Page 131 of Midnightsong
“I’d love to!” Angie said at the same time as Reesa, and they both looked at each other and laughed.
“Perfect. We’ll be in touch.” Dr. Williams waved them off and hung up, followed by Reesa, and Angie was the last to end the call.
As soon as she hung up and made her way back to the office to check on Bàba, her seaflute vibrated in her purse. “Angie?” Kaden’s muffled voice came through, and she pulled it out.
“I’m here.” She rested the flute on the nape of her neck as she walked and talked, imagining it was his head there instead, dropping kisses over her sensitive skin. Pleasured shivers danced over her nerves. Kaden gave her an update on what was happening with the queendom, and with Cassia, and she kept her attention focused on what he was saying, until she reached the office and put her hand on the doorknob, pushing the door open.
“I’m holding a banquet at high moontide,” he finished. “Will you and your family join me?”
Angie didn’t think twice to say yes and looked to Bàba for his answer. He was leaning on his forearms. “Of course, I’ll come. We’ll tell Mia and Stefan and Ken.”
“Great! I’m excited to see all of you.” Unbridled joy tinged Kaden’s tone, and Angie wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him and hug him, never to let him go again.
Bàba started to stand, wincing when he was halfway up.
“Kaden? Wait, before you go,” she said quickly.
“Anything for you.”
“Can Bàba see your healers? Maybe they can help his leg and back?”
“That’s not necessary, we don’t want to burden them.” Bàba raised his voice to be heard from across the room. “I’m sure they have many of their own to–”
“Yes, of course,” Kaden replied.
Bàba set his lips in a thin line and peered at Angie over his reading glasses.
She gave him a serene smile in return.
Fifty-Seven
Kaden
The banquet was a success. Upwardof four thousand mer were present, all of his palace staff, nobles, and a thousand citizens had attended, filling the tubular, open banquet hall.
Angie, to his delight, had arrived partway through the banquet, Shangjiang Narea escorting her in, after they dropped Zixin off at the infirmary.
Kaden approached her toward the banquet’s end as she took another piece of candied kelp from a server’s hand, and chewed on it, closing her eyes, appearing to be relishing the taste.
“This is so good. I never knew sea fruits and plants could be prepared in so many different ways.” Her legs scissored beneath her. “Candied, dipped in honey and sugar, salty, spicy, sour, it’s all so good.”
Kaden beamed with pride for their chefs and their talent in extracting various flavors from plants to create succulent pastes for their food.
The wonder in her eyes was adorable as they made their way down the row of servers, each offering a dish.
“Did you try everything?” He reached for a handful of spiced seagrass flowers from a passing server and handed it to her. “This is one of our delicacies.”
She side-eyed him while taking it and nibbled on the petals. “Huh. I thought it would be spicier, with how red it is. But it’s delicious.”
As they moved down the line of servers, a broad hand on his shoulder stopped him.
“Cyrus!” Kaden threw his arms around his brother in a tight hug, and Cyrus returned it, thumping his back. “You’re free.”
“Yes, for now. I have to go back after the banquet.” Cyrus grimaced. “I’ll be happy when I never have to see the healers again.” A healer who was coming up from behind him stared at him with his face squinched. “I mean, with all due respect to you. You’re doing a great job.”
The healer swam away with two fistfuls of honeyed eelgrass, and Kaden held back a peal of laughter. “Bad timing.”
“In all honesty, I did not know he was behind me.” Cyrus watched the retreating healer’s back. “But I wanted to ask, well.” He glanced behind him again, where Adrielle approached, and Cyrus greeted the princess with a kiss. “Where are Libbi and Hadrien?”
