A Court of Three Stars

44: Lessons in Light

60 years ago

Five Roses, Lunathion

Leur

"What the fuck do you want?" I burst through Einar's office door, a scowl etched on my face, "It is seven in the morning on a goddamn sunday."

I'd come through the gates and winnowed to my apartment only to find seven missed calls from him on my phone. At first, I'd been worried that something had happened while I was gone overnight. That Ruhn was in trouble or in danger or hurt in some way.

I'd called him first, only to find a very grumpy teenager on the other end of the line. One who was deeply annoyed that I was calling him so soon.

He was at his mother's, had stayed there overnight. But there was absolutely nothing wrong with him.

Which meant that his asshole of a father was summoning me for some other reason.

"Do you need to be so vulgar?" Einar glanced up at me, prim and perfect as always, reeking of cologne. Some specific one that smelled like smoke, freshly applied and gracing me with a headache right between my brows.

"Is that why you've summoned me at the crack of dawn?" I slipped into one of the chairs, giving him a sarcastic look, "To have a conversation about my foul language?"

"No." He signed whatever document was in front of him, amber eyes glancing up at me, "It's merely an... observation. You're a beautiful woman- if you could learn to keep your mouth in check-"

"Never going to fucking happen." I cut him off before I threw up.

"You know, I am your king." He folded his hands in front of him on the desk, "I could have you executed for speaking to me like that."

I bit back the urge to roll my eyes.

How many men had told me that they were my king before?

How many of them had I obeyed?

The answer was zero- to both questions.

"Who would raise your son then?" I cocked my head, "Surely not you."

He gave me a glare, "There's plenty of nannies."

"None who will put up with your shit." I tapped the case of my phone, "Seven missed calls before eight?"

"I don't know what you could possibly be so busy with." He waved a hand dismissively.

It took an unimaginable amount of self control not to laugh in his face.

He couldn't know that when I left here at night, I went to another world and worked an entire day as a General and heir in the largest country on that planet. Dealt with magic and warriors and battles so unimaginable that it very well might make his head spin. Worked an entire day there, possibly slept for a few hours, and then came back here.

Safe to say that I was pretty fucking busy.

"Those of us that have souls have to sleep." I reminded him, crossing one leg over the other, "Not that you'd know."

He gave me a long, exhausted look, "Once again- beautiful woman, horrible mouth."

"None of this is an answer as to why you've summoned me." I sighed, "Unless you just called me to tell me how beautiful I am- to which I'd say that I already know."

Not an ounce of humor appeared on his face, not that I expected it to.

Soulless, evil prick that he was.

"I called you here to discuss my son." He spoke through his teeth, clearly exhausted with me.

I nodded, sitting back in my seat, "I see Lorin has had her annual reminder that she has a child. Tell me, how much attention did you have to give her in order for her to pretend like she cares?"