“I know we want them to bond. Hell, that’s why the Prodigies are brought to King Hall in the first place, but they’re too close,” King Nelson stated heatedly.
“It’s as if they can’t make a single decision without the others’ input,” King Fergus said. “Joint decisions are wonderful — and needed — we know that, but they need to be able to make decisions alone that are best for their own people.”
The four of us had stopped breathing, eavesdropping, but we froze when King Nelson offered, “Maybe, we should separate them until graduation. After that, they’ll be going wherever they choose to set up their home base. It’ll give them the time and experience they need to make these decisions on their own before they graduate.”
“They came up with some pretty ingenious ideas together,” Antonio detailed into the conversation, his voice mild, not irritated like the Kings’, “That’s progress.”
King Nelson grunted.
King Fergus murmured, “Since you’ve been here, you’ve been preaching their need to get to know one another. Spend time together. You almost seem pleased with these results, their familiarity with one another.” He paused. “Why is that, Elder Farrar? What aren’t you telling us? Because we all know you’re keeping something back. Why are you even doing this?”
The four of us unfroze, leaning closer to the open crack of the door.
Antonio’s response was soft. “Because I must.” Well, didn’t that explain a lot? He loved using that phrase whenever he deemed it useful.
King Fergus muttered, “Kincaid. Venclaire. Both of you are awfully quiet. What’s your opinion on their bond? Should we separate them before it becomes a real problem?”
There was a stretched silence.
Finally, King Kincaid murmured, “I do agree with you two, but I also agree with Elder Farrar. Jack needs to be able to lead his subjects alone, just the same as Lily needs to be able to lead hers, and so on and so forth, but their ideas together today…it just goes to show what their time together has done. Those ideas were genius, and I could tell by the look on Lily’s face she has one too, but she was too worried about marrying that weasel to voice it. If they can do that together, think of what they could accomplish once they’re Kings and Queens.” A quiet pause. “Yes, I agree with Elder Farrar. Let them make their strong bond. I believe each Prodigy is intelligent enough to make decisions for their people when the time comes.”
King Nelson huffed, and then queried, “What about you, Venclaire?”
A long silence, then King Venclaire stated steadily, “I believe we should let them stick together. There’s nothing wrong with their bond. I’m actually a little jealous. If we’d been half as in sync as they are, we may have been better Rulers for it.”
King Nelson sighed, muttering, “I should have known you’d say that. You’ve always been the most liberal of us.” It didn’t sound like a compliment.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” King Venclaire retorted.
King Nelson snorted. “You’ve always been the most open with your views. Don’t even think we don’t know about that Shifter you fell in love with.” My heart stopped, and then started again with a crazy-frantic rhythm, my friends around me gaping. I ignored them, and tried to calm down, especially when, even though stunned, Ezra glanced to me with raised brows, but King Nelson wasn’t through, saying harshly, “You still loved her after she was gone, when you became the fucking King, Venclaire! You may have tried to hide it, but we all knew. So, yes, you’re most definitely the liberal of our group. And, I think it all started with her, because ever since then you’ve been too free with your decisions and your people.”
“I have always been a great King to my people. Ask any of them if they are dissatisfied. No one will tell you they are, I can guarantee you that,” King Venclaire growled, sounding infuriated. “And don’t you ever bring up Angela. You have no right to say anything about her.”
My friends were dumbfounded, their eyes wide, but my heart broke hearing his tone.
King Nelson laughed. “God, you’re still in love with her! A Shifter! And it’s been how long since she ran away from you?”
I jumped, hearing flesh hit flesh, then a deep curse from King Nelson.
The four of us stood in stunned silence.
My biological dad had just pummeled King Nelson.
“You went too far,” King Fergus said softly. “Apologize to him.”
“To hell with that,” King Nelson thundered. “I fucking bled!”
“You will apologize,” King Kincaid murmured quietly, but with steel in his tone. “Not only because she was someone he loved, but because you’ve just disrespected my Prodigy’s mother. I will not have you belittling her name in my house. By all accounts, she was a wonderful woman and mother.”