CHAPTER 50: 50. MORNING FLIRTING NIGHTMARE

IN THE MORNING

MICHAEL

Morning light poured through the palace windows like the Goddess herself had decided to mock everyone still nursing emotional hangovers. Birds were chirping. Bells were chiming. Somewhere, a fountain was burbling serenely, possibly the same one Charlie had nearly drowned in last night. Zavier and I sat in the breakfast hall balcony overlooking the gardens, the two of us armed with coffee and sinful amounts of honeyed toast. He was half sprawled in his chair, hair a mess, shirt halfway unbuttoned, and smirking like the entire world was a private joke.

"Alright." I said, leaning on my elbow. "Recap. How many wars did we almost start last night?"

Zavier took a lazy sip of his coffee.

"Three, officially. Four if you count the one in Charlie’s soul."Zavier said.

"Accurate." I said. "He looked like a saint having a nervous breakdown and a baptism at the same time."

Zavier chuckled low in his chest.

"If I recall, you were the one who called it educational entertainment."He said.

"And I stand by that." I tore off a piece of bread. "Watching three Alphas, a Princess, and one terrified saint orbit each other like unstable planets? That was divine comedy."

Before he could reply, the breakfast doors slammed open. Charlie stumbled in. Still damp. Hair sticking up in seventeen directions. A towel around his neck like a surrender flag.

"I hate all of you." He declared immediately.

Zavier didn’t even look up from his plate.

"Morning to you too, little saint."He said.

Charlie glared daggers.

"Don’t ’little saint’ me! You, you and your Alpha goon squad abandoned me to the ice witch of the north!"Charlie groaned.

I tried not to laugh and failed miserably.

"In our defense, she was very polite about it."I said.

"She threatened to ’redecorate me in fur’!" Charlie shouted. "I don’t even know what that means, Michael!"

Zavier arched a brow.

"Could be literal. Could be metaphor."He grinned.

"ZAVIER."Charlie groaned.

Before I could rescue the poor man, another set of doors opened, and in walked the unholy trinity: Terrence, Xavier, and Adrian. All dressed to kill, literally, and moving with the coordinated menace of men on a shared mission. Charlie paled.

"No. No no no. What are you three doing here?!"He asked.

Terrence folded his arms.

"Breakfast."Terrence said.

"Diplomacy."Xavier added.

Adrian grinned.

"Flirting."He said.

Charlie’s head hit the table.

"I’m moving to the mountains."Charlie sighed.

Zavier hummed, clearly entertained.

"He says that like Wanessa wouldn’t follow him there."Zavier said.

Right on cue, a servant’s voice called from the hallway.

"Her Royal Highness, Princess Wanessa of the Northern dominion!"A male voice said.

Charlie made a noise like a dying bird.

"She’s everywhere!"Charlie said.

Wanessa entered like she’d been personally sculpted by smugness. Perfect hair, perfect gown, perfect morning composure. She took one look at the four Alphas glowering around Charlie like overprotective wolves and smiled like the Goddess had handed her the script to a romance play.

"My, my." She said, sliding into the seat across from him. "What an early start. I must have missed the memo about the Saint’s harem council."

Terrence choked on his coffee. Adrian snorted. Xavier’s jaw flexed so hard the air vibrated. Charlie looked ready to melt into the floor.

"I, it’s not-! We’re not a-!Charlie nearly screamed.

"Oh hush,."Wanessa said sweetly, reaching across the table to fix his collar like she’d already claimed him. "Eat something before you faint again."

"I didn’t faint! I slipped!"Charlie sighed.

"That’s what they all say." She murmured.

Zavier leaned close, his breath warm against my ear.

"She’s terrifying."Zavier said.

"I know." I whispered back. "And I adore her."

Below us, the chaos continued, Terrence arguing about royal protocol, Xavier quoting engagement law, Adrian flirting just to annoy everyone, and Charlie trying to sink lower into his seat while Wanessa poured him tea very deliberately.

"Darling." I said to Zavier, grinning. "Should we intervene before someone proposes over breakfast?"

He smirked, eyes glittering.

"Not a chance. This is better than divine theater."I said.

Then, right on cue, the Moon Goddess’s laughter echoed faintly through the hall, soft, teasing, definitely entertained. And I thought, sipping my coffee, yeah, she’s enjoying this mess as much as I am. Soon the chaos downstairs had reached what I liked to call opera level, Terrence and Xavier trying to out logic each other in logic, Adrian laughing just to make things worse, and Wanessa sipping her tea like she was presiding over a royal duel. Zavier and I had wisely retreated to the upper balcony for a bit of peace. Or rather, Zavier had carried me there after I nearly lost a duel with my own stomach halfway through breakfast.

