By the time the music began, Pixie Mead had fully taken hold of the hall.
The dining area seamlessly transformed into a dance floor.
Elven musicians struck lively chords, flutes weaving bright melodies through the air.
Laughter echoed beneath vaulted ceilings.
Nyxian approached like a storm of silk and mischief.
She had absolutely had too much.
Without warning, she spun Jax around and kissed him deeply.
Right in front of the King and Queen.
"I know we said we'd behave," she declared, pointing vaguely at the royal couple three feet away, "but I had to taste you tonight."
Then she turned and kissed Llandra just as boldly.
The King and Queen froze.
Llandra, mildly buzzed, kissed her back before realizing—
Her parents were watching.
Nyxian twirled away toward Bunny and Zee.
Jax stood there, stunned.
He rubbed his temples.
"We have… a complicated relationship."
The King burst into laughter.
Deep.
Unrestrained.
"Do you think we are unaware?" he asked.
The Queen added, "Our spies are very thorough."
Jax relaxed slightly.
"We know you are engaged to all of them," the King continued. "And that you have lived as such for some time."
The Queen smiled knowingly.
"Many royals take multiple spouses."
The King nodded.
"And occasionally royal women take multiple husbands."
Jax's expression shifted dangerously. He wondered if these two had such arrangements.
The Queen quickly clarified, "Not us. We are quite content as we are."
Jax smiled relief at that answer, but then grew self doubting and muttered under his breath, "But I'm not royalty…"
The King stepped forward and wrapped an arm around him.
"You will be in three days, my son."
The words echoed in Jax's mind.
My son.
He swallowed.
"I was going to ask for your blessing during a hunt," Jax admitted. "From what I understand, it's been a long time since you've gone."
The King blinked.
Jax had planned to follow tradition.
"Does this mean," Jax asked steadily, "I have your blessing?"
The King's expression softened.
"You have my blessing. I look forward to calling you family."
They exchanged a warrior's handshake that turned into a hug.
Then Jax turned to the Queen.
"I would also be honored to have your blessing."
That was not tradition.
The Queen blinked.
Then smiled warmly.
"You had my blessing the moment I saw my daughter return home smiling."
She embraced him.
Llandra's eyes filled with tears.
The court noticed.
And something changed in the room.
Less suspicion.
More acceptance.
Soon, he would be one of them.
Jax turned back to the King.
"I still want to go hunting with you, sir."
The King's joy dimmed slightly.
"I'm afraid that would not be permitted."
Jax tilted his head.
"We have a saying where I'm from."
The King raised an eyebrow.
"It's good to be the King."
The King stared at him.
Then laughed.
Long.
Hard.
Perhaps…
It was time he remembered what that meant.
But not everyone's reaction was the same.
Across the hall, Legos and Heiron stood beside their partners, watching.
In the past…
That sight would have stirred something sharp inside them.
Jealousy.
Possessiveness.
Suspicion.
Their father embracing another man.
Their mother smiling at him as though he already belonged.
It would have felt like something being taken.
But tonight—
It felt different.
Heiron observed quietly, arms folded behind his back.
He saw the way their father's posture had changed around Jax. Lighter. Less rigid. Less
king… more man.
He noticed the way their mother laughed more freely than she had in years.
And he understood something.
This was not replacement.
This was restoration.
Legos shifted his weight slightly.
He had always craved their father's approval.
Had always wanted to be the strongest presence in the room.
But now, watching Jax bow properly… watching him ask the Queen for her blessing…
There was no arrogance in him.
No ambition for the throne.
Only respect.
Only intention.
Legos leaned slightly toward Heiron.
"Strange," he muttered quietly.
Heiron didn't look at him.
"Hmm."
"I don't hate it."
Heiron allowed the faintest smirk.
"Neither do I."
Their fiancées stood close, both noticing the shift.
There was no tension in their posture.
No territorial defensiveness.
Instead—
Relief.
Their parents were not being diminished.
They were being human again.
The King laughing.
The Queen embracing openly.
The crown felt lighter tonight.
And Jax… somehow… was part of that.
Legos exhaled slowly.
"Maybe he's not here to take anything."
Heiron finally turned his head slightly.
"Maybe he's here to change things."
Legos considered that.
Then nodded.
"For the better."
Their gazes returned to the scene unfolding in front of them.
Their sister glowing.
Their parents relaxed.
Jax standing slightly awkward but sincere.
For the first time since his arrival—
They saw him not as an outsider.
Not as competition.
Not as a threat.
But as something else.
A brother.
And perhaps…
An ally.