Theodore had developed a firm opinion about visitors.
He loved them.
Arion and Dean had spent the first months of his life worrying that a premature infant raised within such a carefully controlled circle would find unfamiliar faces, voices, and pheromonal profiles overwhelming, only to discover that their son apparently considered every new person an additional source of entertainment specifically provided for his benefit.
The problem appeared only afterward.
Theo would smile at visitors, stare at them with enormous interest, grab fingers, jewellery, collars, hair if anyone made the mistake of leaning close enough, and occasionally reward particularly entertaining behavior with the breathy little giggle that had recently become everyone's favorite sound.
Then he became tired.
At that point, the entire palace staff ceased to exist.
