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stay here until I’m ready to be on my own?”
    Pinching the bridge of his nose, Father closed his eyes. “You’re the son of a king, not a common man. We find a suitable spouse, we have families, we lead the country, we don’t do middle-class labor.”
    -27-

    J.L. Langley
    “But that’s just it, Father. I am the son of a king. I should be able to do as I please. I don’t care about a career in politics or the military or any of that.”
    The room fell deathly silent for several minutes while Aiden pleaded with his eyes. Finally, Cony stood. Nodding like he’d come to a decision, he turned to Father. “Being a consort isn’t for everyone, Steven.”
    “Raleigh, do you want him to grow old alone?” Father stepped forward, brushing back Aiden’s hair with one hand and reaching for Cony’s hand with the other. “I only want him to be happy. You didn’t want to be my consort, but would you go back now?”
    Grabbing Father’s hand, Cony shook his head. “You know I wouldn’t, but you allowed me to be myself and work. It was never about aligning yourself with my family or furthering your political career. That can’t be said for a lot of other lords.”
    Work? Cony didn’t work. Well, that wasn’t exactly true, he did work.
    Cony helped Father with national and planetary government and diplomacy.
    Father nodded. “You’re right. You’re both right.” Lifting Aiden’s chin, Steven made Aiden meet his gaze. “I’ll make you a deal, Aiden.”
    “A deal, Father?” Aiden cut his eyes to Cony.
    Cony gave a slight shrug, but he smiled. Dropping Father’s hand, he took a seat next to Aiden.
    Father looked at Cony. His lip twitched, then his face hardened and he bent to stare Aiden in the eye. “You keep out of trouble—and I mean no incidents at all—and I’ll hire you an art teacher.” He shook his head when Aiden opened his mouth to speak. “My main problem—your safety—has not changed. I love you, Son, and don’t want anything to happen to you. If you can keep out of trouble for three whole months, I’ll hire a teacher to come here and teach you. And on your twenty-fifth birthday, I’ll settle an estate and an allowance on you. But I don’t want you to close your mind to the possibility of taking a consort. You may find someone who suits you very well. I’m still not convinced that isn’t the best thing for you.”
    -28-

    My Fair Captain
    Cony patted his leg. “Your father is right, you need to keep an open mind.” He looked up at his spouse. “You do know that you will have to hire a master, yes? The boy is good. Very good. I seriously doubt a regular art teacher, like he had in the schoolroom, will be able to teach him anything.”
    Father snorted. “I know that. I had planned on hiring Contenetti. I doubt I’d have much problem convincing the man to use the east tower as a studio and taking an apprentice.”
    Aiden smiled so big, it was almost painful. Contenetti was the most famous artist in Regelence, possibly even in the entire Regelence system.
    “Do we have a deal?”
    Aiden nodded. “Yes.”
    Father narrowed his eyes, trying to look stern, but he wasn’t entirely successful. “If you endanger yourself again, you will not be so much as allowed to leave your room without a chaperone. And furthermore, I’ll find you a consort myself. Are we understood?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    The lights flickered, drawing all their attention. The lights never flickered unless Jeffers was involved.
    His parents shared a smile, then Cony frowned. “Now, about Jeffers—
    ”
    Oddly enough, Jeffers picked that exact moment to speak. “Your Majesty? Your Highness?”
    “Welcome back, Jeffers,” Father responded.
    “Thank you, sir, but I’ve a spot of bad news. There has been a theft.”
    -29-

    J.L. Langley

Chapter Two

    The Lady Anna: Intergalactic Navy space frigate, under the command of Captain Nathaniel Leland Hawkins .
    Nate stopped at his cabin, braced his hands on either side of the