Page 30 of The Kingdom of Eternal Ice
This must be a custom I’m not acquainted with. I’ve accompanied King Naseem to his diplomatic meetings a few times. Later, I went to visit King Gillean and his ranked members to make sure Azadeh would be in a good place. But, local customs differ, and the town Tynan is from might offer their newcomers food.
“I’ve got the room next to yours,” Tynan says. “Do you mind if I accompany you to breakfast?”
“Not at all,” I say. “You are free to do as you please. You live in this castle and can go wherever you want to and whenever you want to.”
Tynan sighs briefly, but soon his face lights up with a smile again. “Then, allow me to show you to the dining room.”
“It’s not the same as yesterday?”
“No, usually the royal family and ranked members take their breakfast in the dining hall, together with other pack members.”
“That’s very commendable,” I say while I follow Tynan through the corridor and down a staircase. On our way, we almost bump into Azadeh and one of King Gillean’s daughters. I think her name was Kilah. The young girl chats excitedly while Azadeh smiles and listens politely. I watch her carefully, noticing how her shoulders are slightly tensed, and while she seems joyful, there is a sadness lingering around her. I have known her since she was little, and it’s hard to make her let her guard down and be anything but perfect.
Once the two young women see us, Azadeh bows her head slightly to acknowledge our presence, and Kilah slips back into what she thinks is a perfect princess attitude; the poor girl is so lost. She thinks she is subtle, but it’s just a show she is putting on.
During my few visits to the Kingdom of Eternal Ice, I never went to the capital; most of the times, I met the king and his ranked members in one of the towns close to the borders, which is why the view in the dining room truly surprises me. Tynan wasn’t joking when he said the royal family likes to take breakfast with the regular pack members.
It’s buzzing. There are tables with warriors and omegas seated next to each other, women, men and some children. One huge table is reserved for the royal family and the ranked members. The dining room is huge and easily fits a few hundred people in it. Breakfast is offered via a buffet. Kilah takes Azadeh’s arm and tugs her towards the buffet, excitedly telling her how the breakfast works and obviously trying to dote on her. I’m glad the princesses are already taking Azadeh and Simin under their wings, but I’m still feeling a trifle wary.
An old habit I can’t shake off. “What’s her deal?” I ask Tynan quietly. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s very kind of the princess to help Azadeh, but I noticed a lot of tension.”
“You noticed that already?” Tynan blinks. “Well, us wolves aren’t really subtle, I guess. Kilah is known for having bullied some of her siblings,” he explains in a low voice.
So, that’s where the tension comes from. I noticed the juvenile prince, Flinn, last night and how his gaze got harder when Kilah tried to push Alana. At that time, I wasn’t sure because it could have been a rather innocent talk between sisters, but now it’s obvious there is more to it.
“However,” Tynan adds. “Kilah was very excited about Azadeh coming here. I know, she can be arrogant,” he whispers. “But she isn’t vile. At least, most of the time she isn’t.”
“As long as Azadeh is happy, I won’t complain.”
“What is she to you?” Tynan asks while it’s our time to take a plate and fill it with whatever we want. The choices are very savory. There are eggs, ham, fresh bread, sausages. The girls and I will probably soon miss our fresh fruits and sweet breakfast choices. Well, different countries, different customs. I load my plate with ham and eggs, raising my brows when I see that Tynan easily took triple my portion, and I’m certainly not a small eater. “You look at her like a father looks at his child,” Tynan continues.
“To me, she indeed is like my own child,” I admit.
“That’s why you chose to come with her?” he says.
I nod.
His eyes wander towards my bionic arm.
“It was an injury during an attack,” I explain calmly.
Tynan looks flustered. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
“I’m used to it,” I say. To my surprise, Tynan shows a hint of upset by my words, but he recovers fast.
“We are seated at the royal table,” he tells me.
“How come?”
“You are a general and a high-ranking member of an allied kingdom,” he explains. “And I’m an elite warrior. I was chosen to be in the king's inner circle.”
He must be trustworthy and strong then. I follow Tynan to the table, politely greeting everyone who is present already. The only ones missing are Alana and Nevyn, both of them on different duties this morning. Royan is already here and sitting close to Azadeh, keeping a watchful eye on her and the triplet princes.
The one with the black hair and silver eyes is talking with Azadeh and Simin, while his two brothers are entertaining their youngest sister and their father.
“Do you like your breakfast?” Tynan asks me. “I noticed you didn’t get any deer ham,” he says. “Want some from mine?”
I look at him surprised, while he shifts around on his chair, looking at me expectantly. His question has aroused Ita’s interest, too, and she just stares at him. She furrows her brows while her eyes gloss over as they always do when the werewolves mind link.
