Chapter 24

• I awoke sweating the next morning. Alia's leg was lifted onto my thigh and Mylle, who must have changed places was Angelica in the night, was pushed up tight against me. I lifted my head, trying to not wake anyone, and saw Angelica with half the bed to herself. She was practicing to be Queen, I supposed. I tried to shift a bit, to cool some of my parts. Mylle shifted in her sleep and her arm came around to hug me. I could feel her small breasts on my side, and we now breathed each other's air. Everyone, but I, seemed comfortable.
• I could not go back to sleep and lying still as an overheated pillow did not appeal to me. I maneuvered my limbs and slowly crawled out of the bed. Alia and Mylle made small sounds as I disturbed them. Neither had opened their eyes, so I pulled the blankets back over them. I fed the embers in the hearth new wood. It fired up quickly and began to eat at the slight chill that had filled the room during the night. I quietly dressed, not wanting to wake my three angels. I looked down at them, all three blissfully comfortable. At that moment, I loved all three more than life itself. I smiled at Angelica, mayhap four in time.
• I left the room quietly and found Lucius in the hall. He was chatting with a young woman I had seen before in the kitchen. He was oblivious to my approach, his eyes and attention held only her. It lightened my heart to see it.