Heirot

"If he does not support it, he can find a new line of work," Atul replied. "I'm tired of being treated like I am less than their King."

Atul met with all the officials necessary to get everything started. Mathis took his orders with clenched teeth, but he didn't try to argue the King. Then, Atul made arrangements for the seamstress to visit Tenele and Sinead first thing in the morning. He even took it so far as to arrange to meet with architects about merging his quarters with that of Tenele and Vlad's so that they could create one large apartment.

It was late evening by the time they could make there way back to the living quarters. Sinead's room had been arranged between Espha and Talon's rooms. It was the only open space left.

It was nice to finally sit down with his family, and the addition of his future mother-in-law and have a peaceful meal.

"Papa," Tenara called up to him. She was sitting in the King's lap, picking at her food. "I don't wanna eat them."

"They're good," Atul replied warmly, pressing a kiss into her hair. "If you eat them you get chocolate."
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"Okay!"

"Atul...." Tenele warned. "If you give her chocolate you will be held responsible for try get her to sleep tonight."

Vlad ate small, sampling amounts of everything that was on the table. It was a good way to ignore the strange looks Sinead kept giving him. The queen had a way of seeing more than she should, and he didn't want to dull the excitement of the day's activities by giving in to the inquiry in her gaze.

Planning the wedding excited him. It wasn't that he had much care for the details, but there was something about seeing Atul and Tenele so eager and committed to it all that made him irrationally pleased. So what if he wasn't sure he could be with them as he had before... it shouldn't change anything. He was more than skilled enough to please them both. He just couldn't be with her any more.

He must have given something away, because when he looked up to find his place in the conversation, Sinead was staring at him. "Vlad, what is it?"

"I don't care for the peas," he said curtly.

"You can't taste peas," Sinead warned quietly.

"Are you going to be here all the way up to the wedding?" he asked her cautiously.

She crossed her arms and appraised him sternly. Satisfied, Vlad smirked and sat back with an equally irreverant posture.

A little while after dinner and the conversation Tenele lifted Tenara away from her father and carried her off for a bath. "Time for bed, little one," she whispered. "Tell everyone good night."

Tenele leaned Tenara over her arms and the child pressed a kiss to Atul's lips, and then Vlad's, and finally Sinead's. "Good night!" she called to them.

The door to the bathroom closed and that left the Queen and the two men alone. Atul sighed heavily, stacking the plates on a tray and leaving it outside the door for the servants. He wondered quietly how long the Queen planned to stay up with them. It was a little odd to act so informal around her, but he did suppose he should get used to it. She would be family soon.

Vlad looked across at Atul. "Queeny," he said. "Before I left to help Tenele, you asked me to stand in your high court. Atul probably has similar responsibilities planned for me here. Perhaps this would be the best time for the three of us to decide what I am. Don't fight over me, now. Well, fight a little," he smirked.

Atul sat down slowly, staring across the table at the Queen. "I want this to work," Atul replied. "Therefore I will let you determine how much time you need of him, and I will arrange his duties accordingly. I'm easy to please, especially as I now will have two spouses instead of one to handle the duties required of them."

Sinead nodded thoughtfully. "You should know, if you haven't been told already, that I have veto power over Vlad's actions. I may not know what he's doing at all times, but when I choose, my commands are literally impossible for him to disobey, even if he wishes to. For the sake of your personal relationship with him, it's best if you're aware of that. If his, or your kingdom's, actions violate my principles, I can and will stop him. That being the case, I'll agree not to use Vlad to manipulate your kingdom by force. Only his participation would be affected." She tilted her head at Atul. "Is this much agreeable?"

Atul nodded. "It is agreeable. I mean your kingdom no harm, Sinead. I'm perfectly happy with the amount of space that I govern. In fact, its often more than I can manage and is still very much under the thumb of a dead God. You have nothing to worry about. But, I thank you for the warning. Do you have any warning's concerning your daughter?"

Sinead paused and pressed a finger to her chin, as if she'd never considered this question. But then she set her gaze on him sternly. "If you hurt her, abuse or ignore her, or disrespect her, I will probably try to destroy you. Not your kingdom, though. Just you," she smiled charmingly.

Atul smiled politely. "I can assure you that none of those things will happen. I love Tenele very much. I'd sooner carve out my own heart than hurt her." The King clasped his hands together with a sigh. "I guess that covers everything..."

