Accidental Surrogate

Departure Ella Sinclair and I dress very formally that night, knowing that how we bid our farewell to the Atalaxian delegation is going to be something that we handle with a great deal of care, especially as we know that Calvin will be there. We even wear our crowns, hoping that they oblige the Atalaxians to see us as representatives of the state which they intend to destroy.

Rafe, unfortunately, has other ideas about his formality.

“Oh, god,” I sigh when he shrieks and pulls his tiny crown off for the third time.

“Dominic, he won’t wear it “So don’t make him,” Sinclair says with a grin, coming to stand close to me in our closet, putting his hand on my back and peering down at our son.

Honestly, he’s a baby -” “He is the future King – “I huff as I slide Rafe’s crown around my wrist like a bracelet. “Without the crown he’s just our little baby meatball – ” Sinclair laughs now, taking the baby from me and holding him high up in the air, making Rafe shriek with laughter. “Did you hear how your mommy talks about you, Rafe!?” Sinclair calls, pretending to be appalled. Rafe just giggles harder, delighted. “A future King, and she calls you a meatball!” “He is,” I say, laughing and reaching for him. “He’s my little meatball, though,” I murmur, taking him back into my arms and leaning into my mate. “He’s just getting so big. And he’s very round.” “Wolf babies grow faster than human babies,” Sinclair murmurs, leaning down to kiss me on the cheek and then Rafe on my head.

“That’s horrible,” I murmur, clutching my little baby to me. I turn my mouth down at my baby. “You quit it, Rafe. Stay little.” “Not forever,” he says with a sigh. ” Just through these first couple months so that they’re stronger, then it kind of evens out. But yeah…he’s going to start getting teeth soon.” “What?” I gasp, appalled and looking up at Sinclair. “He’s too little for that!” “Sorry, love,” Sinclair murmurs, kissing my hair. “Our little pup needs his fangs.” “Well,” I sigh, turning to the room when Sinclair tugs me in that direction. “As soon as those show up, I am done breastfeeding.” Sinclair laughs with me as we make our way to the door. But both of us grow serious as we pass through it, because while we’re certainly able to distract ourselves for a few minutes?

Well. We’re still a nation on the brink of war, and it doesn’t look like there’s anything we can do about it.

do our very best, trying every angle we can think of to get the Atalaxians to turn. Henry’s there, doing the same, though Cora and Roger opted out of this one. I can’t say I blame them – Sinclair told me on the ride to their house this morning that he’s asked Roger to take charge of the military, and I have

efforts, the Atalaxians turn away all of our last- ditch offers and ideas, apparently determined to go to war. Only Calvin, sitting across the table from us, looks towards us with any real regret in

mood to look favorably on anything that Calvin says or does. Every time the Prince visibly moves or breathes, Sinclair sends a growl his way. I keep having to put a hand on my mate’s

tonight,” I murmur quietly as the meal

regicide if you kill a Prince out of the line of succession,”

to do

not,” Sinclair

serious,” I insist, looking up at him with clear eyes. Rafe, sleeping in my arm, fusses a

over to the corner of the room, where Calvin is clearly waiting to face us, his shoulders tense even though he has

a little smile, honestly a bit impressed with the coolness with which he’s handling this. Not everyone would be able to stand straight and look Dominic Sinclair in