80: Ada's POV

Lilith and I had spent the rest of the day together. She’s decided it was in her best interest to leave that night, rather than wait the one to two days the Princes would allow her. I’d said goodbye to her in the early evening and had watched her from the front door of the castle as she disappeared behind the gate. Something about it felt so final, and I knew the best I could do was hope that I would see her again.

She’d spent most of the afternoon making me hundreds of dresses and outfits, including several sets of fighting leathers and lingerie. My room was full of them, and it took Gwynn and me until almost midnight to get them put away. I’d insisted on helping, much to the dismay of my Lady’s maid.

I’d slept peacefully and had been awoken early in the morning by Gwynn. She informed me that I was invited to have breakfast with the Alpha Princes and Lady Elizabeth Jane. After much debate, I decided to go to breakfast in Nik’s sweats and his shirt. It was being held in the Prince's private dining area, so odds were in my favor for it being casual. Gwynn had insisted that the Princes would most likely dress up just because Elizabeth would be there, but I was going to take my chances.

Gwynn escorted me through the winding hallways silently. I dismissed her as we reached the doors to the dining courtyard and opened the door. Nik was seated on the right side of the table, and an empty chair was beside him. He was in tan dress pants, with a black t-shirt tucked in and a black belt looped through. He was wearing black loafers with no socks and was leaning back in his chair with a book in his lap, and his black-rimmed glasses on. Phoenix was across from him and was in green and blue plaid pajama pants and a white t-shirt with gray slippers on. His hair was mussed, as if he’d just awoken and come straight here. Darius was at the head of the table, furthest from me. He was in blue jeans and a navy T-shirt with sneakers on. His hair was pulled back into a half bun, with a layer of stubble on his jaw.

Lady Elizabeth Jane was sitting with her back to me, facing Darius at the opposite end of the table. She was in an extravagant gown that was a glittery gold with navy accents. As I stepped around her to the open spot by Nik, she glowered. Her yellow hair was done up in a crown of braids, jewels pinned into the plaits. Heavy earrings hung from her lobes, and a sapphire necklace hung around her neck.

I took my seat beside Nik, who had looked up from his book. His onyx eyes raked over my body, taking in his sweats and shirt. A light flush crept up my cheeks from his gaze, and I felt him caress our bond. I opened the link between just the two of us, and he purred, *I like my clothes on you, dove.*

*I like your room,* I countered quickly as I filled my plate with food from the table in front of me. *Your bed is particularly comfortable.*

He smirked beside me and set his book down on the table. Nik’s knuckles brushed against my hand as he reached for a piece of fruit. *Oh, is that so?*

*Yes,* I sat back in the chair. *It smells like you, too.*

*You like the way I smell?* Nik asked, and I looked to see that his eyebrow was quirked up. I gave him a nonchalant shrug and returned my attention to my plate. His eyes stayed on me while I ate a few bites of eggs, and only broke away when Lady Elizabeth Jane spoke.

“No one told me we don’t dress for breakfast,” she slathered jam onto a piece of toast.

Phoenix sent her an apologetic smile, “I think you can assume anytime we’re in our private dining area, it will be more casual.”

She gave him a perfunctory nod, “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.” Her gaze turned to Darius, “Now, why have you summoned us all here, *husband?*”

I was just about to open my mouth and let her know she could call him husband all she wanted, but it was me that he had his cock in last night when Phoenix laughed in my mind, through the bond with all of us, *Down, little viper.* I bit my tongue and glowered at him. Darius was fighting a smile at the head of the table as he glanced at me.

*Sent that thought down the bond, huh?* I moved a biscuit around my plate with my fork.

Darius’s hyacinth eyes were alight with soundless laughter. He answered Elizabeth, “We read through father’s notebook and it has been decided that it would be best to loop you two in on some things.” he pulled the notebook out and opened it, “I’ll start by reading the entries and go from there.”

We listened as he read the entries aloud. About halfway through the first, I lost any appetite I had. By the end, Elizabeth had also stopped eating and had shoved her plate away. Nik and Phoenix kept their gaze locked on each other or on the plates in front of them. Darius finished the final entry and set the notebook down.

Phoenix spoke before either Elizabeth or I could, “I’m going to see the Seers and ask to view their archives. There have to be more details on the prophecy involving Ada,” he explained and shook his head, “It seems like there are some large gaps in my father’s writings.”

“You need to reject your mate bonds with her,” Elizabeth said flatly, looking between the three Princes, “After you get her pregnant, based on how that reads.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping the arms of my chair tightly. Nik growled, resting a hand on my thigh, “None of us want to do that, Elizabeth.”

He emphasized the words ‘none of us’ enough to make her eyes fill with tears. Elizabeth stared at Darius, who averted his gaze. Finally, with her voice a bit shrill, she stated flatly, “Fine. Then can the three of you at least agree to rule equally? It's stated explicitly.”

Darius sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger, “I can agree to it for the good of the Kingdom if they can.”

Nik and Phoenix both gave a single nod of confirmation. Nik’s hand was hot on my thigh, and he gave a gentle squeeze before removing it. Elizabeth spoke again, “Look, it’s nothing I have against, Ada,” she tossed me a glance, “but the three of you will need to consider rejecting the bond if Phoenix doesn’t find anything different. For the good of the Kingdom,” she added when Nik opened his mouth to argue.

It was Darius who bowed his head, voice low, “It will be considered if necessary,” he stood abruptly, “There are matters I need to attend to,” he left.