“I think it’s time we establish household management.”

My brows lifted. “And you thought I’d be the person to talk to about it?”

“I know a Queen doesn’t oversee such—”

“It has nothing to do with being a Queen and everything to do with me having no household experience,” I said. “I wasn’t exactly raised to be a lady of the house.”

Rhain pinched the bridge of his nose. “I wasn’t suggesting that you personally oversee such things. And if you had been listening, you would know that.”

“Oh,” I murmured, starting to sink into my chair as Reaver’s grin went up a notch.

“I said we’d hire someone to do it,” he said. “And since you don’t know the people here, and we will likely be busy in the coming weeks, I was also going to suggest we ask Aios to assist with that.”

“You think she’ll want to do that?”

“I wouldn’t have suggested her if I didn’t,” he replied.

“Then it’s fine with me.”

Rhain wrote something down. “Whoever Aios determines is fit to run the household should live on-site, and the option to do so should be offered to any of the staff.”

“Do you think it’s wise for us to start bringing in staff now? All things considered?”

Rhain got what I was referencing without me having to say it. “I think it’s time to start living free of Kolis’s shadow.”

I agreed with that sentiment, but we weren’t free. We were far from it.

“I think we should bring in staff, as long as Nyktos is okay with it. But things,” I said, nodding at Reaver’s bowed head, “will need to be settled first before we allow anyone to live here.”

“Agreed.”

As Rhain reviewed how the staff would be paid, I watched Reaver scribbling away. We were making plans, which felt both amazing and terrifying. Even a bit risky. Like we might jinx ourselves.

“You’re not listening again.” Rhain sighed. “Look, I know you probably have a lot of stuff on your mind, and this feels like the last thing you need to be considering right now—”

“I wouldn’t say it’s the last thing.” I tapped my fingers on the arms of the chair. “But yes, I do have a lot on my mind.”

A moment passed, and then he asked, “Do you want to talk through those things?”

I huffed out a dry laugh.

“It’s a genuine offer,” Rhain insisted. “And not an entirely altruistic one.”

“Really?” I drawled.

“Yes. Maybe you can focus if you get out whatever is on your mind.” He paused. “Though I feel focusing isn’t one of your strong suits.”

I snorted.

With another heavy sigh, the tapping of his quill increased. Glancing over at him, our eyes met. We both quickly looked away. I rose from the chair. “That neat talent of yours? The telepathy? Do you always need to have an item belonging to the person to do it?”

His brows squished together. “What made you even think of that?”

“I don’t know,” I said, lifting a shoulder. “It just popped into my head.”

He blinked slowly. “To answer your question, yes. I need a token or to be in contact with them.”

I thought that over as my gaze swept along the bare shelves. “So, what token of Nyktos’s do you have that allows you to communicate with him?”

“What makes you think I have something of his?”

I shot him a knowing look.

Two pink splotches appeared in the center of his cheeks. “I carry a medallion.”

Interest sparked. “Can I see it?”

One more heavy, ground-shaking sigh left him as he reached into the breast pocket of his tunic. Opening his fingers, he held a small silver disc. A wolf’s head had been carved into the metal. The detail was intricate, down to the tufts of fur.

“It’s beautiful. Who made…?” I trailed off, lifting my gaze to his. The skin beneath my ear tingled. “You did.”

Rhain’s eyes widened.

I straightened. “You…you also made the box Ash keeps on his bedside table.”

“How did you know that?” he demanded, then cursed.

“Foresight,” Reaver said what Rhain had likely surmised.

“Yeah,” Rhain said, clearing his throat. “I forgot.”

Reaver nodded and then returned to his drawings.

“Do me a favor,” Rhain stated. “Don’t use that on me.”

I arched a brow as I started walking. “Wasn’t planning to.”

“You just did.”

“It was accidental. Sometimes, things just pop into my head,” I told him, reaching the pillared doors again. “I’m still trying to get a handle on it, but I will do my best not to use it.”

And I meant that. Even though I was really curious why he was so worried I would seek to know more about him. Then again, he could just simply value his privacy.

“Thank you,” he said. “What else were you thinking about?”

“Oh, you know. Everything.” Crossing my arms, I faced him.

Rhain eyed me for several moments, clearly waiting for me to elaborate. When I didn’t, he glanced down at the bound parchment. “I’m sure you’re nervous about meeting with the Primals.”

“Obviously.”

He grinned slightly, making me wonder how often Rhain actually smiled. “Being nervous is understandable, but just remember that you are the true Primal of Life and the Queen. I know that sounds easier said than done, but you have earned the title and the respect.”

What he said struck me silent. Had I earned it? I guessed almost dying qualified as such, but I doubted many of the other Primals cared about that. To them, I was not only unproven, I also hadn’t earned shit.

“There’s just one more thing I didn’t mention before regarding meeting with the Primals.” Rhain closed the leather folio on the bound parchment. “Yesterday, you did amazing during the speech. I have every belief that you will do the same with the Primals as long as you keep your temper in check—”

“Yeah, I wasn’t planning to threaten the Primals into siding with us, but thanks for the advice.”

Rhain let out what was becoming one of his infamous sighs. “I’m being serious.”

“So am I.” I frowned. “Why would my temper be incited?”

“Does it need a reason?”

“Funny,” I said. “But contrary to what you may think, I know when not to run my mouth.”

The look on his face said he doubted that.

Irritation flared. “I know you’ve seen me lose my temper on more than one occasion, so I get why you’re doubtful, but you also have to know that I wouldn’t be standing here if I didn’t know how to keep myself in check.”

Reaver’s quill stopped again as Rhain’s head flinched back. “You’re right. I do know that.” His gaze lowered and then returned to mine. “I’m—”

“Don’t apologize. It’s not necessary,” I cut him off, sounding like, well, Ash. “Thank you for helping me with all of this, but I think that is enough for now,” I said, then winced at the bite in my tone. “And I do mean that. Thank you.”

Rhain nodded awkwardly as he stood. He started for the door but stopped beside me. He appeared to want to say something more but changed his mind. Giving me a quick bow of his head, he left the office.

Pushing the last bit of conversation between Rhain and me aside, I began pacing the length of Ash’s office.

My mind kept alternating between what Rhain had said and why Ash hadn’t returned yet. I’d suspected that his trip to Vathi would be an in-and-out sort of thing. He’d been gone for almost two hours. But Ash was fine. He and Attes were likely just talking.

Honestly, I hoped he and Attes were genuinely speaking to each other and talking things through. They may not have been friends before, but there had been mutual respect between them.

I looked around the office. “I need to be doing something…queenly right now.”

“I hope it’s not more pacing,” Reaver muttered.

I shot the little smart-ass a look, which earned me a boyish giggle. Grinning, I refocused. There had to be something I could be doing. I was Queen, right? I was to be this great Primal power—

“Wait,” I whispered, my lips parting. “Great Primal power.”