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I shook my head, giving him a smile. “I had no idea seating might even be up for discussion, Harvey. My apologies. At home, we’re much less formal.”

“Then we may establish a new informal tradition in Paris as well. Why don’t we step into the dining room, and I’ll walk you through the seating, so you can make any adjustments that you wish before anyone else enters.”

“Perfect.” He began leading us back to the formal dining room. “I’ve been thinking about how to keep a closer relationship with all my siblings, especially since Gwen has gone home to Camelot. I need to be in New York more regularly, and so I might as well come here as well. Maybe a week or so in each city.”

Harvey’s eyes lit up. “We would be absolutely delighted to have you present regularly, Your Majesty.”

“What about London?” Magnum asked. “You haven’t seen Queen Selena’s former court yet.”

“I suppose there are numerous Aima queens already in London. I wouldn’t want to terrify anyone by showing up.”

Gina’s lips quirked, her eyes dancing with mischief. “Though that could be very entertaining, my queen. I’m sure the human monarchy is also relieved that the nearby Isador house has been closed for so long.”

“I would like to visit the London house, if for no other reason than to add my blood to my mothers’ blood circle. Were there any other Isador blood circles, Gina?”

“I’m honestly not sure. Magnum, do you know?”

“I only ever traveled to London or very rarely here,” Magnum replied.

“There was a blood circle in Aswan.” Harvey pushed open a set of doors to the formal dining room. “Though I never toured the original nest. It’s possible there could be remnants, even though the court was abandoned centuries ago.”

As much as I wanted to see my grandmother’s original court, I didn’t want to risk antagonizing Set. Especially if we were lucky once already when I visited Cairo.

Tonight, the massive table was much longer and set with twenty-one place settings. Each seat had a small gold frame with a black card listing a name written in elegant golden script. Except for the head of the table, of course, where I would sit.

Harvey walked down one side of the table to the opposite end. “I currently have Queen Sorcha and Queen Mairead sitting opposite you, Your Majesty, at the foot of the table. The former Valois siblings are then on either side of them working toward your end of the table.”

“I just hate staring down the table at everyone. I want to hear more of what’s said around me, and I’d really like to get to know Sorcha and Mairead better.”

Gina paused behind the chair at the center of the long side. “If you sit here or on the opposite side, you can visit with people on either side of you as well as across the table. That’s generally how human monarchies handle royal dinners.”

I nodded. “I like that idea better.” I glanced over at my closer siblings, who stood just outside the dining room doors. “Would you be alright sprinkled into the new siblings? Or would you rather all sit together?”

Carys huffed. “Formal dinners are snore-fests for the most part. We sit where you want us to sit.”

Gwen’s lips twitched. “They can be boring, but from a diplomacy standpoint, I agree it makes sense to have us spread out more. Plus, that allows you more ears listening to conversations they may not wish for you to hear.”

“True.” I sighed. “I suppose it’s naive of me to think we might all actually end up friends, let alone as close as we all are.”

“Not at all.” Leonie slid her arm around my waist. “Though maybe not quite as close.”

Harvey started around the table, picking up the name cards and replacing them at new seats. “I pride myself on matching up interesting seating arrangements based on interests and backgrounds of the guests. Let’s see what you think of this selection, Your Majesty.”

In seconds, he completely rearranged the table, calling out the names as he moved around the room. He put Sorcha and Mairead opposite me at the center and then spread out my team across the entire table. Though he kept Leonie on my right and Mayte on my left.

:So we can torment you through the never-ending courses with thoughts of dessert,: Mayte said in our bond.

From the heat in Leonie’s eyes and the quirk of her lips, she heard the other queen’s words in my bond as well. Or maybe she was simply thinking the same thing, because she leaned closer, while still curving her neck in a come-hither enticing swath of skin that made my mouth water.

“This way, you can get to know the two queens you’ve selected to hold Paris, as well as keep your close siblings…” Evidently, Harvey was becoming more used to my informal ways because he dared a mischievous wink. “Close.”

OKEANOS

The gardens outside my queen’s house were unfortunately quite full. With the ancient city sprawling around Palais de Isador, there wasn’t much green space available for the wilder Aima to roam. I saw several Blood as I slipped outside to the fountain.

I hadn’t found a larger pool, but the fountain suited me just fine. I didn’t need to completely submerge my body yet, but the water drew me like a moth to its flame. I barely sat on the edge and dipped my bare feet into the water before two Blood I didn’t know approached.

“I’m Maxtla.” The stockier, older-looking man offered his hand. “This is Yaxkin. We’re House Zaniyah.”