery is beyond the bedroom meant for you and Quin. The other two are just off the living room. Au’revele’s quarters are next door and an adjoining door has been put in to allow her access to the nursery as needed from her private quarters. Upstairs there is quite a spacious private living area. Another living room, four more bedrooms that can be used when your youngling is older and doesn’t need a nanny throughout the night, a small sitting room, and a cleansing room attached to each bedroom. An additional office is up there, along with an exercise room, an entertainment suite, and a library, and a large personal kitchen. There is also a garden on the roof that is accessible off the sun room. There are balconies off the exterior windows upstairs. A large part of your upstairs suite extends over the corridor we just entered your suite from, and over the rooms across the corridor. There is a hidden stairwell upstairs to allow you unfettered access to the courtyard.

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