Now I was curled on a cushioned bench under the open window, trying very hard not to look at the food tray. The smell of honeyed bread, which I normally loved was currently my mortal enemy.

"Remind me again." I muttered weakly. "Why the Goddess thought making me nauseous for an entire month was a divine blessing."

Zavier knelt beside me, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead.

"Because apparently she enjoys watching me panic over whether you’ve eaten enough."He said.

I groaned.

"You panic beautifully."I sighed.

He smiled, soft and tired, but so fond it made my heart flutter.

"And you look terrible, which means you’re glowing, apparently."Zavier said.

"That’s not how glowing works." I muttered, though I leaned into his hand when he pressed his palm against my cheek.

He reached for the cup of mintwater beside me.

"Try this. Slowly."He said.

I took a sip, grimaced, then another. The nausea eased a fraction, not gone, but quiet enough that I could breathe again. Zavier stayed close, rubbing slow circles into my back, murmuring something under his breath that might’ve been an old Lunaris lullaby.

"-I DON’T CARE IF YOU’RE A PRINCESS, YOU CAN’T JUST, STOP TOUCHING MY HAIR!"Charlie shouted.

Wanessa’s reply floated up, maddeningly sweet.

"You’re adorable when you’re indignant."She said.

Zavier snorted softly.

"Should we rescue him?"He asked.

"Not yet." I whispered, resting my head against his shoulder. "He deserves to experience the mother’s favorite lesson."

He arched an eyebrow.

"Which is?"I asked.

"Never underestimate a woman with a crown."Zavier grinned.

That earned me a quiet laugh.

"You sound exactly like her."I said.

"Flattering." I smiled faintly. "Except she doesn’t gag at the smell of cinnamon."Zavier said.

He chuckled again, but his hand didn’t stop moving over my back, slow and grounding. The nausea dulled more, replaced by that warm, fuzzy hum that always came with his scent, steady and safe, like home. After a while, I realized the arguing below had shifted tone. Less shouting, more laughter. Peeking down through the balcony rail, I saw Charlie sitting again, red faced but laughing, Wanessa rolling her eyes dramatically as Terrence poured everyone more coffee. Charlie caught my eye and mouthed, help me, but he was smiling this time. I waved weakly, then flopped back against Zavier.

"He’s laughing again." I murmured. "Crisis averted."

"For now." Zavier said, amusement lacing his voice. "She’ll probably propose by sunset."

"Then we’ll need another bottle of mintwater."I said.

He kissed my temple.

"Done."Zavier smirked.

I smiled, eyes half closed, the morning noise blurring into something gentle.

"You know." I whispered. "If this is what the first month feels like, I’m terrified of the next one."

Zavier’s thumb brushed over my knuckles, tender and certain.

"Then you’ll terrify it right back."Zavier sighed.

Somewhere below, Wanessa laughed again, Charlie sputtered, and I couldn’t help but think the Goddess really has a sense of humour. By the time the shouting downstairs faded into laughter again, I was starting to feel like a person instead of a seasick saint. The mintwater actually stayed down this time, a small miracle. Zavier had insisted on staying beside me, one arm around my shoulders as we watched the world spin merrily into chaos below.

"I think she likes him." I murmured.

"I think she plans to kidnap him." Zavier corrected dryly.

I laughed softly and winced when the motion stirred another little flutter in my stomach, not nausea this time, something... lighter. Different.

Zavier noticed immediately.

"What is it?"He asked.

I hesitated, then smiled faintly, placing a hand on my abdomen.

"Baby moving. A little."I said.

His entire expression softened in an instant.

"Already?"He asked.

"It’s faint." I admitted. "But it’s there."

Zavier’s fingers covered mine, reverent and careful. His touch was warm, grounding, a tether to the world that was suddenly so much louder, brighter, more alive. Down below, Charlie must’ve noticed our quiet moment because his voice rang out like a trumpet.

"HEY! Don’t think I don’t see you two getting all mystical up there!"Charlie said.

I laughed again, half embarrassed, half delighted.

"Relax, Charlie. It’s just the baby saying hello."I said.

"That did it, his entire face lit up like a sunrise.

"The BABY?! You mean the actual divine mini you?! Wait are they okay? Do you need more mintwater? Should I-"Charlie begun.

"Breathe." I said, chuckling.

Zavier shook his head, trying not to smile.

"He’s worse than my mother."He groaned.

"I HEARD THAT!" Lady Aeryn’s voice floated up from the courtyard.

The entire room broke into laughter again, the tension from earlier finally dissolving into warmth and relief. For one brief, perfect moment, everything felt simple.