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“That is my thought as well. But we won’t know for certain until she and Rokai return.”

“Have you heard from him?” Vivian asked.

Quin shook his head. “I’ve sent him a vidcom letting him know that the Ascension to the throne and conference of all authority that comes with the position of Sovereign from father to me is in four days. I have not heard back from him.”

“I’m sure he’ll be here to support you.”

Quin thought about it for a few moments and tried to seem positive, but couldn’t quite muster a convincing smile. “It is my hope.” Quin scratched the head of one of the kittens napping with Alexandrus. Suddenly he looked up at Vivian. “Are you ready to become Sovereigna, my Vivi?”

“Of course. We’ve discussed it.”

“I know that. But are you ready? I do not want the typical ‘I can do anything’ answer you habitually provide. I want to know if you are ready. If it does not please you, we can wait until it does.”

Vivian smiled. She knew the reason he was making sure she was okay with the position she’d be accepting alongside him. “I’m sorry I was so erratic while pregnant.”

“Don’t be. I have been assured that it is completely natural for females to behave that way. It is not erratic if it is expected. I will admit, though, that I’m glad to have you back. If you need more time to adjust to the drastic changes your body has endured, and the changes our lives have taken, you only need to say so.”

She leaned across the blanket and kissed him. “I love you, and I love that you are so focused on making sure that I’m happy and healthy. But I’m okay. We’re a team. We do everything together, or not at all, right?”

“Yes!”

“Then let’s do this. I’ve been Sirena for a long time. And your mother is here to help me with any transition I don’t expect. And it’s time for you to accept your birthright. And for your parents to be able to take a step back so they can enjoy their lives for a change.”

Quin smiled proudly at her. “We will make Cruestace see that our visions are a good thing.”

“We will. Have you thought any more about those that thought to rise up against you taking the reins as Sovereign?”

“I have.”

“And?”

“You know those who actively planned and participated in the attempt to harm Alexandrus were executed.”

“Yes.”

“The others, those who simply joined those who voice their dissatisfaction, I don’t feel deserve the same punishment. I just can’t justify it. Instead, I plan to pardon them, and they’ll be removed from our military forces, but allowed to go on with their lives on Cruestace as they’d like.”

“What if they present another threat?”

“I’m not one to blindly trust, you know that. They will be checked in on. If it is determined they present a threat to anyone’s safety, it will be addressed. But it is not a requirement to agree with every action of the ruling family in order to be Cruestaci. I do not demand blind faith and complete submission. Not everyone will support the same ideas and visions, either current or for the future that we endorse. But laws are laws and they have to be respected, or there is no civilization or safety for anyone. They are welcome to be vocal about their views. What they are not welcome to do is create an unsafe atmosphere for everyone else. Hopefully with time, they’ll see that we can still be the Cruestaci that the multiverse has respected for eons, andoffer an ever expanding future through our alliances with other worlds.”

“I admire you so much, Quin,” Vivian said, smiling lovingly at her mate.

He grinned at her, but before he could say anything else another round of cheers and laughter and whistles went up in the distance.

Quin looked off in that direction.

“Why don’t you go see what it is?”

“No, it’s alright. I’ll stay here.”

Another roar and a round of applause filled the air, calling to Quin’s natural desire to be a part of whatever his warriors were cheering.

Quin glanced that way once again.

“Go! Join them! You need to release a little of your own frustration.”

“Are you sure, Vivi?”

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