"I need to talk to Kaelis."
Ezra muttered the words under his breath as he ran a hand through his hair and leaned back in his chair.
Alyce had already left.
She'd practically floated out of the room after sharing her wonderful news, leaving Ezra alone with a storm churning in both his mind and his stomach.
His thoughts immediately went to Kaelis.
He needed to tell him.
Now.
"Ezra!"
"Maman!"
Just as Ezra pushed himself up, ready to search the palace himself, the door flew open.
Three people entered.
Two of them called for him.
"Lior."
The tightness in Ezra's chest eased the instant he saw his son.
Lior came sprinting toward him without hesitation.
Instinct took over.
Ezra stood and opened his arms, ready to scoop him up.
"Ah, ah, ah." Love's gentle but unmistakably scolding voice stopped them both. "No carrying."
Lior froze mid-run.
"Remember, Lior," Love said as she rested a hand on his shoulder, "your maman is still sick."
Then she looked at Ezra.