"There is one other thing," Sinead said. Her expression was more cautious as she leaned in toward the king and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for making my most trusted servant and my daughter happy. You don't need to think of me as a mother if it seems odd to you, but should you need my aid or counsel, no matter the topic, I will answer your call with no agendas or hidden interests. I'll support you as I would my own son."

Atul's eyes watered at her words. He just stared at her. His mother had died while giving birth to him. He never had one. The closest thing he had to a mother were the servants who took care of him while growing up. "Thank you," he replied, choking on his own words. He coughed to clear his throat. "Thanks..."

Sinead's eyes warmed as she noticed the emotion in his voice. "I'll be in my quarters. May I borrow Vlad a minute?"

Atul nodded. "Of course," he replied, motioning at Vlad and the door. "I hope you rest well tonight, Queen Sinead."

"I suspect I can," she replied. Her tone might have sounded curt to many people, but that warmth was still in her eyes as she turned from the room. Vlad narrowed his eyes on her suspiciously, but was compelled to follow her back to her chambers as requested.

"I truly meant to tell you. It has been a hectic couple of days," he said as he closed the door behind him.

"I know that. It's settled now. I want to discuss you, Vladimir."

The vampire stepped across the room toward the armchairs that were arranged in the corner, grace and displeasure pouring out of every movement. "I'll acknowledge that I'm an interesting subject, but what is it you need to discuss right now?"

"I want to know what's happened to you." The question was stern and direct. Somehow, it turned the vampire's gut cold. It was like she could look right through him. He raised a skeptical eyebrow at her, daring her to explain what she meant. In response, her gaze darkened. She was in queen mode and mother mode at the same time. It was his least favorite combination. "Don't try to beguile me, Vlad. I want to know what's been done to you, and by whom," she demanded.

"What makes you think-"

"I don't think. I am certain. You were in poor mental condition when you left from Ighten, but you were yourself, full of passion and rage and sass. Now I meet you two weeks later, and you're completely shut down. It's like staring through empty glass."

"Do you want me to apologize for getting my feelings under control?" Vlad challenged with a level frown.

"I want you to be concerned that you think this is what control is supposed to look like."

"Do you wish I would rant about my problems and fall sobbing into your lap, My Queen?" he asked.

The frigidness of his tone made her study him with calm disapproval for a few moments. "You don't need to tell me, if you'd rather I look myself."

"There is nothing to look at, and if there was, it would be no business of yours. Do not presume to own my mind just because you can control it," the vampire replied coolly, standing up. "If that is all you needed to discuss, I'll return to my rooms."

"You're dismissed," Sinead gestured for him to go. She looked neither annoyed nor surprised by his reaction.

Vlad didn't use the door; he took the short way out of the room.

"Tenara is sleeping," Tenele told Atul as she entered the bedroom. She leaned back against the door and let out a heavy sigh. Her gaze darted around the room, and not seeing her husband, she gave the king a questioning look.

"Sinead asked to speak with him," he smiled. "I don't suspect he'll be too long."

Tenele smiled, but there was something else behind that look as she cast her gaze to the floor and pushed off the wall. Atul didn't respond, he simply watched her make her way to the wardrobe, stripping her clothes as she went.

Tenele dawned a silk gown from the drawers and moved to the bed. "It is a little late, perhaps I'll go to sleep."

Atul moved to the bed, sitting down next to her. He brushed his fingers through her hair. "Its not late at all," he sighed. "Are you feeling alright?"

Tenele nodded. "I'm feeling fine. Would you mind keeping Vlad company?"

Atul nodded. "Are you sure? I really feel like lying down with you. Maybe he would want to join us?"

Tenele looked away. "I don't know," Tenele sighed. "I'm not sure if Vlad feels comfortable being close to me."

Atul reached down and curled his fingers around her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "He'll come around, Tenele."

She shook her head. "I'm not so sure. I really think he's uncomfortable about being close to me period, not just in a sexual way. I think..." Tenele took a deep shaky breath. "Maybe when he looks at me all he sees is..."

"Hey..." Atul bent and pressed his forehead into her hair, his lips pressing into her cheek. "Shh. Don't think about it. We'll get it sorted out."