I took a piece of the smoked meat, closing my eyes as the salt and fat hit my tongue.

"But one thing at a time. First, food. Then, I cuddle my babies until they’re tired of me. Then, I am going to look at those boots. If I’m going to run a kingdom, I’m doing it in decent footwear."

As I ate, the four of them sat with me—a silent, powerful circle. The tension from yesterday’s ’hallway punch’ was still there, lurking in the corners of the room like a shadow, but it was suppressed by the sheer relief of having the family back together.

"So," I said, pointing a tuber at Noah while my mouth was half-full. "Tell me more about this ’stalking’ lesson. If Raiden ends up scaring the beavers so badly they stop building, you’re the one who has to haul the stones for the watchtowers."

Noah grinned, shifting Lyra so she could grab at his necklace. "The beavers need the exercise, Little Tiger. Besides, if he’s going to be a Grand Duke of the Empire you plan to build one day, he needs to know how to move without making a sound. It’s a vital skill."

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. Life was finally beginning to feel like more than just a fight for the next breath.

But then again... I subconsciously placed my hand on my belly.

A heat usually comes with pregnancy. Am I pregnant right now? I wonder.

I looked up at Thalor, who was looking at me with the most loving and adoring eyes, and I smiled at him.

Does this mean I’m carrying Thalor’s child? I need to find out more about mer folks’ pregnancies.

But that will be later. I have a job to do and two more mates to mark.

After the last tuber had vanished and my stomach finally felt like it wasn’t trying to eat itself, I made a move to stand.

My hand flew to my belly again. If that heat really was the ’welcome home’ sign for a new little soul, then Thalor’s genetic contribution was currently doing backflips in a sea of broth and tubers.

​Thalor’s smile widened, almost as if he could hear my internal monologue.

"You feel different, Arinya," he murmured, his voice a low vibration. "The water in you is... occupied."

​"Don’t start with your poetry, Thalor," I whispered back, blushing. "I have a kingdom to run, so I’d like to focus on that."

​I stood up straight, but before I could take a single step toward the babies, Fenric and Damar were on their feet. Noah even stood up, though he was still human furniture for the triplets.

​"Wait," Fenric commanded.

​"What now?" I asked, hands on my hips.

​"You’ve been submerged in magic and heat for six days," Damar said, walking toward me with that fluid, predatory grace. "Before you go out to the marketplace, we need to know you won’t fall flat on your face."

​"I am perfectly capable—" I started, but Fenric was already placing a heavy wooden chair about ten paces away.

​"Walk to the chair, Arinya," Fenric said, his arms crossed over his massive chest. "No hands. No leaning on the table. If you can make it there and back without a wobble, we’ll let you go to the cellar."

​I rolled my eyes, but I knew better than to argue with the ’Safety Committee’.

I took a deep breath, centered myself, and focused on the pulsing violet light at my ankle. Thalor had supported me well, but my muscles were still adjusting to gravity.

​I took the first step. Solid. The second step. A little shaky.

The third. Ah, I think I might fall, but let’s not give up hope.

​I kept walking and reached the chair, did a dramatic, mocking pirouette that almost cost me my dignity, and marched back to them. "See? 10 out of 10. The Queen is mobile."

​"She’s a bit overconfident," Noah teased, but he looked relieved. He walked over and handed me Lyra, who immediately began investigating my nose with her tiny fingers. "Alright, Little Tiger. You passed the test. But Fenric is the next in line for the marking, and he’s already looking at the calendar."

​I looked at Fenric. He was watching me with an intensity that made the air feel thin. Unlike Damar’s fire or Thalor’s tide, Fenric’s upcoming marking felt like a looming mountain—solid, inevitable, and deep. (Ah, this part she means the sensation of the heat. But normally, Damar is cold-blooded and has cool skin)

​"We’ll give it a week," Fenric said, his voice solid and grounded. "You need to be at full strength. I am not a merman; I cannot hold you up with water magic, and I am not a serpent who can dance through the night. My rut will be... taxing."

​I felt a shiver that definitely wasn’t from the cold. "A week. Noted. Plenty of time to get some shoes made and look at our ’heavy slate’ stash."

​I looked at the group—my family, my council, my heart. "Noah, please help me take care of the babies some more. You can take them with you when you head for the Nursery Palace."

"Guess I have no choice. I was heading there anyway."

I nodded.

"Thalor, Damar, come with me to the cellar. Fenric, help me find Oryn and come with him to the cellar as well. It’s time we see exactly how much ’jackpot’ we’ve actually hit."

...

We slowly headed to the cellar with Damar and Thalor walking by my side. These two had bad blood, so they shouldn’t be together, but that’s exactly why I’m putting them on the same mission with me.

They have to learn to get along somehow. Huff.

The cellar was damp and smelled like wet dirt and deep stone. As we walked down the stone steps, the dim light from the crystals Thalor had placed along the walls made everything look a bit blue and mysterious.